Tattoos and the professional image

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Tattoos and the professional image
February 21, 2011
Jay Marchmon
WPSD

PADUCAH, Ky. - Millions of Americans have at least one tattoo. It's a growing way to express creativity, individuality or solidarity, and a certain aesthetic. However, some employers are still a little leery about workers having visible ink.
It's a fairly common story these days: someone interviews for a position (usually dressed in a business suit or "business casual"), and once he or she gets the job, the jacket comes off and the tattoos come out.
Many people feel that unless it's a job that requires tattoos, they can't go into most office settings with a sleeve of tattoos. But when people get to know the person underneath the ink, they often see that they're more than just the images.
Some bosses say they feel the tattoos have no impact on job performance. But many employers may not have that same vision. Most people say they don't judge a book by its cover, or a person based on appearance, but the reality is many do.
But there's little doubt tattoos are more mainstream than even twenty years ago. A 2008 survey showed a quarter of US adults in their 30's, and 32% of 25 to 29 year-olds have at least one.
But it's the placement of body art that could be the issue at hand. Taking into account what kind of career a person wants is a factor in where on the body a person gets a tattoo.

Despite their popularity, visible tattoos could still lead some people to question the wearer's professionalism. Whether or not the idea of visible tattoos is unprofessional, many with ink stand behind the decision they made. And the beauty, as well as the shock, is in the eye of the beholder.