One of the first thoughts one has before getting tattooed is will this stop me from getting the job of my dreams?
Facial tattoos, hand tattoos, neck tattoos, and other visible ink is often a huge barrier to getting certain jobs. But as the majority of the population becomes tattooed, and even the older generation joins in, tattoos are not only becoming mainstream but expected. The stigma that tattoos are only for certain types of people has been busted, and most people know that every walk of life includes someone with tattoos.
It wasn’t so long ago that they were distasteful, but new research has shown that in certain industries tattoos are now becoming a reason to get hired!
Which Jobs are Hiring Tattooed Folk?
The University of St. Andrews created two studies, both in the UK and the US, about whether tattoos affected job interviews. They took 8 participants and photoshopped invisible tattoos on the neck, as well as a copy of the original with no visible tattoos. The two jobs included an upscale restaurant and a bar tender. Applicants were rated on their likelihood of getting the job. While the applications included other information the results were pretty obvious. The tattooed applicant scored higher for the bar job and the non-tattooed one scored better for the upscale restaurant. The problem was it was less than a point between them in results so it was incredibly close.
Tattooed People Represent Younger and Edgier Clients
Researchers determined that visibly tattooed applicants can still be an attractive choice in the job market as long as they have the skills to back it up. The workers convey something of the brand to clients and that has to be taken into account. Firms who want younger demographics or an edgier brand often prefer tattooed applicants because their clients are also likely to be tattooed and have something in common.
Body art is becoming seen as an asset, and as long as they’re in keeping with the brand’s personality having a tattoo is no longer a stigma. In fact, even large brands like Lowes, Amazon, and even Google no longer have issues with tattoos as long as they’re not offensive. 45 million people in the US now have tattoos and the number grows daily, with 73% of employers studied saying they would still hire the right applicant even if they had visible tattoos.
Searching for Companies that Embrace Creativity!
Another reason why they’re becoming an asset is that people can determine whether they will be happy at their potential job based on the tattoo preference. Since people use body art as a form of self-expression working for a company that embraces and accepts them for that means they’re more likely to be happy at their job.
It’s nice to think that opinions are changing, chances are within a few years it will no longer be a debate. Lawyers, doctors, and politicians have all been seen sporting body art and there are very few jobs which now see tattoos themselves as a no. Visible tattoos are still debatable, so it’s important to consider your future when planning your ink even if the stigma isn’t so bad.
