Employed With Facial Ink...AND NOT A TATTOO ARTIST
It was brought to my attention that in my last blog about having facial tattoos, I forgot the section on employment. I don't know how I could have done that because it's one of the most frequent questions I get asked. But I am employed and I'm not in the body modification industry, the music industry or an art industry that allows me to look the way I do without the stigma or hesitation to hire that lingers in the "normal" workforce. I mean, I am an author and I do make money off my books, but I also have a normal job, two of them, actually; they're both retail jobs. One job I absolutely love. The guys that I work with are hilarious, we have good times and we all work well together. My other job, I don't really like so much. It's pretty stiff and I'm always anxious there.
Was it hard getting interviews?
No, it wasn't hard getting interviews. It was difficult after the interviews. People liked me, my resume, but my tattoos were a stopper for them. Company policies mainly, and not people disliking what I'd chosen to cover my body with. I really don't see how ink in a person's skin defines work ethic. If anything, it shows dedication and commitment to something, which are two of the things employers look for in employees. It was a little hard getting a job at first, but with my two current employers, both of them said the tattoos aren't a problem. I even added onto my facial ones while working at my favourite job! In the last job that I left, they weren't an issue, despite it being more of an upscale retailer; they even let me work the front. If it wasn't for the manager riding my ass and making me feel like shit all the time, I don't think I'd have really wanted to leave all that much.
Do customers have issues with you being so tattooed?
No, I've not really had any negative reactions. I've had a few from people, but nothing to really write home about. Actually, I get more positive reactions than anything. They want to show me their ink, tell me their stories and ask me mine. It's kind of a bonding experience for all of us. Connecting through art, important memories that all of us treasure for different reasons. They want to share their stories with me and they want to hear mine. That's one of the best things about tattoos; they're great to start conversations with and make connections with other people over.
Have you ever had one specific tattoo stop you from being employed?
No. It was never one specific tattoo. Well, not to my knowledge anyway. That would be strange considering the few vulgar ones that I have are covered by my clothes ; )
I didn't think I would tattoo my face; actually, I thought I would just have sleeves. I didn't have plans to tattoo my face, hands, neck/throat.
Was it hard getting interviews?
No, it wasn't hard getting interviews. It was difficult after the interviews. People liked me, my resume, but my tattoos were a stopper for them. Company policies mainly, and not people disliking what I'd chosen to cover my body with. I really don't see how ink in a person's skin defines work ethic. If anything, it shows dedication and commitment to something, which are two of the things employers look for in employees. It was a little hard getting a job at first, but with my two current employers, both of them said the tattoos aren't a problem. I even added onto my facial ones while working at my favourite job! In the last job that I left, they weren't an issue, despite it being more of an upscale retailer; they even let me work the front. If it wasn't for the manager riding my ass and making me feel like shit all the time, I don't think I'd have really wanted to leave all that much.
Do customers have issues with you being so tattooed?
No, I've not really had any negative reactions. I've had a few from people, but nothing to really write home about. Actually, I get more positive reactions than anything. They want to show me their ink, tell me their stories and ask me mine. It's kind of a bonding experience for all of us. Connecting through art, important memories that all of us treasure for different reasons. They want to share their stories with me and they want to hear mine. That's one of the best things about tattoos; they're great to start conversations with and make connections with other people over.
Have you ever had one specific tattoo stop you from being employed?
No. It was never one specific tattoo. Well, not to my knowledge anyway. That would be strange considering the few vulgar ones that I have are covered by my clothes ; )
I didn't think I would tattoo my face; actually, I thought I would just have sleeves. I didn't have plans to tattoo my face, hands, neck/throat.
Comments
Post a Comment