Getting your player ready...
Even as a slowdown in the economy threatens to curtail hiring, recruiters across the country still face difficulty finding the right people with the right skills to fill job openings. With skilled labor shortages worsening as older workers leave the workforce, employers will be left with no choice: they will have to welcome the growing number of tattooed candidates with open arms.
Body art, including tattoos and piercings, are becoming more popular, especially among the generation entering the job market now. With some surveys indicating that more than one third of young people sport tattoos and other forms of body art, companies will be forced to become more accepting.
A decade ago, showing off tattoos and body piercings would be a surefire way to get your resume placed in the “No Way!” pile. Times have changed. Those making the hiring decisions are younger and not as adherent to traditions about workplace appearance.
Additionally, some employers already have trouble finding skilled workers – why let some body art get in the way of hiring the best qualified candidate? Plus, a growing number of employers recognize the benefits of diversity in all its forms and are embracing the unique attributes that make people stand out from the crowd.
There are definitely certain industries where more conservative standards of appearance persist. We may never see tattoos on bankers, lawyers, accountants and the clergy may be resistant to body art. However, areas such as advertising, marketing, sales and technology are more inclined to be ahead of the curve and more accepting of new fashion and lifestyle trends.
Most tattoos are hidden, but some are prominently displayed on people’s hands, lower arms and necks. Body piercings can be anywhere. As a job seeker, you have to judge whether the employer you are interviewing with is going to be accepting of your body art. If that is not the case, and that is where you really want to work, then you will have to make an effort to conceal your tattoos and take out your piercings.
The best way to determine if body art is acceptable is by asking someone at the company, preferably not the person you are to meet. However, if you know someone else at the company or if you have established rapport with a secretary or receptionist, you can ask that person.
Here is some additional advice on issues that could come up for young job seekers steeped in the latest fashion and youth-oriented trends:
Tattoo: Show it off, unless it is 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 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.
Baggy clothing: Avoid blue jeans, unless it is how everyone else in the office dresses. It is possible to look presentable in loose-fitting khakis and a button-down shirt. For the interview, refrain from wearing pants that ride below the waistline (often showing off one’s undergarments or bare body).
Wild hair: Streaks of blue, green or fire-engine red will not scare off most hiring authorities, but a Mohawk or hairdo resembling a bird’s nest might.
Cell phones: Cell phones have no place in the job interview. They should be turned off and stashed away in a bag or briefcase.
