Time to shed workplace bias to body art?

As job seekers try to find new ways to stand out from the crowd, some are undoubtedly asking themselves if their tattoos and body piercings are helping them stand out but in a negative way.   

Workplace authority John A. Challenger says while some employers might frown upon conspicuous body art, the practice is becoming so commonplace that companies would be severely limiting the pool of candidates if they rejected everyone with a tattoo or nose ring. 

“Employers’ anti-tattoo stance probably softened considerably during the labor shortages of the late 1990s,” said Challenger, CEO of Chicago outplacement advisor Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

“Today, even in this tight job market, most companies are not going to view tattoos too harshly,” he said. “One reason is that with everyone from soccer moms to MIT computer science graduates sporting tattoos, preconceptions about tattooed individuals are no longer valid. Secondly, and more importantly, companies have a vested interest in hiring the most qualified candidate.”

Overall, the Food and Drug Administration estimates that as many as 45 million Americans have at least one tattoo. A 2010 Pew Research Center report on Millennials (18- to 29-year-olds) revealed that 38 percent have tattoos. Tattooed Gen Xers aged 30 to 45 were not far behind at 32 percent. 

For those sporting body art, Challenger urges restraint.

“There are definitely certain industries where more conservative standards of appearance persist,” he said. “We may never see visible tattoos on bankers, lawyers, accountants or the clergy. However, areas such as advertising, marketing, sales and technology are more inclined to be progressive and more accepting of new fashion and lifestyle trends.”

His other advice:

Tattoos: Show them off, unless they are offensive, in which case you should plan on concealing it in the interview and even after getting the job. The other time you would want to conceal your tattoos is if you know that a certain employer would frown upon such decorations.

Piercings: Beware! With increased security at many corporate offices, too much bling could set off metal detectors. You do not want to be late to the interview because you were forced to remove 12 body piercings at the security desk. In addition to the security issue, too many piercings might be a distraction for the interviewer and could hurt your chances. Also, it would be prudent to remove tongue and lip piercings, as these often make it difficult for others to understand what you are saying.