not quite your normal tat question

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Originally Posted by Christina

Thanks for all the opinions. You all have valid points.

I'm going to be a band director and teacher, most likely jr. high setting, so my wrists are showing A LOT! And almost no matter what, teaching positions are more conservative. ie- appearance, manner, etc. I would love to have sleeves and piercings galore, but I know it's a dream that will not be realized due to my future profession. That's why I'm settling on something small.

I'm working for a company in downtown chicago right now, and there a lots of visible tattoos. I might just get it done after I have a solid job, but I am also impatient. It frustrates me that tattoos are such a turn off to people, especially since mine is my passion, and small. and with the job market the way it is, I really don't want to be dumped due to a small tat.

It's a risk, so we'll have to see. I'm trying to come up with better places to have it done, but nothing seems to fit, especially since i want to be able to see it and have it be visible if i want. I dunno. Thanks for all your help!

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You could cover it up with a larger bracelet or a watch that you could get into wearing every day.

However, it could easily affect your job opportunities. Your job is a bit more flexible I think with hiring, but I don't know circumstances. The thing is, if you and another well ranked person were interviewed for the job and your tattoo was noticed, then something that fine of a line could give it to the other person. A strong school system may not want someone with a tattoo in their employment because of the ideas it could give children. Parents could come back saying 'this teacher has a tattoo and now my child wants one', so it would have to be something discrete consistently.

I'm getting one on my ankle, but I don't wear shorts of any kind. I am not too concerned about it, and that will be the only viewable tattoo that I would ever get (which would probably be covered everyday anyway). I'm also considering something on my back/shoulder area, which is discrete.

Remember, folks, she's applying for a teaching job, and I'm sure there's an exception to the rule, but all of the principals I know are pretty straight-laced and uptight and are looking for good, wholesome role models for their students. In THEIR opinion, this does not include teachers with tats or piercings.

In my career, I taught Chemistry and Biology for a few years, and when I set up a habitat for my Pueblan milk to illustrate mimicry, one administrator had an fit, raked me over the coals, demanded that I remove the animal from the classroom, and badmouthed me to the rest of the administration and staff. She told me that if this snake got out and students saw it in the hallway, there would be panic and stampeding, and someone might get hurt.

Luckily, my principal who did not like snakes, still thought it was a worthwile classroom display (and the kids loved to hold that Pueblan girl and watch her eat), so I got to keep it. The next summer at Daytona, I took orders from the rest of the Bio teachers and brought back balls and colubrids for their habitat displays. I still keep in touch, and my ex-coworkers still have their animals, and the kids still love them. They're fascinated.

So, I got off topic to illustrate the mindset that still exists with some administrators, but my advice is...get the tattoo as long as you can cover it when you want to. Plenty of teachers do just that--or they grow their hair AFTER they get hired (men). When your administrators see that you're an excellent teacher, your tat will mean very little. Just make sure it's not in the school district's dress code, because that would be grounds for termination.

Alot of it is location, as well. If you're in a conservative, closed-minded little town (like me!) you might have more problems getting a job.. although my company is not against tattoos and piercings.. so it might just depend on what company you're applying at.
In contrast, we went to Columbus, OH for a tattoo show.. and a few of the local police officers were tattooed! They were doing security at the show, but also showing their stuff. Personally, I love professionally-done, attractive tattoos, and would look at a person having a nice one, as a kindred spirit. If you get someone who's judgemental against tattoos, who does the hiring at a place, you'd be at the bottom of the pile in relation to non-tattooed people, I suppose. If you'd want to work at a place like that, it'd be something that you have to take into account before getting tattooed. If you're apprehensive at all, I would either not get tattooed, or get the tat in a place where you can cover it up, but also expose it if you want, depending on clothing choice.
For some, it might boil down to a choice between career choice, and tattoos. Personally, I value the ability to express myself on my own skin, before I would value taking a job that wouldn't allow this. But it's no offense meant to anyone who does not. This is one of the big reasons why I want to move to Cali; people in my area are very judgemental and quick to see a tattooed person as a derelict of society, unfortunately. By and large, in the parts of Cali that I frequented and want to look into, tattoos were not only permissable; they were pretty common. Having a husband who's a tattoo artist, looking to get into a better shop, it's logical.

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Originally Posted by GenePirate

So, I got off topic to illustrate the mindset that still exists with some administrators, but my advice is...get the tattoo as long as you can cover it when you want to. Plenty of teachers do just that--or they grow their hair AFTER they get hired (men). When your administrators see that you're an excellent teacher, your tat will mean very little. Just make sure it's not in the school district's dress code, because that would be grounds for termination.

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Great point, as well. :)

I would suggest getting it somewhere else, or better yet wait a while before you get it. Like a while, I mean a few years.

ive got 3 tattoos, one of them is big.

they're all invisible unless i want to show them. or i'm in a bathing suit.

I'm waiting until i have a steady job until i start getting anything visible. I don't really have a lot of piercings either (8 but you can only see 6).

I know you said you're impatient, but its a tattoo, it will be waiting for you for as long as it takes :)

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Originally Posted by Soterios

I would throw you to the bottom of the pile.

It really just depends of how professional of a job you're looking for.

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You are entitled to your opinion but why would you throw someone with a tattoo to the bottom of the pile of other applicants? Having a tattoo is in no way, shape or form a reflection of someones personal capabilities. If someone comes in and is polite, intelligent and otherwise seems qualified for a position I could not care less about whether or not they have a tattoo, and cannot understand why anyone would. I have a few tats. None lower then my elbow but that's because I don't want to mess them up at work (getting cut or scratched which is a daily occurrence for me). Not attacking you or anything just trying to understand your reasoning for that comment.

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Originally Posted by DBD

Having a little tattoo saying music on your wrist is not a turn off at all...

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It is to just about 99% of employers, if they see it.

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Originally Posted by Soterios

Cry all you want, but it doesn't matter. The interviewers opinion on Tattoos DOES NOT MATTER. What matters is what clients will think. If there is a chance the company will lose money because you have a tattoo, you'll get a pass.

It's the real world kids. We're not in high school anymore.

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ANd what kind of business are you referring to? I work around multimillionaires on a daily basis and never once has my company lost a client because of mine or my partners tattoos. Hes got full sleeves and legs. I have on many occassions been asked by out "clients" to show them my tattoos, and have also been complimented on them numerous times. And if you are talking about a office type situations what difference does it make since you should be wearing a suit where your arms are covered anyways. I just can't think of a business situations where it would matter. Now keep in mind I am referring to your standard forearm tats. Legs should be covered anyways in a business environment. I often find myself wondering where people get this strange notion that people with tattoos are low class scum. Hey tattoos have been around for thousands of years so get used to it. You should spend your time admiring them not crucifying those who choose to get them.

I look at tats as the same way that I look at facial hair.

If you're a guy looking for a professional job, especially a first professional job, facial hair is generally a no-no in interviews. After you get hired, it's 100% ok to grow out a beard in just about all companies, but pre-hiring it's standard practice to be clean shaven. It's ridiculous and dumb, but that's how male interview protocol works.

If you want to go into teaching, don't get a visable tat now, or until you get hired. Even then, I'd wait a couple years into teaching before getting a visable tat. Then you'll be that cool music prof who got a tat.