I find if I tell interviewers I have a facial piercing before they see me, they expect something huge. I thought A LOT about it and decided that if someone would rather hire a less qualified untattoo’d person because of that, that I would prefer to work elsewhere. Now, that message has turned into “it is OK to be overweight.” Well, somewhere along the line we forgot that being overweight is a health risk, not only a fashion statement. I’ve lived in many regions in the US – west, east, middle, southeast, southwest, and a small piercing would never be a big deal. I can understand how a pile on would make one feel. I work in a hospital pharmacy, and we are not allowed to wear any jewelry while preparing IV’s for sterility issues. Nobody cares. How to Tell an Employee 'No Nose Rings' Are facial piercings still a no-go in offices? But I don’t want to take it out, and I have a choice: work someplace where it’s not a big deal, or take it out if I want to work someplace where it is. +1 (or any celebrities in general…they can get away with a lot that us regulars cannot). I end up coming off as a bit snarky when I discuss these things, partly intentionally, but I really do think that “dress for the position you want” is more or less good advice for everyone, even though in common use it’s often relegated to the traditional corporate ladder-climber lifestyle. In food service is the only job where it would really bother me, as someone up thread mentioned there is just something really unappetizing about something coming out of someone’s nose or lip – even if intentional – and it would put a damper on my meal. Women have purposes beyond the ornamental? Some of the things we hear about industries being “conservative” and it being “risky” to have someone with piercings (or tatoos) in a customer-facing position remind me of the rationale that kept black people and women out of certain positions. I get your point, but I’m not certain I’d cite Lady Gaga as proof that something is mainstream. Ask HR, they don’t have a policy but state to your manager that you usually wear it, and would she be ok with you wearing it in the office and if she is ok with that clarify if she’d want you to take it out for client meetings or anything front facing. Body piercings should always be titanium. That's a concession. Ever been to Vegas? I think this varies pretty heavily by a number of factors. Just responding to your asterisk – I’ve only worked in one office, but I’ve been here over 5 years and I don’t think I have! Once you receive an offer, accept and start a job, you can then get a feel for the environment … much like seeing how others dress and if open-toed shoes in the summer are ok or out of the norm … There was also a comment or 2 here about “well Manhattan is not the only place in the world..” This is when posting here is getting exhausting as I think the dynamic is changing. If it’s relevant to your hiring that you think women with nose-rings and tattoos are unattractive, that says much more about your hiring practices than it says about the women who choose these kinds of body modifications. Conceal the stud by applying makeup only after the piercing is completely healed. One time in college I had a phone interview with a sleep away camp and the director informed me that they don’t allow counselors to have facial piercings or tattoos (only female counselors could have ears pierced). I’m not sure what you’re trying to say here. Also, did you consider that having someone with a tatoo or piercing might actually bring in some new business that identified with those things? Go to the job interview and ask about their policy regarding piercings and their dress code in general. I just don’t get it. A frat party? Copyright © 2007 - 2021 Ask A Manager. The trick is, you really do have to sit down and think about what the position you want ACTUALLY IS. Driving the car is too much of a challenge these days. News, British job seeker told to put 'bag over her face' because of multitude of body piercings and tattoos., Job Search, 21 replies Engineers in Colorado, Work and Employment, 2 replies News, Utah City Bans Hiring of Workers With Visible Tattoos or Odd Piercings., Job Search, 0 replies I wish I could remember what she had said about it now. My personal opinion? Assuming it is… You 100% reserve the right to not hire those people, but should consider that is has zero to do with lacking good judgment and much more to do with good judgement about finding the right fit. I believe that’s your designer impostor perfume. Not actually common, but in some time (a few years? They get sent home with a copy of the dress code and told to come back the next day. But everyone has responses to things, if we didn’t respond to how other people look (for good or bad) there is no point in cosmetics, fashion, hair styles, etc. I agree, as I have had people make rude comments at me on here before. This isn’t the 1950s – people with tattoos or piercings shouldn’t automatically be associated with criminals, drug addicts, or general unpleasantness. In Hinduism it has religious significance. I totally get the sentiment behind it, but my nosering is hardly the most unusual thing about me that I’m open about at work, so if a nearly invisible nose stud takes me out of the running, they probably also won’t like knowing I have a genderqueer spouse either (and that’s something it’s taken a lot of work to be able to be open about, and I plan to continue being open about it, career problems be damned). Men for the most part don’t write blogs for fashion-related advice. That is interesting about your husband’s tech firm not typically hiring those with facial piercings/tattoos/strange colored hair, it really shows how much an industry can vary geographically. Even if the company has adopted a casual dress code or youthful culture, the interview might not be the time to let a nose ring be the thing that prevents you from getting the job. So maybe better you hear that point in here than in a workplace. I think everyone has reactions to things that we can’t control – so the goal isn’t to try to stop forming opinions based on our tastes and preferences, but to be aware of them so we can deliberately set them aside to evaluate fairly. Don’t make an issue out of something that is not there in the first place. In your case, it’s not just that having a beard puts you at a small disadvantage, it’s saying “No matter how else you look, that one thing is the key factor.”. there are some companies who aren’t very particular with these things. Just a turn-off and I won’t hire them, or at least I think it shows poor judgement on their part which might show up in their work so I won’t hire them. is porous and can cause infection in unhealed piercings. I don’t think they’re necessarily unprofessional, any more than tattoos, but it’s a matter of knowing the culture and being willing (or not) to fit in with it. Anyways, I did end up removing my piercing for my interview, just because I felt it’s better to be on the safe side in this crazy job market — though the idea of keeping it in is kinda tempting ;) I don’t think I’d want to work for a place where a little nose stud was such a big deal! Clean on the outside, dirty on the inside. When I see some nose piercings, all I can think is that must have hurt getting that piercing. “Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview? With Alison’s suggestion she is confirming she already asked HR, while still giving the manager the opportunity to object. Because no other human being without tattoos and piercings, male or female, has ever been stoned or obnoxiously drunk? I might be the first or only person to say this so far; but I might actually give a small amount of preference to a person with an unusual look. Anything in the staff’s appearance that distracts patients from their roles as care professionals could reasonably be prohibited. Once you've done some research on the company and the job, you have to make your decision. I’m surprised it can be hidden by grey hose (not tights), but then again mine are definitely not designed to be hidden! And…well, pretty much every part of your comment except the part where you wouldn’t hire someone with facial piercings. When I worked as a design engineer in the defense industry, if we went out on the floor, we were supposed to take off our rings, and only be wearing stud earrings, no loops or dangles. According to a study published by Pew Research, about 22 percent of Generation X'ers (defined as those born between 1969 and 1982) have had a piercing somewhere besides the ear, and about 33 percent of those in Gen Next (born 1983-1990) have had one. I got it in 1998 and the only times I’ve been asked if I would be willing to take it out were by temp agencies when I was just starting out after college before facial piercings were so ubiquitous. Would you mind explaining how a tattoo is bad judgement? I like to think I would never hold it against a candidate but my concern is that I might do it subconsciously – which would suck. I just wanted to say that. Rightly or wrongly, I’m aware of the fact that if I interview with someone who has a particular dislike of the bearded man look, I’m going to be at a disadvantage. At orientation, I asked what the precautions were for having that piercing during work. Plus, I hate dress shoes. We get told all of the time, “Dress for the position you want, not the position you have.” Since management generally doesn’t wear facial piercings, it’s a good idea to take them out, no? She made me pin my hair so that it would cover my ear no matter how I fussed with it. I have visible tattoos and work for a large bank. Photo of woman with tattoos in interview courtesy of Luis Alvarez/Getty Images. Any club? I have a professional, white-collar 9-5 job, and a number of visible piercings and tattoos. So you never know how quickly these kinds of opinions can become outdated, and it might be a good idea not to cling to them too firmly. It’s not exactly what the employer wanted, but then the employer is in the tough position to ask them to cover it up or addressing it otherwise. As for your last paragraphs: You’re kind of just confirming your stereotype is based on very anectotal evidence. Is that widespread, do you think? I’m not Jamie, but IMO your thoughtful post deserved a thoughtful reply. I’m not a fan of septum piercings either, but it’s not my face. Let’s start with the easiest option first, and that would be finding a job with a company that doesn’t have a problem with visible body art. Just the thought of it makes me think, OW. most of my coworkers have seen me outside of work while wearing it. Any piercing shop should be able to help you remove your jewelry. I wouldn’t be surprised if in 15-20 years that tattoos and piercings no longer seem weird, even in corporate settings, because so many of us will have them! See, putting together these outfits is easy! Not everything on this planet has to be made for me. We could not take a chance on prejudicing a potential client. There is no manager on earth that likes drama. They felt they’d been sold a bill of goods. :) Upvote 1. I do definitely get the viewpoints on those of you who just flip it up and out of the way. You are striving to make the IV prep area as clean and particulate-free as possible. Ten years ago this definitely seemed to be the case, with keen job seekers desperately removing piercings and covering up tattoos prior to an important interview. If you have a septum piercing, and the answer is “no, you can’t wear visible jewelry in that,” you wear a retainer and flip it up. Do I care if a female interviewer thinks my beard makes me look unattractive? But do I really want to point someone to a bad neighborhood for the sake of political correctness, and pretend all areas of the city are equal? No one cares anymore! #1: I suggest leaving it out for interviews. … What does all this mean for you, the anchor on your arm, the – oh yeah! And this, I think, is a fair statement. Which was probably a good choice considering one of his tats was two pistols on his calf with the inscription “Live fast, die young.”), But that makes sense within the context of Jewish beliefs (one of the most interesting and informative theological discussions this agnostic ever had was with a Jewish co-worker on the subject of tattoos). “The silver lining to this issue, however, can be quite simple—make sure that if you have facial piercings, take them out before you interview,” the researchers advise. I know, I’m not saying it’s a sanitation issue, but a visceral response issue. Nope. In our case, this was a mid-sized design firm. Interesting–I hadn’t heard that. Yes, I know not every place in the world is like NYC. This. I know my experience is (sadly) by no means the norm, but there is (maybe) hope for the world! how should I handle joking around during mental health discussions with my team? I would go more along the lines of “By the way, I had asked Jane about any company rules on piercings and she assured me there aren’t any — but I wanted to confirm with you, as I have a small nose ring that I typically wear, and I didn’t want it to be a surprise on Monday.” This way you’re not explicitly telling (agreed with above, not the right way to start of a relationship with a new boss), but you’re not making it a full question either, since you have already confirmed and it should be ok. I don’t do recreational drugs or get overly drunk, not because I judge those who do, but because it’s just not my bag. As a manager I would appreciate the fact that the employee checked with HR first to cover those details since things like dress code are more their forte than mine. You would negatively judge a woman wearing a nose stud, because you’ve seen other women with nose studs drink, smoke, or use pot? What was so offensive about me pointing out nice neighborhoods? I’m not a fan of facial piercings, because due to my lifestyle choices I do not want anything installed on my body that I would not want to have soundly woodpeckered by a foam spear. A frat party? * This assumes you’re not wearing it for religious reasons; if you were, the above wouldn’t apply, and you’d also have some legal protections. It sounds like in this case you were faced with a choice between multiple equally good candidates, and I get how something small could be the deciding factor there. @Jamie, it’s the generalization and the cutesy little question at the end that read as snarky to me. I used to participate in alot of good discussions here…..then a month ago I got piled on for telling someone moving to NY for the first time that she should plan on asking for at least $65K if she wants to live alone. Re: what Alison wrote below – I do hope you won’t stop reading. I was quite strongly sought after for this role, and I did make sure to specifically inquire about the policy, as I know a company that takes issue with this is a company that’s a bit more controlling than I’d feel comfortable with. Well sure. That’s probably a big difference since the OP is starting a new job, but I do think the OP’s level of comfort with asking vs. telling and his/her general feel of the office culture can be taken into account. Ask them how they’d feel about you wearing a septum ring out, rather than just giving them a heads up – “By the way I’m going to wear my septum ring out, ok” cause a lot of people will see that as you telling them you are, not asking them if it’s ok. And I know a lot of the older generations aren’t very keen on facial piercings so they may have their “back put out” by that rather than them agreeing that they’re ok with you doing that. Nose piercings and other facial piercings have become increasingly popular (and accepted) in recent years, so younger people are more likely to have them. I used to wonder whether my taste in clothes would change as I grew older, but the more I think about it, the more I can see a direct line between the stylish clothes of these women’s youth in the 50s and the clothes they wear today. But when it does, it will go perfectly with that fur vest/jacket thingy on the front page of the Chico’s web site. And you ABSOLUTELY did, whether you intended to or not. That said, those are just my impressions. But either way, it doesn’t sound like it will be an issue in the long run. And were those people truly offended? 72% of American women are pierced, and of that 72%, 19% have nose rings. As a general rule, if you're doing office work or you have a professional title, expect your nose ring to be ill-received. It’s a full beard. Become a barista and wear your nose studs with impunity! It’s not looking at the whole picture. Mine screws on and that’s why I hope the only time I take it out is by my choice. i have a ‘tusk’ that flips up into my nose, so no one even sees it. That’s also very different from the legally troubling assessment of body mod being a problem based on how attractive it does or doesn’t make a kind of person. Agreed. Like this guy. nose piercings they would probaby be fine with. If My Job Interview Requires Professional Dress What Does That Mean? Alas, this isn't a regular job interview. From having lived in NYC for a long time, I know lots of white people like those in Seinfeld – it’s easy to be like them in terms of not having deep interactions with people of other races – so it reflects the reality of limited cross-race interaction. First, I’m guessing you’re either new in your job, or you’re getting ready to search for a new job. Anecdotally, I’ve observed and heard that some piercings, including subtle nose piercings, are becoming more popular and acceptable on professionals. I would argue that this is deeply misguided, but some people do feel that way. And as you’ve noticed, many commenters have already addressed your remark about finding these piercings on women “unattractive,” but I wanted to as well. While it was actually more tasteful than the previous interviewee’s tattoo, ultimately, we chose another equally qualified person who showed up for her interviews with no visible piercings or tattoos. Vulcan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the University of Minnesota. I think it shows that you’re willing to follow the rules, that you pay attention to details and requirements, and that you’re taking it seriously. Me too, which is why I don’t wear dresses anymore because people give me shade when I wear hose. While piercings and tattoos are becoming more mainstream in general, the business world is taking a while to catch up. Still, if its a tiny little stud, I can't see it being that much of a big deal. Just take it out and cover it with high quality make up. So for the sake on political correctness, some other posters were guiding this new NYer to live in neigborhoods that were really not nice (said as someone who lives in an area that still gets scoffed at). The constantly runny nose is an issue, but unrelated and unimpacted by my nosering. I used to cover mine with professional makeup and wore hose, and if you looked really close (not that any interviewer would) you could still see a hint of it. That said if you are interviewing for a position at headquarters I would feel fairly comfortable keeping your nose ring in. But if you’re planning to keep it, politely informing is more the way to approach it. (I speak as a woman without pierced ears, so I’m just sitting the whole thing out.) My career has done quite well :-) And like you, I often forget about my tattoos and am rarely asked about them. I was so surprised the Rabbi was a woman, I didn’t think twice about the tattoo until someone else asked her about it. Well, just one problem — once in a while a washcloth will try to steal it. We all know that you can get a job at most fast food joints if you have body art, although most of them will still make you cover any piercings with a band-aid. Given that it is up to you how you choose to show up to an interview given that there is still unconscious biases in place regardless of a company's official policy. I think body mods have become much more accepted now and unless your field is very conservative, I would really be surprised if anyone questioned it. But you sound awesome either way! Hahaha, believe me, I DO take my allergy meds. More on that later. The Questions. But also, I’m not actually the same person as I was back then so comparing the two is dangerous. If she takes the stud out, she blows snot bubbles out the hole. Roll up the sleeves one night and let ’em all hang out :), “The overall consensus being that if an interviewee does not possess the good judgement to present themselves professionally during an interview, where else will they exercise poor judgement?”. Maybe another 10 or 20 years lol. I don’t get offended easily, alot of the people around me have thick skin, I NEVER hear comments in real life like we have on this blog, about this one being offended, and that one not liking your word choice, and the other fixing the grammar. I was thinking June Cleaver. I can’t imagine that piercings on the face would be different. for example if a client had to choose between … I know it might all depend on the industry in general, but I’m wondering about the average workplace, and if “professional” norms have changed. When I am at work I always take the segment out so it’s a horse shoe shaped and swing it back into my nostrils and have it in my nose. 100% of the people would feel the need to defend the amputees. What that means is either you didn’t understand (or ignored) the question, or that you conflate attractiveness with employability and professionalism – which is a big issue for women who are often judged for their looks first, and value to the workplace second. I have a “nostril screw” meaning it has a screwy end inside my nose and I just bend that (with needlenose pliers) in such a way that it doesn’t move around. Most in direct patient care don’t or can’t wear jewelry because it would just get into things and be in the way of their uniforms and equipment. I think it’s one of those “subtle bias” things. I worked at a conservative retail store back in the late 80’s in college. If the piercing is not completely healed or is infected, do not use non-metal jewelry in it. Body piercings are usually more accepted among people of the younger generations. I work in the legal field in NYC and many colleagues have nose rings. So. I got hired even with the nose piercing. Because you will almost always be wrong. So, you know, progress! “Fun” and “high-level regulatory meetings” go together like garlic and ice cream. Most people are far more formal during interviews than in their regular work, and if it can either be a neutral or harm you why take the chance? I have some barbells with tiny threads in the bead that are really hard to do by myself–sometimes I can, but when I can’t there’s always someone at the shop who can help me. I work for a company with really a lax dress code, though. If you, like me, had no idea what a Prince Albert is… wait until you get home to google it…, to OP #2 – I have a septum ring which I can put a segment in and have an entire ring in. I have also found that reactions to it can give me a hint as to organisational culture. Ever? How does someone’s level of attractiveness impact how they do their job? This is kind of true…in a very conservative area, the tats and piercings would definitely stand out. Question. “I am not ready to be an adult” is kind of a lot to infer from a simple nose stud, though, I think you’re being a little pearl-clutchy there. Good luck in your new role! And as another, non-work example, I really dislike some of the clothes that my older female relatives wear–these are clothes they seem to really like and seek out on purpose, too, so obviously the designers are doing something right. I have the same mental association with nose rings – I think of livestock. UPDATE: I was going to talk smack about Starbucks, but apparently they, just this year, gave the go ahead for tattoos and nose studs in the workplace. Lots of reasons not to like them personally, much fewer reasons to prohibit them in public. But #2 has asked already by verifying the piercings policy. I can’t get a good grip on the captive bead. Believe me, it’s no fun going home alone late at night in northern manhattan. AnonyMouse says it very well below: “But many responsible adults with impressive careers do have nose piercings, and the number seems to be increasing, so it may be a good idea not to automatically discount those who have them. There are still people out there who will consider tattoos and facial piercings as an impediment to moving up in professional positions, just as there are some who don’t care. The problem was that you conflated attractiveness and employability. That said, I wouldn’t display any body art to an interview unless it was to a creative-based industry job, and even then, it’s touch-and-go. At my job, you are allowed a maximum of 3 earrings on each ear and one facial piercing limited to a nose stud or eyebrow ring. every coworker/colleague that i’ve encountered over the last 7 years has always held a positive attitude about my hair/earrings/whatever, which i do tone-down some when i’m at work. The overall consensus being that if an interviewee does not possess the good judgement to present themselves professionally during an interview, where else will they exercise poor judgement? (I do not have any hiring power. Nose Piercings come in I definitely had a Carolyn Hax style “Wow” reaction to this comment. To go back and say “I said this!! Yes I do get what you mean about citing lady gaga as mainstream, what I meant is that by someone like her having it, it puts it more in the public eye, if you know what I mean. Another way to gauge the appropriateness of your nose ring during the interview is to do some research about the people with whom you'll be interviewing. Not literally. Ever been to Vegas? “I’ve seen way to many girls who have looked all-round professional, and that one little metal dot on their nose makes them look like an overgrown teenager. Discussions should be give and take. I’ve got to wonder about the point of these types of dress codes. My grandma is 90 and there was a stigma about girl/women having pierced ears when she was young. That’s the face of the company that works for them – I doubt very much they’d want to hire me in a customer facing role with none of the above and my middle aged nondescript style. Like: “I usually wear a nose piercing. YMMV – food service and bartending in my city are far less conservative, dress-wise, than office work and thus your server is way, way more likely to have a visible piercing. It hurt less than the tattoo, the ear piercings, or the ear lobe stretching. Someone wearing a piercing to an interview would be judged for not gauging their interview attire to reflect company norms, and yes, their judgment would be suspect. Also, NYC is a city where many people make $200K so assuming, like some of the other readers did, that she wanted advice on how to live in NY making $40K and living with roommates was more of a stereotype than I was making (assuming everyone reading the blog is low income) – not everyone wants to live in a bad neighborhood with a ton of roommates, like a new college graduate. Of. I lived with some guys with serious hippie hair and they said they were treated very differently when they cut their hair. The only time my “foot” tattoo was a problem was in Federal court in Arizona (yuck memories). See, the question was – do piercings make one less employable or seem less professional. If you work at an art studio, coffee house or bar, your nose ring might add to the business' alternative vibe. Maybe they like to assume the worst in other commenters so they have something to comment about? My biggest issue with nose piercings is that some people tend to play with them absentmindedly and I just cannot stand to see people with their fingers constantly fiddling with their noses. Failing that, stainless steel, which isn’t ideal as it has trace amounts of nickel. But that has nothing to do with their work, right? Piercings? I guess my overall point is that once you get to a point where every little thing you say is critiqued, there is no point in participating anymore. The decision to not continue with the hire would be based solely on the fact that you are bothering me over something not at all work related. All of those things just put people on the defensive. piercing than a nose stud, I think it might be worth doing a little advance legwork, just to minimize weirdness with your new boss, who you want to have smooth relations with. I hope something positive comes out of this discussion! We definitely want to make sure we are doing everything possible to be attractive to you and not accidentally doing anything to turn you off! +1 I have a rook piercing with a small, curved barbell and I really hope I don’t have some sort of medical emergency that requires its removal. If I called a 50 year old “girl” in person, yes, that is not respectful. The company doesn’t prohibit facial piercings, but you still don’t want a weird moment where your new manager is surprised or wonders why you sashayed in without asking about it (since she probably won’t know that you talked to the HR manager about it). It’s specifically the ‘unattractive’ bit that got peoples’ hackles up. Even a heads up hey I have piercings I just wanted to ask if that is ok, or hey I’m letting you know kind of thing; I probably would stop the hiring process right there for you. Probably depends a bit on the field, though. I was hoping that workplace norms would have changed with the times, but unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be the case (or at least its acceptance isn’t as widespread in the workplace as it is in regular life). yeah, I guess it really depends on the company and the job position. My conundrum is, I have a very delicate septum piercing. Not. I’m a male, and I have a full beard. So I’m suddenly more understanding, and still suggest hiding the piercing completely, and talking about it on offer, I think I’m talking about dermal piercings (I didn’t actually read the page, it makes me squeamish), http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdermal_implants.
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