Facial piercings don't mean much
98My first "real" job interview is coming up this week and, in addition to concerns over my performance face-to-face with my potential future employers, I have put much consideration into my attire for the big day.
Part of this contemplation revolves around my lip ring.
This piece of body jewelry is not just a valued possession of mine but it also feels like it's become a part of me. I love my little rhinestone stud for the way it individualizes my appearance in a simple and, in my opinion, innocuous way.
Unfortunately, many people do not agree with my opinion (including my mother, who would not let me enter my house until I took it out). Employers especially may shrink from piercings and tattoos (which I also have) and refrain from hiring individuals with such accessories.
According to a 2006 study by Anne E. Laumann, MBChB (bachelor of medicine and surgery degrees), and Amy J. Derick, Md., that involved men and women 18-50 years of age, 24 percent had tattoos and 14 percent body piercings. The study linked tattoos and piercings to a lack of religious affiliation, extended jail time, previous drinking and recreational drug use. So I guess that explains the uneasiness of employers over tattoos and piercings.
Obviously not all inked or pierced people are hooligans, but why should a company bother giving someone the benefit of the doubt if there's a clean-cut and unadorned applicant also at the front door?
Well, some companies consider allowing piercings and tattoos beneficial in that it attracts younger and possibly more innovative and exciting workers.
Nearly half of 20-something-year-olds have either a tattoo or piercing other than traditional earrings, according to a study published this year in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Those who are 25-29 years old have the highest incidence of tattoos (36 percent) and 30-39-year-olds follow with 28 percent. These are the ages of those who are right out of college or grad school, youth loaded with energy and potential, and the percentages show that piercings and tattoos are not uncommon among them.
Basically it depends on the industry to be entered; it's all about catering to the clientele and sometimes piercings and tattoos may be ok or even attractive and sometimes they can be absolute deterrents.
Thus, to seem both professional and yet inviting, many employers opt to leave their dress code vague. And this often leads to confusion. For instance, in 2004 Costco was sued for religious discrimination after it fired an employee for breaking its policy against facial jewelry. The employee, a member of the Church of Body Modification, said wearing her facial piercings was a part of her religion. Also, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., agreed around that same time to pay a former employee $150,000 for a lawsuit of the same nature because the restaurant chain's no-visible-body-art policy clashed with the employee's Kemetic (ancient Egyptian) religion.
I can understand the offense if someone, say, had a swastika tattooed on the arm, but I don't see the need for policies against harmless images, especially if they look good.
The company for whom I am applying to work for advises conservative dress for the interview. Personally I wouldn't want to hire someone who makes the attempt to look boring. There's definitely a line between gaudy clothes and, likewise, ostentatious tattoos and piercings, but it shouldn't be so thick as to blur them out completely. Getting a tattoo or piercing isn't a slip in judgment; it's a sign of personality, daring, maybe even class and good taste. I think my lip ring looks great and I'm not even a crack-head felon.
Additional information
- Body Art and Employment: A Bad Customer Experience?
Many employers feel that those with body art (piercings and tattoos) make a bad impression on their company and serve up a bad customer experience. - Fighting Unfair Employment Practices [The Publisher's Ring]
- Tattoos & Body Piercing: Avoiding Employment Discrimination Claims
Tattoos & Body Piercing: Avoiding Employment Discrimination Claims
Comments
Not all companies don't allow body piercings for just the way they may look. Some have a 'No piercing Policy' due to insurance. I worked at a preschool and everyday had to take out my eyebrow and nose piercings because of the potental injuries. We also could not wear dangle earrings or hoop earrings larger then a pencil. You should call befoe you go and ask about the companies policy and why they have it.
Having read your hubs I know you to be a very intelligent individule. But it looks like you'er to close to this one to call it.
If you have time it would be nice to go over there unannounced and on the down low and see what everyone else looks like. Dig up as much information as possible about the company.
Then to you may want to wait untill you are hired to reveal your strong sense of independence; that's if you realy want the job.
The other thing is most people that start a buisness like to promote there own image, and may even conform, their personal image so they can make money, and be accepted in the market place.
Ask yourself how would you feel if you had a good business and someone with a radical appearence wanted to be hired, and your position was totaly opposit.
Then you could go the the iinterview naked of your chosen appearence, and ask the interviewer how the company feels about tatoos and pearcings.
I guess it's what you think and how you feel about yourself tht realy counts, but acceptance is a big part of life too. If you can take it out to go to mom's you can take it out to get paid.
What if there where only hooligans left on the planet and they required every one to be tatooed and pierced what then?
Lots of luck on the interview.
Roland=Jeromeo
Glassvisage:
People as a group tend to let prejudice and ignorance inform their decisions. In other words lose the lip ring for the interview. Once you get the job (knock on iron) you can wear it with impunity.
Facial piercings are just fashion statements
If you have the right to wear something, someone has the right not to like it. I am of the opinion character makes people individuals and not decoration. You are obviously intelligent and lovely, that is what people will see. Anytime you open yourself to be appreciated for something, you subject yourself to ridicule at the same time. You have read my hubs and know I am a laid back person and I love people, but I am not a fan of body mutilation and I can understand someones objections to it.
I still love you though!
This is a very well thought-out hub, and I like the way that you've considered both sides of the discussion, despite being an ardent fan of body art yourself. Personally, I don't have any piercings other than in my ears, but if I was an employer I would like to think that I wouldn't let a lip or eyebrow piercing or a tatoo influence me as to whether or not I'd hire the person. It's the person, and their knowledge and skills that are important (in an ideal world anyway!)
Some of my friends have tatoos and I've had friends with piercings, and none of them have been in jail or been drug users! It annoys me when people judge a book by its cover, although it's sadly part of life.
I understand that some companies are quite conservative, and they have to maybe think about how their clients would react to pierced staff members. I suppose that if the company you want to work for are really against this look, then you'll probably have to take it out if you really want to work for them; even though it might seem really unfair. I imagine that if a company is quite conservative in its image, then there's always the possibility that its employees may need to tone down their personalities altogether. Some industries are just like this unfortunately, and if you want to enter them then you have to play by the rules. (At least until you get hired!)
Good luck with your interview.
Thanks everyone! The interview went okay, but it turns out I got another job I like more instead! :)
Just to throw it out there - I have 9 body piercings and 3 tattoos. People look at me and assume I'm as wild as they come but I'm not. The only "bad" thing about me is my lack of religion. Otherwise, I'm courteous, kind and non-judgemental. I don't even drink, smoke or do drugs. Fancy that!
Katie, sounds like me! (Only I have one tattoo...)
This was enjoyable to read.
I just got my lower left labret pierced the other day. I hold pride in it as it's something that displays a sense of bravery for me.
I don't know if that's proper wording or not.
But I enjoyed the concept of it being something so different and spontaneous for me, and unexpected by others. I think it's a bit sad the association they place with piercings and tatoos to some point. As I myself am like you two above, I drink very rarely and only in good company ( of age as well), I don't smoke or have any drug intake. I am very considerate and friendly, my manners are my priority. So I would hate to feel branded as something bad for having a little stud in my lip.
Ps; I think your stud looks very pretty by the way. : )
Thanks Trish for pointing out that piercings can mean a lot more than something like rebellion: it can symbolize bravery, individuality, beauty, etc. :)
pjdscott says:
2 years ago
Very interesting hub - I suppose it depends on the firm interviewing, and on the personal tastes of the personnel. In a conventional western sense, I believe employers view prospective employees with piercings as something unusual and - possible - to be avoided.