Today it’s hard to turn on the TV and not see tattoos on athletes, soldiers and celebrities. They are nearly as common as TV itself. Yet, they are also strange to many people.
So if you have tattoos, you must be attentive to how others see you. You have limited control over what other people think of you, and if you do have tattoos, you owe it to yourself to control how much they see of you. To help you on that score, please keep the following in mind.
1. An employer’s problem with tattoos doesn’t always mean they have a problem with you personally. Businesses that fail to please their customers don’t stay in business. A company may look at their client base and decide that some of their customers may have problems if they see tattooed employees. Currently there is nothing stopping an employer from rejecting job applicants on that basis alone.
2. There is a generational component to the objection to tattoos. You could roughly separate the world between those who came of age before the ’90’s and those who came later. Younger people tend to be more tolerant of them, and more likely to be wearing a tattoo or two themselves. However as long as mature people are making hiring decisions, you can assume displaying your tattoos in a job interview may put you at a disadvantage.
3. There is a cultural component to tattoos.  Not only have they been frowned upon for thousands of years, the association between tattooed people and unsavory subcultures is likewise deeply seated in many people.
4. While companies like Macy’s have recognized the reality that many younger people wear tattoos and have workplace policies to accommodate them, Macy’s is an exception. As time goes on things may change, but for now some of our clients do not want to see tattoos on employees in their workplace.
5. Certain industries may never change their objection to tattoos.  For example, hospitality venues, particularly high end establishments and event companies may never allow employees to display their body art.
What to do?
If it’s possible, cover all tattoos before going on a job interview. If it’s impossible to cover up, understand that it might be immediate grounds for rejection. Right now, there is nothing anyone can do about that.
Don’t be surprised if a prospective employer asks if you have tattoos. It happens! If you are tattooed, and you are asked, you are in a ticklish position. Lying is never a good idea, and in an interview, even if you get away with it, it will only set you up for disaster later on. Instead, you might consider saying something like, “yes but I could never show it to you.” Hopefully the combination of your honesty and surprise will make a favorable impression.
Once you’re hired do not let your guard down. Keep the tattoos covered until you are absolutely certain that there is no one in the company who will object. Remember peers and subordinates are every bit a matter of concern to you as managers and owners. Just because you see someone sporting one doesn’t mean it’s okay for you.
Remember that while you cannot control what other people think, but you can control what they see. Be very cautious.