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Aug 24, 2012, 12:04 PM
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Member Since: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,565
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sadpeanut
I think of it like this; I do not drink alcohol, I do not do drugs (my views do not classify marijuana as a drug but I NEVER integrate marijuana in to work situations - my personal and professional life stay seperate). So say I go to an interview. I'm up against a clean cut woman with no tattoos. We have the exact same qualifications and experience. But she is an alcoholic. She will get the job before me, based only on appearance. My experience and qualifications don't mean anything to the employer. I've won national awards for writing, graduated high school a year early, and went to college for mass communications. I am TIPS and TEAM certified and (not to float my own boat) I'm a master at mixing new drinks. I have a bartending school certificate, have never been arrested, and have one single speeding ticket. But none of that matters. Can you see how I feel wronged by this?
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No.. I still don't see it.. because you elected to get all these visible tattoos, while fully aware that it would limit your opportunities. You're putting yourself up against an alcoholic, but are you saying the competitor announced to the potential employer that she's an alcoholic? I can't imagine him hiring her if she announced it. If she's hiding it, then of course he's going to choose her if she's equally qualified, because he won't have to worry about customers who might be turned off by the multitude of tattoos Thing is, that appearances do matter.. and being clean cut goes a long way toward attracting the interest of an employer. And of course, if he's aware she's an alcoholic and he sees your tattoos, he may very well pass you both up, because he knows that there will be someone adequately qualified eventually show up that fits the standards he is entitled to choose to have. No one is 'obligated' to hire you. You don't have a 'right' to have a job. Whether or not you maximize, or harm, your opportunities is entirely up to you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sadpeanut
Also, the discrimination part, I can argue that yes, you CAN choose your gender and you CAN choose your religion and some would argue that you can choose to be gay. I chose to get tattooed.
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That's a straw man argument. Only way that logic works is if an employer is prone to hiring Protestants but refuses to hire Catholics, or in your case, is hiring people with an equal amount and type of tattooing that is colorful, as opposed to plain black ink. Even then, the only kind of discrimination that qualifies as employment discrimination is 1) race; 2) color; 3) religion; 4) national origin; 5) gender; and federal law includes disabilities, assuming the disability would not interfere with job performance. Tattooing and sexual preference is not included.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sadpeanut
It just bums me out. I could have a masters degree and still hear "well I don't think you're qualified..." when I clearly am.
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You put yourself in a position to limit your opportunities, with your eyes wide open. You said that you take issue with people making assumptions about you based on your tattoos, where they assume you're into drugs, trouble-making, gangs, etc.
It is basic common sense. The walks like a duck, talks like a duck thingy. You very well may be a totally upstanding citizen, educated, experienced, etc. But if a person wears nursing scrubs, won't people generally assume that's a nurse? You chose to permanently identify yourself with a sector of society that employers tend to, and have a legitimate right, to avoid.
And you've got a choice now. You could get the tattoos removed. So... you aren't into the hassle and expense.. okay.. then don't complain about the effect of choices you made, because you're effectively choosing to continue to limit your opportunities by hanging onto the tattoos.
I think I see a chip on your shoulder, and I'm wondering if it isn't causing you more trouble than the tattoos.
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