Think before you ink: A tattoo that is visible, like the one shown above, can be deemed unprofessional in the workplace. Lindsey Davidson / PHOTO EDITOR
To be inked or not to be inked? That is the question for college students who struggle with the decision to get a tattoo.
Factors like aging, permanency and concealability usually affect their choices, but students must especially think about their future careers before getting a tattoo.
A recent Texas State University study of 18 to 24-year-olds found that 16 percent had tattoos or body piercings, but were critical of co-workers with visible body art, saying they would rather not work in a business environment with them.
Tattoos on the face, neck, hands or anywhere else that cannot be concealed have been deemed as “job-stoppers.” They’re typically acknowledged as unwelcome in a professional environment, but do they really keep young people from landing the jobs they’ve worked so hard for?
The answer depends mostly on graduates’ prospective fields. Professional industries like health care that deal primarily with people are less likely to tolerate visible tattoos, while jobs that focus on creativity have more leniency.
“I would never get a tattoo because it’s so permanent,” said Lisa Mosow, a senior in graphic design. “I think people who are wanting to go into something more artistic are more accepting of tattoos, but if you’re in the business world, maybe not so much.”
Most businesses have company policies, which are rules and procedures for employees that can involve subjects from health and safety regulations to dress code guidelines.
Some companies even implement tattoo policies, denying employment to those with visible tattoos.
Tiffany Moore, a freshman in public administration, said her mother applied for a job at a hospital and wasn’t hired simply because of the tattoos on her neck.
“I have a tattoo on my foot and on my stomach, but I can cover those up when I get a job,” Moore said. “If I don’t make it pro in track, I’ll probably get a job in graphic design, and I would not get one on my neck because it’s a big turn-off to people.”
Because tattoos have become increasingly popular in the last 10 years, especially among the younger generation, businesses have been struggling more with appearance-based discrimination.
“Some people just think different things about tattoos, but businesses shouldn’t really judge,” Moore said.
Stereotyping those with tattoos is usually common in a professional environment, but as the younger generation begins to replace the older, those with body art will probably be more accepted in the workplace.
Only 1 percent of Americans had a tattoo 30 years ago, but today, almost one-fourth of the population has one or more. Tattoo parlors are more popular than ever before, popping up in cities all over the nation.
Auburn’s newest edition, Against All Odds Tattoos, is a brand-new shop on Opelika Road that specializes in custom tattooing and body piercing.
Owner Thomas Randall has been in the tattooing business for eight years, traveling nationally and tattooing people from students to doctors and lawyers.
He feels students shouldn’t take their tattoo decision lightly and wants them to be sure of what they’re getting into.
“You can’t just walk in our shop and take the tattoo off the wall,” Randall said. “You have to have a consultation with us first.”
Before students get a tattoo on impulse, they should consider issues such as their future employers and appearance discrimination in the workplace. Researching company policies could even be helpful to students who are thinking about getting “inked.”
