How a tattoo affects your job prospects
- 5 years ago
Once the preserve of sailors, bikers and rock stars, tattoos are increasingly widespread, particularly among the young. But what do employers think of them?
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Now these indelible art works are everywhere. One in five American adults has a tattoo. That number doubles for those under 40. But what happens when these people look for work?
Have tattoos in the workplace lost their taboo? Tattoos still signal rebelliousness, an asset for rock stars but not for customer service employees. Visible tattoos make employers nervous. A survey from careerbuilder, a recruitment and job site, found that 31% of employers say that visible tattoos is the top personal attribute that would make them less likely to promote a candidate.
If tattoos are so common why are they perceived as such a liability? Empirical studies have long shown that tattoos are associated with risk taking behaviours like smoking, alcohol abuse, and a higher number of sexual partners and that stigma persists in the workplace despite the changing demographics of tattoo aficionados.
But as more inked rebels turn into board members statistics on behaviour are destined to change too. In the meantime for those that want their ink with a salary - be strategic, cover your irreverent mark. At least during the interview.
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Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7
Now these indelible art works are everywhere. One in five American adults has a tattoo. That number doubles for those under 40. But what happens when these people look for work?
Have tattoos in the workplace lost their taboo? Tattoos still signal rebelliousness, an asset for rock stars but not for customer service employees. Visible tattoos make employers nervous. A survey from careerbuilder, a recruitment and job site, found that 31% of employers say that visible tattoos is the top personal attribute that would make them less likely to promote a candidate.
If tattoos are so common why are they perceived as such a liability? Empirical studies have long shown that tattoos are associated with risk taking behaviours like smoking, alcohol abuse, and a higher number of sexual partners and that stigma persists in the workplace despite the changing demographics of tattoo aficionados.
But as more inked rebels turn into board members statistics on behaviour are destined to change too. In the meantime for those that want their ink with a salary - be strategic, cover your irreverent mark. At least during the interview.
Daily Watch: mind-stretching short films throughout the working week.
For more from Economist Films visit: http://films.economist.com/
Check out The Economist’s full video catalogue: http://econ.st/20IehQk
Like The Economist on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEconomist/
Follow The Economist on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theeconomist
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeconomist/
Follow us on LINE: http://econ.st/1WXkOo6
Follow us on Medium: https://medium.com/@the_economist