Tattoos, Piercings, and Your Career

You need to be aware that tattoos and pierces are not popular with employers. In a recent survey conducted by Vault.com, over half of the managers surveyed said they would be less likely to hire an applicant with visible tattoos and body piercings.

Carefully consider any permanent or temporary body modification, especially tattoos. It’s fine to get a tattoo, just make sure that it is something that you will be happy to carry around for the next 50 years. If you get a tattoo in a visible area, such as a neck, ankle, or hand, it will be hard to hide from potential employers.

If you are interviewing, you should hide your tattoos and remove pierces, if they are in obvious, visible places.

How do you hide a tattoo?

Two cosmetic products are commonly used for tat cover-up:

You may find other products work through experimentation. Make sure you test out the cover-up well before your interview, so you know it will work!

How do you hide a piercing?

Obviously, you can just remove the jewelry, and hope no one notices the hole. Some piercings, however, will heal over very quickly if barbells or rings are removed. In that case, you should use a retainer. This is usually a clear acrylic post that keeps the piercing open, but isn’t very visible. They usually cost between $10-$25 dollars.

To see examples, look at:

Note: Links are included in this document for examples; we have no connections with these vendors. We make no endorsement of the safety of these products.

I’m thinking of getting a tattoo or a piercing; what do I need to know?

Body modifications can be an artistic means of self-expression—and they can also expose you to some potentially fatal health risks, including Hepatitis, gangrene, and HIV-AIDS.

We encourage you to read the APP (Association of Professional Piercers) requirements for piercing safety.