(12.6.16) By Jaden Lux–It’s a question many young adults wonder about when they get the tattoo bug: Will getting that work of art done affect the potential for getting hired?
According to professionals at Morningside, it depends.
David Elder, an associate professor of writing and rhetoric, gives his thoughts.
“I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. I personally don’t have a tattoo, but have nothing against it. My advice: get them elbow up or neck down. A neck tattoo has some connotation with it that most employers aren’t looking for,” he says with a smile.
For Elder, tattoos have always been something he has wanted, but has always been uncertain about what he would like to be permanently on his body. Taylor Clemens, a professor of theater, believes that because of this reason always make sure they are in good taste.
“I feel that as long as the tattoos are not offensive and well done they are fine for most professions. I start having issues with tattoos when they are visible, offensive, and poorly done. The placement of tattoos I think needs to be taken into consideration,” says Clemens.
Clemens pointed out specifically that placement is the most important aspect when getting a tattoo.
“The placement of tattoos needs to be taken into consideration. I have personally never seen a tattoo on the face or the neck that I have liked. Also, tattoos in this location just do not look professional. I have met people that have full sleeve tattoos that still look professional, but I have never seen a face or neck tattoo that does,” Clemens says. The point he makes has some research to back it up.
According to Skinfo, an informational website on skin, the most questionable tattoos are those found on the neck, head, and face. Considering this, not a single state has anti-discrimination laws against tattoos.
Even worse is the fact that Skinfo found that 37 percent of human resource managers cite tattoos as the third-most-likely physical attribute to limit career potential.
Elder argues back by saying, “If you’re qualified it shouldn’t matter. It’s a discriminatory practice. If you are discriminating someone because of what is one their skin, are you discriminating someone based on the color of their skin?”
Clemens agrees with Elder by saying, “The bottom line for me is I feel tattoos are fine in the workplace with a few exceptions that come down to my own personal taste. I currently have two tattoos myself and will probably get more. That being said, as an actor, I am very particular about the placement of my tattoos.”
So the advice from professionals: do as you please with your body, but use logic and caution when making a decision that will have a permanent affect on your body. Nothing is worse than having regret and not being able to undo that poor decision.
“Is it a good idea to get a Michael Tyson face tattoo if you want to go into corporate law? Probably not! It might be safer to be secure in your job before getting a tattoo that could be risky,” says Elder with a smile.
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