#2: Can I have tattoos and still be a professional?

The burning question:

It only takes a quick scroll on LinkedIn to find at least one post begging the question, should tattoos be permitted in the workplace? To help us answer this question once and for all, we need to dissect a few things.

Origins:

Let us go back a few years before the tattoo generation really hit the heights we see in today's society. Tattoos have been traced as far back as the ancient Egyptians, intelligent pioneers whom constructed mega builds without any modern machinery that you and I see today. The term tattoo means to mark or be marked and has always been used as a means of communication throughout the ages. Some use tattooing to highlight rankings and/or skill sets in colonies and others used them as a way of asserting ownership. Regardless of their reasons, tattoos have transcended into life far and wide for times longer than company policies and human rights ever existed.

Early adoption:

I only have to take a few glances at my grandad's arms to witness some awful hand etched tattoos vaguely resembling anchors and swords which he conjured on himself as a young farmer in the 1940's. In this sense, yes they look aesthetically distasteful, but amongst that light blue ink is a story which has shaped my grandad into the man he is today. My grandad, had been a crane driver before sadly losing his eyesight 10 years ago. He travelled all over Europe constructing bridges, sculptures, statues and buildings. One of his more notable constructions is the Angel of the North, Gateshead. Is it asking too much to draw similarities between the ancient Egyptians and my grandad? maybe so, but what I can say is, regardless of their tattoos, their ability and skill is what kept the Pyramids, and keeps the Angel of the North, standing today (jaw drop moment).

Investment in the industry

As previously mentioned, tattoos of the older generations were whimsical. Fast forward to 2016 and you can find incredibly realistic tattoos and immensely talented artists alike. The improvements in the quality and diversity of inks, guns, needles as well as the boundary-less imaginations from artist and client, have provided us with a nation of individual, irreplicable masterpieces. Improvements to hygiene and health and safety legislation also make it more safer than ever, to have a stranger repeatedly strike you with a needle. With all that being said, it is worth noting that an established tattoo artist can charge anything from £50.00 up to excesses of £1000.00 per hour.

My point

Ultimately, as a young tattooed 22 year old just entering the business world, I feel I must voice my opinion on the subject. My tattoos have been met with scepticism by University lecturers, my parents, and also many fear that I am now unemployable due to the black markings on my skin. Let me be very clear. As and when I graduated from university, I went straight into employment training to become an accountant. First interview I had, I was offered the job, even beating non tattooed candidates to the position (imagine that).

After speaking with my employer about the tattoos I have on my arm, we both surprisingly came to a unanimous agreement that if anything, my tattoos triggered a talking point and removed boundaries to conversation making clients feel more at ease. I also noticed, that many of our clients were also somewhat tattooed. It begged the question, if candidates weren't allowed tattoos, why should the customers? Because money is money you might say, we need cash to survive! Well guess what, you need your employees to thrive! My tattoos have never hindered my ability to perform as an employee, and as a human being. We shouldn't invent materialistic boundaries that separate a tattooed individual being a professional. The world is changing and perceptions must change with it. in 20 years time when the 90's kids become the employers, the majority of us will all be tattooed anyway! Embrace your employees individual identities and utilise it to your advantage. At the end of the day, we are all human and should be treated like one.

Summary:

Don't pass up the chance to employ someone remarkable because of what customers might think! We are more than what we appear on the outside. The world is filled with projections of how society should look, and look at where its got us.

Also a final sound bit of advice for anyone wanting tattoos, like a business, you get what you pay for, invest wisely in yourself and your artist and watch your career blossom.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to post comments below.

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Article Career Culture Modern professional

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