Work and Piercings/Tattoos

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I was just wondering about perspectives on having piercings and finding/keeping a job. I am personally planning to have a professional career (librarian) and have been putting off going through w/ certain subtle body modification ideas because of my chosen career path. (Issues like student teaching, getting a job, etc.) Have any aspies/auties struggled w/ finding/keeping jobs due to their having visible piercings/tattoos? If so, what kinds of jobs were you seeking at the time? Out of all my ideas, I actually have only considered one piercing that could not be easily hidden.

The piercing that baffles me is tongue piercing which causes slurred speech. As an employer that'd repel me. I'd feel impatient with any employee who purposely caused his/her speech to become difficult to understand.

The only issues I ever had was with my last employer - within a call centre and it was purely a manager on a power-trip - they had issue with my labret, as I was unable to remove the stud at the time, so I had to wear a clear plastic retainer, which of course kept falling out and thus I experienced many infections as a result.

It's dependent not just on the type of work you do but also the area you live in and the attitudes of that particular employer - for example during the interview for my first job the interviewer took issue with my having my bottom lobes pierced with simple studs; a piercing that most people have done in infancy and the one piercing that's perceived as safe to wear during interviews.

I would always go for piercings and tattoos that can be easily hidden, one of my favourite ideas for concealable body-mod would be one of the simplest; lobe stretching - in particular I've seen some beautiful plugs in metal or semi-precious stone that can be carved or moulded into flower and thus can easily pass for earrings.

The main piercing I like the look of that I think could cause issues is a small nasal stud or ring. I don't understand this kind of things unless you are working w/ gym equipment, construction, etc. for safety reasons. Why should piercings matter if they are clean, don't interfere with any aspects of the employee's job, and are on good workers?

I have a nasal stud, two earrings in each lobe, a navel ring, and an ivy tattoo on my back. It has never been a problem at my work because it's all very conservative looking with clothes on.

I know heaps of tattooed and pierced librarians. Rock on.

A lot of employers will have requirements set down in the staff handbook, my (leisure industry) current employer has the following items:

This does not seem to be enforced strongly.

A previous employer had similar statements, except that "offensive" tattoos should be covered. IT also only covered "visible" piercings.

My current employer also asks staff to have their hair coloured "natural" colours (not necessary the colour their hair naturally is, but not artificial colours such as pink etc.)

Some employers have guidelines in their handbook on what's allowed and what isn't. Look up your dream companies and find their handbook. See if the employers you could like to work for one day have strict dress attire.

Tattoos you can cover, and piercings you can remove if need be.

It's better to have a job and money, instead of being tattooed/pierced and homeless.

If working with kids (student teaching) or doing certain other jobs (nursing), tattoos and piercings are usually frowned upon.

If you're a corporate spokesperson or a politician or a doctor, again, tattoos and piercings are often frowned on.

If you're a graphic designer or librarian or similar, your future employer might not care as much.

With that said, some employers don't care about smaller tattoos and piercings if you dress well.

Know your industry before getting visible tattoos.

If you're going into a field where visible tattoos are a big no-no, either plan to use makeup to cover the tattoos up every day, switch careers to one that allows tattoos, or get tattoos that are always covered by clothes. If a future employer doesn't like a piercing, you can remove it if you really want that job. That's easier/less painful than getting a tattoo removed.

I wouldn't let my employees have neon hair, tons of piercings or gross/distracting piercings (no tongue piercings, no ear gauges), or be entirely covered with tattoos if they'll be seen by my customers often. That look just isn't professional. But, if they dress well, have normal color hair, and have a few piercings that aren't overly distracting or gross to clients (gauges = gross) or tiny tattoos that are rarely visible at work, it's not that big a deal. For example, if their legs are fully covered with tattoos, but their wear pants, I couldn't care less.

Some companies are much more strict than that, not letting employees wear open-toed sandals. There's a company here that has policies on length of skirts (not too shirt), bans shorts (allows capris in summer), doesn't allow open-toed sandals, doesn't allow fake (purple) hair colors, and insists that employees dress business professional with ironed clothes (not wrinkley casual clothes). They don't allow jeans ever, and always wear business suits on days they have meetings. I've got to say that their offices look great and are a very professional atmosphere. Their employees are willing to dress well, iron their clothes, etc. because they pay very well.

Some companies couldn't care less about employees tattoos and piercings. A cleaning guy at a local restaurant is tattoo-ed nearly head to toe, and he obviously has a job.

I've had my tongue pierced for nearly a decade and have had no speech impediments as a result. I also have stretched earlobes, facial piercings, and visible tattoos (like on my neck).

I REALLY don't understand why piercings and tattoos are considered inherently "unprofessional". There's not really a logical reason for it. If it's a matter of safety, where you could get seriously injured due to piercings or your jewelry might fall into someone's food or something, I can get that. But otherwise, it's just not logical. If someone can perform their job duties, practices acceptable hygiene, I don't see why it matters. What especially bothers me is when employers give people a hard time about piercings and tattoos when there is no dress code that forbids them. I think it's a matter of perception, especially social and generational perspective. Judging someone's professionalism based on their outward appearance regardless of their ability to perform their job duties and ability to demonstrate appropriate self-care is really confusing for me.

The only thing I really have is 2 piercings in each ear, so when I go to a job interview, I make sure to take the second set of earrings out.
For me, the reason I don't have any tattoos is that I haven't found anything that I would want permanently on my body, since I keep switching the polish on my fingernails and toenails several times a week. Also, any tattoos would have to be in a place that's easily covered by clothing that is typically worn at work, as it's my preference.

I have a lip piercing and haven't encountered any problems, but I'm a youth worker, not a librarian.

My friend is a librarian and she has several tattoos but they can all be easily covered up.

I think as long as you can cover it up at work., you'll be fine.

I have, pink hair which has over the last few months also been purple, teal and blue. 13 facial piercings, including my tongue and 6 tattoos. I am a professional in fact I am a civil servant working for HM Revenue & Customs. None of these stopped me getting and keeping my job or indeed my last job as a commercial insurance underwriter. People at my work know I am good at my job and my appearance has no effect on my ability to do my job. I can wear what I want, within reason. Obviously I cant roll in in shorts and vest but I usually turn up in jeans and a t-shirt and work next to people who are suited and booted and everything else inbetween.

I know with my first job (big box hardware) they wouldn't even consider someone who had any 'unusual' piercings, rings or tattoos. In fact, the only things allowed was that women were allowed a single set of earrings (provided they were small, like small hoops or studs) and both genders could have a wedding/engagement ring and only on the ring finger. That was it and this was for an entry level job! The policy has since been relaxed but it's best to avoid both those things (at least take them out temporarily) when looking for work IMO.