To Tattoo or Not to Tattoo
By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
It depends. The sources offer mixed evidence on whether having tattoos will affect a candidate’s chances in a job search.
- Many people believe that tattoos negatively impact a candidate’s chances. 76% of people believe that tattoos hurt an applicant’s chances in an interview.
- However, actual discrimination against tattoos is fairly low. Only 4% of people with tattoos report experiencing discrimination at work. This is likely because there has been a cultural shift toward acceptance of tattoos.
- That being said, women are more likely to be discriminated against because of tattoos. 15% of women report experiencing discrimination because of tattoos at work, compared to 4% of people overall.
- Ultimately, whether or not tattoos are acceptable in the workplace depends on the company’s policies. While there are no laws against tattoos in the workplace, individual companies may choose to implement policies that ban tattoos.
- Some industries are more tolerant of tattoos than others. For example, tattoos are more accepted in the service industry than in the medical field.
- The size, type, and location of a tattoo can also affect whether or not it is considered acceptable in the workplace. For instance, larger tattoos or tattoos that are located on the face or neck are more likely to be seen as unprofessional.
One study suggests that having tattoos may actually improve a man’s chance of being hired. However, this study was conducted on a sample of people whose average annual salary was $36,485 for men and $25,930 for women, and the author of the study acknowledged that this may have skewed the results. He hypothesized that tattoos may be seen as less of a negative, or even a positive, in lower-paying jobs.
Another study found that applicants with tattoos were less likely to be hired for white-collar positions, and that those who were hired were offered lower salaries than their non-tattooed counterparts.
Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide whether or not they are comfortable with having tattoos during their job search. Candidates with tattoos should research the company’s policies and culture to see if tattoos are acceptable. They may also want to consider covering up their tattoos during the interview process if they are unsure about the company’s stance on body art.
Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2024
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