Tattoos have a significant impact on people's lives. While for some it's an artistic way of expressing a strong emotion or moment, for others it remains just a sign of belonging, like a tribe. A few insights from studies show us the big advantages tattoos bring to your job.  So, today let's create some vivid imagery in our minds.

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First things first, what thoughts do we carry with us? There might be some preconceived ideas about tattoos, due to their first use in history. Let's explore this idea before we speak more about our career.

1. Medical and spiritual protection (5,200+ years ago)

I bet you didn’t know about this aspect.  The oldest documented tattoos belong to Otzi the Iceman, whose preserved body was discovered in the Alps between Austria and Italy in 1991. He died around 3300 B.C. His tattoos were likely used for pain relief or healing, placed on areas of his body that showed wear and arthritis.
As a small-innocent joke: Now, what do we do with those Evil signs tattooed on our bodies? 

2. Tribal identity markers
This practice was found among the Illyrian and Thracian tribes, who used tattooing to distinguish tribal origins. Ancient tribes across the world used tattoos to show which group they belonged to - it was like wearing your family name or hometown on your skin.

3. Punishment and marking criminals

The Greeks learned tattooing from the Persians, and used it to mark slaves and criminals so they could be identified if they tried to escape. The Romans in turn adopted this practice from the Greeks. 

So, in this section I was talking about discrimination driven by our bias. A simple tattoo might place you in the wrong category.
When you look at the following tattoo, what's the first word that comes to mind?

I was curious to read many stories from interviews about job atmospheres, how to act, and how to respond if someone tries to act rudely. Here's what I discovered. Let's read these interesting stories:

"I usually wear shirts or long-sleeved dresses in initial meetings with new clients to look 'professional,' but halfway through the meeting I tend to roll up my sleeves because they annoy me. Then I switch to shorter-sleeved blouses for the next meeting, and they'll remember me."

"I am 45 and a heavily tattooed lawyer. My tattoos are covered for court, but other than that, no one really cares. That said, I ALWAYS cover them for interviews. If any employer is visibly disturbed by your tattoos, then they're probably doing you a favor by showing you that's not your workplace."

"I guess it depends on where you live, the company, and the job, but I'd say in general, no. I have a full leg and arm sleeve. I'm an engineer at a Fortune 500 company. I've had no issues with jobs or promotions."

"Not at all. If anything, people remember me and describe me as 'that girl with the tattoos,' which is great for networking. People can pick me out of a crowd based on that description, and people remember me because I'm close to being the only one."

Let's tattoo our way to a second newsletter in the coming weeks…

This is our first round of research based on qualitative insights so we can better understand how tattoos can influence your career. In conclusion, the acceptance rate heavily depends on organizational culture, because you may find yourself rejected without any real reason besides your… body art.

While tattoos were once a significant barrier to employment in many fields, their impact on careers has lessened considerably in recent years, particularly for younger generations. However, the degree to which tattoos affect career prospects still varies based on industry, job role, and the specific tattoo (size, placement, and content)

See you next time,
Simona