You’re interviewing a sublime candidate. This person checks off all the academic, educational and culture requirements needed to excel in your department. The interview is over, so you reach over to shake his/her hand and… is that a wrist tattoo?
With apps such as Instagram and Snapchat booming, our society is becoming increasingly visual. Self-expression and creativity are integral in the millennial generation, which will eventually be making up most of our workforce. Let’s face it, you’re going to see a lot of tattoos. But times have changed, so should your perceptions regarding body ink.
Body art has a not-so-great history in the workplace due to the stigma it carries. Tattoos are usually associated with criminals, violence and rebels causing employers to discriminate – intentionally or subconsciously – against potentially super candidates who have visible body art. This is because some employers believe that tattoos make a candidate appear less professional. However, does body art have anything to do with how well a candidate can perform their job? The obvious answer is no. One may argue, however, that looking professional is just as important as acting professional. But what does looking “professional” entail now? How does an arm tattoo detract from the professionalism of a suit? There are many ways to look at this picture.
That’s not to say that some industries aren’t more creative about hiring candidates with tattoos. For example, industries with more creative environments – i.e., a graphic design department – or workplaces with a causal dress code would likely be more lenient when it comes to tattoos. A professional law firm – or a similar business that emphasizes professionalism or conformity – might find visible tattoos unacceptable, due to the nature of their work. In a business to client setting, having tattoos could possibly be a disadvantage if a client is judgmental.
14% of employers said they would be less likely to hire a candidate if they had a tattoo. But that leaves a larger number of employers who wouldn’t take into consideration. Many companies try to promote themselves as “forward thinking” and “open minded” – not being open to tattoos would be the opposite of this brand, and they could receive backlash for the hypocrisy. Openly accepting people, regardless of their body ink or self expression, changes company culture and public perception of the company. As the saying goes, “actions speak louder than words.”
The attitude towards tattoos will likely change over time as society becomes more accepting of body art due to cultural influences and the constant rise of social media and influencers. This will eventually translate over to the workplace as well. Employers must be more open minded otherwise they could miss great talent. Requests can always be made for candidates to cover up any visible tattoos – but unless they’re blatantly controversial (such as a nude person or a weapon), why bother? Many candidates take initiative to cover up their own tattoos already. As society progresses, it’ll be a lot harder to find candidates under 30 without ink as self-expression or creativity.
The idea of tattoos are no longer being viewed in a negative light. Do you know what’s worse than tattoos? Losing out on a great candidate!
