People with a few visible tattoos...?

Well I must say it's nice to hear somebody actually considering their careers and futures when thinking about ink - so many kids rushing out and recklessly getting things without considering the consequences - only the other day did I see a post on a different forum from a 17 year old who got a tattoo of a skull in the centre of his throat and wondered why he couldn't find a job!

But for your question - well this has been the reason stopping my from having any work done on my arms, however this year I have made the decision to go down to my elbows (not full half sleeves but the designs I have in mind). I am studying to be a teacher, and as much as I love my tattoos, my future, or rather my son's future, comes first, so I would never do anything to jeapordise that. But I've done a great deal of research, spoken to many schools across the country (England) and many teachers - there are a few schools that actually don't mind visible ink within reason, however the majority say that a teacher can have any amount of ink as s/he wants, as long as it is hidden. Having spoke to a great deal of teachers about this, including a friend of mine who teaches maths and has a full sleeve, the general consensus is that it is not *that bad* to have to wear full sleeves (as in clothing sleeves!) for work, even in summer. For a woman, in particular, on a hot day you can keep just as cool in a loose fitting, floaty, long sleeves white top, as you can in a strappy top - and the latter looks less professional anyway.

I think as long as you're willing to wear long sleeves then you shouldn't have a problem - what they don't see, they don't know about, and generally don't mind about even if they did know. Perhaps wait until the next batch of warm weather comes around, and invest in some of these floaty tops as mentioned, and see if you can survive spending some hot days in these. If you can take it - then I'd say that's a green light for go! :-) Good luck!

right now I'm in retail. there aren't many desk jobs open right now (or else I would have a nice one where I could show my tattoos and even go to work in my PJ's if I wanted). retail doesn't always care about tattoos, but just like a lot of other jobs, it depends on the business. I work at a video game store and visible tattoos aren't frowned upon (in fact, I think video game-based tattoos are expected, which I have 3 of so far) and I have 2 clearly visible tattoos. one is an armband, one is a half sleeve and there is a little bit of another tattoo visible from under the sleeve of my t-shirt. customers either ignore them or ask me about them. many of them even tell me they like them.

don't think I'll be in retail/factories for the rest of my life though. I am working on a career while I'm not at work.

I have on on my chest, but right now I'm a student. However, I don't plan on having any tattoos I can't cover with a long sleeve button down shirt and a knee length skirt.

On the top half of your arm, you should be able to cover it easily for any jobs that might not approve. It may be somewhat shallow of them, but that's just the way it is. As long as you don't mind covering it if you must, you're fine.

There is actually a tattoo magazine out there that shows people with full sleeves, or any kind of clearly visible tattoo, and another shot of the same person with the job they do. When they are dressed in work attire they look professional and all tattoos are covered. There are doctors, teachers, really anything.

I forget the name of that magazine though.

Most people I know with visible arm tattoos are either in a trade, like hairdressing, or have an artsy job that doesn't care about tattoos. Most business and professional careers aren't so happy about tattoos, but if you can cover it (i.e. just don't wear any see through or really short sleeves) then it shouldn't be as big of a problem.

I work in customer service and deal 99.9% of the time over the phone when it comes to my customers. Thankfully, I have a really nice boss though that doesn't care at all if I've got full sleeves. Most customers I come in contact with also dont mind it much either. I think it all kinda depends on what you have tattooed on you though also. Theres too much ppl in this world that are so closeminded and just have negative things to say.

I work in a tax and accounting office as a sales tax specialist and have tattoo on my wrist that is visible all the time and then i have the ones on my ankles that you can see in the summer...i havent had a problem with anyone at all

I have one friend who is a make up artist with tattoos on his chest, arms, and neck. I have another friend that works in politics for a Californian assemblyman; he has tattoos on his forearms and calves. My sister works for a church and has tattoos on her ankles (she wears skirts often). I know a few pre-school teachers that have tattoos on their ankles and chests. My dad and a few of his colleagues at Palm Inc (the people who make palm pilots and palm phones) have tattoos on their arms.

Cover them up for the job interview and important meetings, and don't show them off. It depends on where you work, but many people don't mind tattoos if you can cover them at appropriate times. Find a laid-back or creative place to work and I doubt they'd mind it.

Once I stopped wearing an ace bandage to cover the tattoo on my forearm, or rather my students noticed it, I wasn't called back to my job as a fencing instructor. It was at a very prestigious all girl's school, fencer's dream job.

I am a psychologist and have one on my wrist that is visible. No one seems to have an issue with it. Some clients who come into me, feel more comfortable that I have one than those who do not.