Joe asked on Snagajob’s Facebook:
“Can jobs really discriminate against me because of my hair? I have dreadlocks, and I’ve heard it looks unprofessional, or its too long, but I could wear a hair net or hat – plus I saw females working with very long hair.”
While dreadlocks shouldn’t prevent you from getting a job, you need to make sure your hairstyle is clean and controlled no matter how you wear your hair. Remember that maintaining a professional image by carefully choosing what you wear for interviews is even more important than usual when you choose to express yourself through style selections.
Tattoos
I have a tattoo, but you won’t catch me showing it off in interviews. It’s on the top of my foot, so when I’m wearing my $14 interview suit and heels it’s extremely obvious (see picture at right) – that’s why I spend an extra 20 minutes putting on tattoo cover up and making sure it doesn’t show. I’m fortunate to work in an ink-friendly environment, but when I came in to speak to them about the job it was completely covered with makeup. Once, I put on tattoo coverup and an interview outfit just to drop off a reference letter. Why? Because there was a chance I’d be seeing the hiring manager when I stopped by (that was actually what I was hoping for). I don’t think my tattoo is controversial or offensive, but I don’t want interviewers to focus on anything but my qualifications.
Piercings
One hole per ear is safe, but avoid wearing big earrings that will distract the interviewer. Beyond that, take out any extra piercings that you can. I have a few extra holes in my ear, but for interviews I go one stud per earlobe – period.
Facial piercings are distracting at best, and against company policy at worst. And clicking your tongue piercing against your teeth while you nervously ponder an interview question is annoying to the interviewer – not to mention bad for your teeth.
Hair style
No matter how you choose to wear your hair, make sure it is clean, controlled and out of your face. If you’re applying for food service positions, this is extra important, but it’s good to remember for any interview. You want the interviewer to remember your awesome follow-up interview questions, not how you wear your hair or how you couldn’t stop messing it.
Hair color
Unnatural hair colors (pink, blue, green, etc.) will be an issue for some almost all employers. I know a lot of talented people with alternative hairstyles (my last boss had pink hair, and a close friend of mine is an art director with hot pink hair), but if they were job hunting they’d tone it down with a more natural color. Unless you can find a job with an employer who will view your alternative style as a positive, you need to ask yourself what’s more important – your hair color or your chance to land the job.
You can never be too careful when you’re trying to make a great impression. Personal expression is empowering, but until you’ve landed a job with an employer who appreciates unique personal expression (or you’ve become successful enough to own your own business), it’s best to let your qualifications, not your personal style, stand out during your job search.
About Amy White
I think covering up tattoos is very crucial to landing a job. It all depends on where your applying at…at a tattoo shop not a problem….at a govt. or professional type of job not a good idea……….4204ever………….
I’m sorry but to me, this is prejudicial. Tatoos are, to some, a practice and therefore should not be held against a potential employee. The tatoo doesn’t make them less efficient or a bad employee nor does it say anything about their character. If employers are seeing this as a ‘main’ reason not to employee; I have a big problem with that. I’ve done interviews with tatooed employees and gave NO CREDIT/DISCREDIT due to having them. The problem here is that pre-conceived ideals is leading the judgement of the employer and that is wrong. “If they have tattoos, they are not good employees”. So wrong.
I realize that it is those pre-conceived notions that either get you the job or doesn’t but it still does not make it right.
nobody said it was right its life and yea if you want to change then stand up for it but fr most part these days work is hard to get so thats more important to some and it goes above the managers head sometimes it is actually in the papers of rules for them
In Colorado, all the employments laws benefit the companies and not the employees. as a subcontractor in Denver, I’ve seen numerous occassions where coworkers of mine were asked to cover their tattoos. The reason: They were sleeved out and some of the tattoos were mistaken for gang tattoos. I personally dont have much problem with tattoos and in fact am personally working on getting sleeved out myself. However, it has unfortunately been proven to me that the powers that be in the world of job hunting dont like tattoos in general because they cant always tell what story you’re trying to tell with your ink. My advice? Dont get a tattoo anywhere that you can’t cover it up, such as hands, neck, etc. Theres a time and a place for self expression, and unfortunately a job interview isnt one of them.
It’s not prejudice. To some people tattoos don’t look professional and plus some places have a dress code. If they don’t want you working there because of your tattoo, don’t work there. It’s their loss.
It is not prejudicial. Tattoos are appearance. I love the way you tattoo brainwashed by Hollywood people, want to exert your individuality yet hate it when a business owner exerts theirs. Seems hypocritical. I wont hire people with long hair , though they can cut it if iv goes well, pants on the ground crowd, jeans crowd etc. Like it or not tattoos are appearance. I have the right to make as much money as possible and tattoos affect the bottomline. By the way I think tattoos are ugly and dirty and nasty. That is my right to think that , Sorry that you may have screwed your chances in life, but that is the lesson you learn when you are brainwashed into a fad that you can not escape, Have a great day.
I have short hair that is really hard to put up. It’s not any unusual colors or styles, but I have a hard time keeping up and neat. Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Sarah! Since it’s not anything too unusual, you should be okay. Do you use any type of styling gel to keep it in place so it looks neat?
My type of hair requires me to use so much gel or hairspray to keep it up that it looks messy and unprofessional. I’ve been told that I should use hair glue, but I’ve checked the prices and it is really expensive with my funds the way they are right now. I’ve had some success lately with using a hair claw, but pieces still fall down around my face.
i would visit a salon, if you could afford one and see if they could help you. Hair glue is not good for hair at all. sometimes is can make your hair break off. I don’t understand why someone would tell you to use that. It sounds like you have very thick hair. if that is the case, a stylist can thin it out for you.
I have medium shoulder length hair, what type of hair styles are best for interviews??
Hi Alexandria – I think you will be fine if you keep it down and styled neatly (like straightened or loosely curled). Also, is this the email address you are using to apply for jobs? You should change it to something more generic, like your first and last name. It may sound silly, but your email address does matter: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/why-recruiters-care-about-your-email-address/.
I like hair that is pulled back and controlled even if it just a hairband. What about a french braid or a low ponytail. If the tail is too short tuck under into a makeshift bun.
I used to be the CEO of an architectural products manufacturer. I had a rule of no visible tattoos, piercings, extreme hair styles or clothing.
We produced products for large commercial buildings, hospitals, major hotels and the like. Our projects ranged up to $2 million. Our primary contacts were large commercial project developers, architects and interior designers. These are people that would take a dim view of tats, piercings and such. They would come to our place of business to tour our production facilities to evaluate us and our capabilities. Perfection was required. Just on this impression, they would determine our level of professionalism and that impression could be a deal breaker. You simply can not afford to lose one of these customers.
I remember one particular young woman we interviewed for a position in the plant. She came to the interview well dressed and was hired. When she came to work the next Monday, her hair looked like it was standing on end, she had nine (9) ear piercings on each ear with ear rings in each. The one I particularly remember was a plastic black cat with it’s back arched and tail up.
She was wearing a man’s undershirt (wife beater style), men’s boxer shorts and black high top tennis type shoes. I saw her and went to my production manager and told him to send her home with an explanation of how she should be dressed for work. I also told him to tell her that if she needed, she could stop by the office and pick up a check for money to go to a thrift store to buy the appropriate clothes.
She picked up the check and was back at work the next day appropriately dressed and was always appropriately dressed after that. She turned out to be a very good employee and worked for us for years.
I was generally pretty loose about stuff like this. Tee shirts and shorts were allowed for production workers as long as the tee shirt didn’t have any printing on it. I knew they would eventually push the printing on the tee shirt beyond the limit and if anything was allowed, it would require a long list of what was allowed and what wasn’t and they would take advantage of any omission.
There was never a problem with the office workers. I wore a suit every day and that pretty much set the standard for everyone else. They simply understood and complied.
I do remember one man I hired as a Sales Rep. He was always professional in everything he did but he had a younger brother who went to work for IBM upon graduation. On his first day, he wore a navy blazer and gray slacks with an appropriate red tie. He was sent home with instructions to dress appropriately and come back to work the next day. IBM had a policy of medium to dark shades of blue and gray only and no sport coats or blazers. While I think of that as too extreme, they have been in business a long time and should know what works. My sales employees were only expected to wear a coat and tie. It could be a blazer or sport coat and only expected to be color coordinated and look professional. My office emplyees were expected to dress in business appropriate styles. The production employees typically wore jeans and appropriate tops that would give the right impression to visiting customers.
Now, when “Business casual” came into vogue, I tried it but it didn’t work for me. I just didn’t feel professional and my sales volume dropped. After a few weeks, I went back to coat and tie and sales responded.
.
Hi Frank! Thank you for sharing. This is a great example about how you present yourself at the interview vs. how you present yourself at work.
hi kim kovac my name is cameron smith and my question is. how can i bill my resume 2 look good 4 the employer 2 interview me
Hi Cameron! Check out these articles http://www.snagajob.com/resources/resumes-applications/, I think they can help you. Be sure to list all relevant experience and make sure your contact information is easy to read. It is always a good idea to have someone look over your resume/application before sending it to an employer, you might have missed something!
i think you should not get a tattoo in the first place
Then it’s a good thing you don’t get paid to think.
HaHaHa lol Amen!
I have first hand experience in being discriminated because of my long hair(I am a male…). Employers seem to discriminate even when I have it pulled back in a pony tail. Its ridiculous…
Having dreadlocks or tattoos does not put you into a protected class. Just like many states (and our Federal Government) do not have laws against sexual preference discrimination, there are no laws against hiring someone because of their hair style or tattoos. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from discriminating against employees or applicants on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion or sex (gender). Add in pregnancy discrimination and ADA and you still don’t have anything that prohibits employers from not hiring you because they don’t like your hair. Not saying it’s right, but it is not “discrimination” according to our laws.
I know that it sucks though because I have been turned down from a job tyhat I was hired at but had to admit to having a 1 inch tatoo on my neck because it might be visible on my neck to the customer!!! I was told I could re apply if I was to get rid of it!! The olive garden did this to me!!!!!Talk about a real bummer!! I have been waiting tabes for 20 years to!!
When I worked at Disney a lot of people had tattoos but they put bandaids over them if it was going to be at all visible. Disney has some of the strictest dress codes that I’ve seen, and if they’re fine with this solution it might help you with future applications.
I have interviewed and done the interviewing and one thing that really stands out is misspelled words! Please make sure you check your resumes/notes/thank you letters carefully.
What do you think about a beard and pony tail. Both are kinda of short.
Hi Mark – It really depends on how neat you keep them and the type of place you are interviewing at. If you are going for an office job, it may be best to get rid of the pony tail. The beard really rests on how long it is and how messy it looks. It may be safe to err on the side of caution! You can always grow them back once you prove yourself to be a valuable employee
.
I find all those things about people offensive because when you are at an interview you want to look your best and at the least look decent too.
Tatoos body piercings and hair in different colors create a hostle environment.
A man should look like a man and dress the part the same for a woman too as well.
You’ll never get or land any job if your appearance looks like all those things described above.
Enough Said on the subject.
I personally do not think that tattoos, body piercings, and hair in different colors create a hostle environment. My fiance and my cousin both have tattoos and are great workers. They have never had an issue of hosility in their work environments. I also know some people who have different colored hair and they are also great workers who have never been a problem for their environment.
That’s funny because I have landed good jobs before with my tattoos and piercings. I don’t have piercings anymore, but have my tattoos on my arms. I have never been turned down for a job before, and I have always let my tattoos be seen so that people know I have them and if they don’t want to hire me because of them then good for them. I haven’t had that problem though. Unless the job is completely professional or like a big company then I would cover them. I’ve also dressed more boyish in my last couple interviews that I had in the past. I’m a girl, they didn’t care. I actually got GOOD comments on how I dressed. I do me when I’m going to an interview, not some fake person. If you don’t like me don’t hire me. I have a really good job now and they hired me with my tattoos and a couple piercings showing.
(edited)
Kaitlin,
I wish more people had your attitude. I believe it is not discrimination if a business has a standard for the workplace, provided they dont ‘create’ the standard just to avoid hiring someone. As long as it is the established standard and published so every knows about it when they apply it should not be considered discrimination. They way to fix those situations is not through legislation, it is through ‘not applying’. If enough people don’t apply for their jobs, they will either have to change their policies or go out of business. I believe you can not force tolerance, you can only force compliance and that should not be the goal.
As has been stated many times already, sometimes it is the corporate environment that drives the appearance standards. Tattoos, piercings, shorts, etc dont say anything about the qualifications of an individual, but they may turn away a potential customer or client who is offended. The business needs to decide if they can afford to lose that business or not.
If you are going to pass laws to try to keep from offending people then you have to acknowledge that some people are offended by tattoos just as much as those of us who have them (yes I have a tattoo on my upper arm) are offended by those that dont like them.
what would be the most appropriate thing to do in my case ? I have lower arm tattoos which can be covered by sleeves and facical piercings I can take out every day without a problem. but the only thing I’m worried about is ears , I have them stretched well over an inch, and I’m not sure if taking them out or leaving them in would be best, because when their out it leaves a large hole that wouldn’t be appealing to customers .. also my ears witl not go back to normal without a surgery which I font have the money for advice ?
Hi Nick – That’s a good question. It really depends on the type of job you a interviewing for. Use your best judgement as to what they will think about the stretchers. These articles may help: http://www.ehow.com/how_7726504_cover-ear-gauges.html and http://punkrockhr.com/ear-gauges-and-plugs/.
Many of these so-called “trendy”individuals never stopped to think that they have;(with the possible exception of laser surgery),branded themselves for life! Also,if most of them would have used the brain that they were born with;(if they’ve got one!),they would already know the religious prohibitions on these(Leviticus 19:28). Even if the individual could care less,they didn’t stop to think what the employer’s view of all this so-called trashy “body art” would be!!!
I personally feel that body art can be beautiful and is not always trashy. In the tattoo industry it people are encourged to get tattoos that have meaning to the wearer instead of having the reason of its trendy. I think that there are a lot of unfortante sterotypes about people with tattoos because of a lack of knowledge about tattoos.
I feel the same way about hairstyle and piercings. I know sometimes dreadlocks or locs as i call them, are a religious choice. I dont think its right that companies choose not to hire you if you have piercings or tattoos. I have a tattoo and i used to have my nose pierced. I never had a problem finding a job.
Most of the time people didn’t notice my piercing. they thought it was a piece of glitter.
Keep your opinion to yourself, you may not like people who choose to get tattoos or piercings. I personally dont like stuck up christians that think thier better than others cause of the way they portray themselfs. You arent any better than us so called “trendy” people… Your just a “lame” homie.
Gary
Tattoos are NOT trashy! They are an expression of something or someone people love. I have a number of tattoos and each one has a VERY special meaning. I do have most of them placed were they can be covered wearing a t-shirt. I have one on my hand that some people I have known for years ask, “did I just have that done. I tell them, “no, it’s been there for 12 yrs!”
Please don’t trash on people because they have “body art”. It is beautiful! One of my tats is my grand daughters baby foot prints from the hospital with her name and birth date with a heart shape flower vine around it. Everyone LOVES it, OLD and young! Ask someone one day what their tat means……you may change your opinion!
Well said!!!
I couldn’t have said it better, myself. What would we do without closed minded people?
Gary, though I respect your position on the religious views of tattoo work, I am compelled to comment. Your body is your temple,I wholeheartedly agree, I have seen the Sistine Chapel. It is truly a beautiful and spiritual place…. But, it is a temple of worship of the Lord. And as you gaze about the Chapel, in all its glory, your eyes read story after story of the bible. Now correct me if I am wrong…. but the Sistine Chapel is a temple of the Lord is it not?
I am quite heavily tattooed, I do choose to keep them covered when I am working, and make any and all attempts to be as professional as possible. And as you said before, I did think long and hard before I made any decisions on my tattoo work. I know that each and every tattoo I have deep and personal meanings for me and tell part of my life story. My body is my temple… and I think I like Michelangelo’s idea.
You guys are ridiculous!!!! I have tattoos, oh no I branded myself for LIFE!!! You people are super judgemental!! My tattoos are not “trashy”, flowers and my children’s names are not trashy. Quit being so judgy and sheltered… tattoos do not make people bad people. Tattoos are a sign of individuality!!
IF YOU GOING FOR INTERVIEW OR TO WORK WHY DRESS LIKE YOU GOING PARTY.
Just get a tattoo where you can cover it up or use makeup. Its as simple as that. BTW a tattoo doesnt make you any less in God’s eues. For he loves all his children. I have a small tattoo as a symbol of surviving and escaping death when it came almost too close twice in my life. It is a tribute to my life and a religious reminder to myself that God is always there.
What about full sleeves and hand and knuckle tattoos no way I can cover up all of them what pointers do you have?
Hi Mike! Can you wear long sleeves and cover up over your hands/knuckles? If this doesn’t work, try looking at places where you don’t think the tattoos would matter.
Just get a tattoo where you can cover it up or use a special cover-up meant for the covering of tats, it’s as simple as that. All body art isn’t considered a Sin so long as it is not ill in nature. It doesn’t make you any less in God’s eyes. For he loves all his children. I have a small tattoo as a symbol of surviving and escaping death when it came almost too close twice in my life. It is a tribute to my life and serves as a constant religious reminder to myself that God, Jehweh is always there.
I just got turned down for a job because I have dreadlocks (that were up in a cute bun) & also for the fact that I have two full sleeves. I think it’s ridiculous& I shouldn’t have to cover them up. I refuse to wear crappy cover up over my knuckles and arms to look good for an interview.
I think people need to get over it. It’s 2012. Most people these days have tattoos. It doesn’t make you suck at your job or make you a bad person.
Tattoos or hair styles should not have any bearing on capability of performing the job if you can do the job that is assigned in an efficient manner and be an asset to the company is what should matter bottom line
I have been finding the above article and the following questions and answers to be helpful until the most recent. These have been rude and not helpful to anyone. I am 29 and have tattoos. I have always known I was going into a professional world to work but I love my tattoos and do not plan on stopping my self expression. One thing about people who tat themselves is that they do know it is for life and they want that. I have my tats in places I have been lucky up until now that I am able to cover during interviews. I cover them until my employer and the people there know me and how I feel about my art. There is nothing wrong with people who get tattoos, body piercings, or do outrageous things with their hair. They are just like everyone else and should be judged on merit not appearance.
I am currently job seeking because my husband was transferred due to his job. I still have 4 more tattoos planned right this minute to get and at least 2 of them in more obvious locations to employers. While I would still cover them during an interview and present my best, I am not going to let anything stop me from getting tats because I enjoy them. I have always worked in an office and always will, so my having tats will not change that. But if you would like to add comments here they should be constructive to this conversation and not just attacking people who choose a different lifestyle.
I have four tattoos all together, two are cover by t-shirts, but I have two that are visible. One is on my right wrist and the other is on the underside of my left wrist.
Where I currently work (grocery store) I deal with customer’s all day and my employer doesn’t have a problem with these tattoos. I didn’t have these tattoos when I interviewed so I asked if they had a problem with me getting them or if they had a policy on them. They were fine with me getting them.
Now I’m trying to find a job in retail (clothing/ customer service) working with customers, what should I do about my tattoos when I go for interviews? Should I cover them up or be honest with the employer? If I were to get the job then I would cover them if they wanted me to. Dealing with customers now they don’t have a problem with them, I get a lot of good comments about them and people saying that they like them.
Hi Kim – You should play it safe for the interview and use coverup. If you are offered the job, ask about their tattoo policy in the negotiation phase. If they seem concerned tell them you have no problem covering up your tattoos (like you did in the interview), but want to check their policy to make sure. Better safe than sorry!
I am sorry, but those of you who wear tattoos and dreadlocks need to understand that some companies are looking for a “professional” look and some of those styles are just not acceptable. I have seen some employees with very small tattoos in hidden places which are fine, but those who have tattoos all over their arms and legs look like someone who was just released from prison. (I know – that is a stereotype, but it is what it is.) Although I have nothing against anyone wearing a tattoo and I believe it’s a matter of personal choice, I don’t want an employee representing my firm to cause any customer to question the type of character that person may or may not be.
In terms of dreadlocks, I have never seen any that looked good. Usually the hair is long and stringy looking. It also looks like their hair has never been washed. Sorry, I won’t hire or even consider anyone with dreadlocks. My bias, I know, but my right to how I want my firm represented to the general public and the image I want to present.
Hi David!
Not to be rude but ive had Dredlocks. They dont look stringy as long as they are taken care of properly. Dredlocks do get washed,they make special products just for Dredlocks. they just get frizzy every now and then.
Exactly David. The young generations are spoiled . They just expect that they can make these individual decisions, that they brag is a testament to their individuality and they are so myopic that they can not understand people like yourself , have a right to make a profit.
Gave up on trying to find a job…Haven’t had one since 2007
I even cut my dreads (of 4 years) last June in hopes of finding one…NOPE. Anyway, I’m growing my dreads back and if an employer decides not to hire for that reason then so be it. I also have tattoos and earrings but those can be removed or hidden. I’m just not going to do anything drastic like cutting my hair again. Take me as I am lol
I am currently working a retail job until a better paying one comes along (fingers crossed)! Let me state that I am over 50 and have been (I guess) a bit sheltered until I started working this job. The only people i knew with tattoos were men and they had them on their upper arms and it wasn’t a big deal. Now with everyone male and female getting them – and in large amounts – it causes people – like me – who are from different life types to have to be more open minded. I must admit that most if not all of the people i have met with large amounts of tattoos and piercings are the nicest ones. Very mild mannered and willing to give you a helping hand. If you give them a fair chance without judging them by what you may think is the right or wrong way to look – you’ll be pleasantly surprised. While I understand that appearances in the work place are important. I also think that hiring managers and CEO are going to have to start look beyond the surface or they are going to be missing out on a lot of great workers and contributors to society. JMO
OKAY JUST LISTENING IS PISSING ME OFF . SOME OF THE HIGHEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD HAVE TATTOOS YOU WOULDNT KNOW IT THOUGH BECAUSE THEIR COVERED BUT WHAT MAKES THEM DIFFERENT???? NOTHING MY OPINION IS TO JUST COVER THEM UP AT INTERVIEWS AND INQUIRE ABOUT THEM IF OFFERED THE JOB. AND FOR THE BUSINESS PEOPLE CRITIZING I HAVE 37 TATOOS AND I AM A BANK TELLER OF 3 YEARS SO STOP HATING AND LET GOD BE THE JUDGE AND LET THE EMPLOYER DO THE HIRING STOP BEING IGNORANT
Damb baby!
Why are youi shouting? I guess you want to be noticed. Hmmm 37 tattoos . I think I may be corrrect.
Well she’s prolly “yelling” because ignorant people like you make it seem like tattoos make you a bad person when really we’re expressing our selfs just like when people cut they’re hair or wear certain clothes or buy a certain vehicle, got me? Another thing is if your so “perfect” then you must be GOD? Cause only god is suppsed to judge not retards such as your self. People like you are the kind I stay away from so that I don’t end up catching an assult & battery charge, but odds are you woudn’t be man enough to speak your opinion out loud, and I call that internet gangsters.
Peace, John Doe
Why am I a retard? Because I think tattoos are ugly? We all judge the way people look, what they wear, length of hair etc. It is called life. You getting so angry and calling me names , further proves my point about character. You choose to be individual and use that word loosely, since I think tattoos were set up by Hollywood to manipulate. I digress. The point is that you have the right to get as many tattoos as you want and I have the right not to hire people , whatever type of APPEARANCE, I see as negative for my business. I make more money , when sales reps for my company have a more professional look. If I owned a dive bar, maybe I would hire tatted waitresses. Please do not play that high and mighty on me. If any of you as much as rejects someone for a date, you are judging on appearance.
thanks shante cause i have legs sleeves and all and im no diffrent
I’m 18 and my search for a job in the past 6 months has resulted in unsuccessful after unsuccessful, always after reaching a physical interview stage. I have a lip piercing, nose piercing and long bright red hair (which is well kept at all times). My nose piercing is fresh and I was advised to wear a hoop (if it wasn’t already distracting enough for an interviewer) which I can’t change at the moment because I don’t want to irritate it. I only need a job for a few months before going to uni so I point blank refuse to dye my hair brown only to damage it by going red again in less than half a year. I’ve had my lip piercing for 4 years, i’ll wear a retainer in it for work and one in my nose for work (when it heals). Not to toot my own horn, but I’m going to one of the best universities in the world, I worked damn hard to be offered a place so I find it slightly ironic that I can’t even get a small retail job where I would also invest my dedication. It just goes to show that in cases involving tattoo’s, hair colour and piercings that the aesthetics often over weigh your actual knowledge and intellect, as well as how capable you are of doing the job. I feel like a bright hair colour that is well maintained would suggest that you care enough about your hair to keep it bright and not letting it fade – which involves much more maintenance than a natural hair colour. It’s 2012 and any three of these things are a dime a dozen, people should just accept it and not the ridiculous stereotypes it accompanies, everyone I know with tattoo’s, piercings etc are fantastic people. When I working during the christmas period, not once did anyone say they didn’t like my hair or piercings, every day I was complimented on my hair colour, so it was actually a good talking point!
Every stick has two ends
Having tattoos and wierd hair color may actually increase your chances of getting hired! In some non traditional office settings, it is actually accepted. But do not expect to get a daylight job if you have purple hair! You will more than likely get second or third shift jobs if your hair is wild. This is because tradition dictates the workplace. But no fear, you may actually get paid more for you non-traditional approach! Second and third shift positions average an 8-15% shift differential. So don the tats and piercings!
Great point, Joanne! Thank you for sharing
This makes me very angry. I have just completed a qualification in Diploma in Early Childhood Education and i have deep purple hair —like katy perrys new purple hair. And in my industry we are sopose to be non bias and accepting to all race, etc and i have family and friends saying i wont land a position because of my purple hair….. Um my industry is being with children and i dont think the children would mind the colour and as for me representing the company i am a well dressed individual just my hair is different. So they can accept all different cultures as they say in my industry but you cant accept purple hair….. WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO HONESTLY…….
Once I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now every time a remark is added I get four emails with exactly the same comment. Is there any indicates you possibly can remove me from that service? Thanks! 680237
Hi there! I will look into this for you. We haven’t heard of this happeneing, so I am not sure why you are getting so many emails. Thanks for letting us know!
I totally agree that Employers take first impressions
serious.
A person that works hard to establish a company wants
its customers focused on their products and or services,
if they are distracted, or their attention is drawn away by
your appearance it takes their attention away from
the company and puts it on you, thus the company sees that
as promoting your own ideas etc.
Yes its is about expression ( hair style , tats, piercings, clothes )
so if you want to be the center of attention its best you ” start your own business”
then when some OLD PERSON WITH A HAIR BUN comes applying for a job remember
yourself ” don’t judge them based on looks ” lol for real? do you need this drawn out in a cartoon to understand?
Imma get yatted like a bika boi!!!!
tats are f*cking awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a interview with the bank soon and the side of my head is shave I am wondering will that cost me the job if put in a neat bun and its neatly cut?
Hi Trisha! Try to make it as professional looking as possible. Good luck and let me know how it goes
Alright, my opinion for what it is worth. The bottom line is businesses cater to customers of which some are more conservative. The business world is for the most part more conservative as such more liberal minded people should be willing to compromise by covering up their tattoos/piercings while in the workplace. Appearance does affect the bottom line in more professional businesses. Fact. It is privilege to have a job not a right. Times change but slowly. A hundred years ago women had to wear dresses now they don’t. Patience and humility change hearts more than trash talk/rebellion. I have seven tattoos and seven piercings and I understand that I will have to cover them up when at work. I don’t mind that. People on here wailing about discrimination sound like little kids. Employers don’t let people where swimsuits or pajamas to work either doesn’t make them prejudice.
See this is bs i got tattoos for them to be seen not to cover them up i have full sleeves back and hands and ever time I go for an interview they wont stop looking at my hands even if im over qualified for the job and there has been many times where i walk in and they tell me to leave cuz of my hands there needs to be something done about this
hi. I’m 18 and i really want a job. But my mom tells me i need to change my hair because apparently it’s “weird” it’s a dark brown color(no unnatrual hair colors), it’s long, and i comb it over. . She says it looks like a comb over and needs to be changed. Will this affect my chance of getting a job?
IN REPLY TO GARY GORDON
You need to put that scripture in context. It does say that a person should not cut themselves for the dead nor tattoo themselves. However, the cutting was in reference to how people in that time mourned the dead. As for the tattooing that referred to individuals who marked their bodies with idols/representations of idols. Gods they worshiped. Most people who get piercings and tattoos today do so for cosmetic reasons not to mourn the dead nor worship idols. As far as idols only God can judge the heart on that. If a christian feels guilty about getting tattoos/piercings they shouldn’t. However, I have both and don’t feel that I am worshiping the devil in anyway. Furthermore, I do consider myself a devout christian with a very strong relationship with Jesus Christ. I understand that you have your opinion just keep the context of scripture in mind before you use it to justify your opinions.
Hi Lauren! Without actually seeing how your hair looks, I can’t really judge how an employer will see it. Feel free to email a pic to facebook@snagajob.com for our opinion. But, it doesn’t sounds too bad from what you’re saying here!