Do tattoos & piercings affect getting a job?

I asked a related question a little while back. However, whereas you ask whether a person feels it affects prospects - a subjective question - I asked for verifiable evidence of such.

People's biases invariably will show in a question phrased like this. Hell, give them a bit of a chance & some anonymity, and all sorts of nasty tendencies show. All of a sudden they don't think renting to that Mexican-American family a good idea, having a black neighbor makes them "feel just a little uncomfortable, but I'm not, you know, a racist or anything". Biases & stereotypes for all of these reactions have similar origins.

This is why I asked for proof with mine. Perhaps those with proof missed the question, or maybe they only had their biases, but most people didn't find it affected much. If anything, they covered up for interviews and when requested by the job - much like how you'd shave, put up your hair, dress nicely, or whatever. The one or two where there were unfair issues it appeared to be time to bring in an HR representative as it looked like something of at least questionable legality was transpiring.

Interviewing being what it is, at least in the private sector you can get turned down for practically anything. Since long sleeves and high collars are common for interview outfits, if you want to cover up you can. At least a few industries - high tech, colleges & universities - it tends to not be much of an issue. Larger cities, and especially in California, at least care less about such things. I know I'm hiring you for your brain & not the container it comes in.

Long & short - legally, there is very little that can be done against someone for their appearance, and barring health issues there is little an employer can force beyond basic suggestions - don't flash your tats at a prospective client. Those who state "I'd never hire you & your hidden tats" either aren't in a position to do so or don't realize the potential mountain of a legal mess that will fall on them if they act on their prejudices.

This varies a lot from employer to employer. At my workplace, you can not have a visible tattoo. That's one of the reasons that I don't have my forearms done (although they probably will be eventually). I'd have to wear long-sleeves all year long. A friend works in an elementary school. He is working on a full-sleeve. If you consider the area in which he teaches, most of the kids parents (dad AND mom) probably have ink. The kids enjoy seeing what's been added after he has a session. The child in his room with Down's syndrome has sat on his lap, and traced the tattoo lines. When I went in for my interview at my current job, I didn't wear my earring. But after a few weeks, I put it in and no one said anything. The hospital (my employer) just recently added a "piercing" section to the dress code. Only two earrings per ear. Lip rings or nose rings may not be worn at work.

While larger cities seem more tolerant, it's often that larger cities have the kinds of jobs available that will allow a person to have that kind of body adornment. There are many industries that would not allow facial ornamentation of any kind, such as most legal offices, financial corporations, and others of that ilk.

I used to work in a call center environment and we hired many people with tattoos, piercings and other "alternative" appearance modifications, because they did not ever get seen by the general public or the clients. These folks, however, were rarely promoted to higher positions and it is likely that appearance was a large factor.

Yes, they interfere with getting a job. Most employers desire their potential employees to be a bit professional in appearance. It shows they are willing to at least put forth an effort. If, when you go to fill out an application or to be interviewed, you cannot bother dressing to impress - and that means not having things hanging from odd places or stuck where most middle-aged people don't stick things - then it is, in the mind of many interviewers an indication that the person will not put forth much effort in the workplace.

People that supervise in business places want employees that will conform to the rules. Subconsiously, seeing someone that has facial tattoos and alternative piercings says that this person likes to do their own thing - thus not follow rules.

As for cities - I do not know.

It completely depends upon the job. If you are ready to enter a professional field, the piercings will have to go and the tattoos will need to be covered up. The same goes for the sales jobs. On the other hand, if you're going for construction or a mall job, it depends upon the bias of the one doing the hiring.

It's going to depend on what job you're applying for really. In a business setting, not advisable at all. I've known people to be turned down for having visible tattoos and facial piercings.

First impression seems to count for most jobs. I wouldn't recommend going to a job interview with your piercings on or showing all of you tattoos. Many jobs won't allow piercings or tattoos. So if you were to get hired they would ask you to find a way of hiding a tattoo and removing you piercing.

It really depends on what field your working in and yes some cities might be more tolerant of tattoos and piercing then others.

in some places yes, and in others no,

if you were to apply for a job at Hot Topic or a tattoo parlor or someplace like that i think it would actually be a plus.

but to most places, facial piercings or visible tattoos would definitely affect wither a person would get a job.

i know a lot of people that have plugs and have to cover them up with monster-huge bandages.

Yeah they kinda do. I work in a hospital and they don't allow facial piercings only for safety reasons. But other places might not look at them much or maybe even more. I personally don't mind them at all. I guess it depends on where you may work at!