Job Candidates With Body Art: Hire Or Not?
The US Army is getting more recruits with tattoos. And so are you.
One third of the population 18 to 29 has a tattoo. Your Business Blogger is outside this age range and our five-kid penta-posse has not yet demanded needles with ink. But this is an exploding trend that will affect small business hiring.
Here I will review only the deliberate body modifications. Not the accidental. (Scars are tattoos with better stories.)
We just hired a half-dozen employees. Not one of the attractive young women had any body art. That I noticed. Not that I was looking.
My concern is less with my outdated preferences than that potential candidates knew my preferences. If I control cutting the check, I’ll control the body cutting. I’d like some input in what peeps I be hangin’ wit’.
I prefer non-smokers with no (visible) body art and conjugated verbs.
Job seekers must remember that symmetry and chemistry between interview-er and interview-ee is what gets hired. It is not fair. But remember, I’m writing the check.
So tattoos and other self-mutilations are not for me. And it’s not likely that I would hire such decorations. But one of my managers with hiring authority might. One of my clients might. But not me.
And I’m not the only fuddy-duddie. The Vault reports,
Companies with dress and grooming codes are on the strongest legal grounds when they defend their policies based on legitimate business reasons.
At Starbucks, “baristas” who serve the $5 lattes can’t display any tattoos or wear any piercing jewelry besides small, matched pair earrings. Each ear can’t have more than two piercings. Serving upscale coffee demands upscale workers, according to Starbucks, and tattoos don’t fit that scheme.
So what’s right? What’s wrong with tattoos?
Sometime ago I questioned my rabbi, Daniel Lapin, on the issue of tattoos. Yes, I’m Presbyterian who sits at the feet of the JollyBogger. But everyone also needs a rabbi; a teacher. The coach doesn’t have to be faith-based. But the ‘donations’ can be tax deductible…
My Rabbi said that ancient Jewish tradition held that a person’s body does not belong to him — it belongs to the Creator and we borrow this earthly vessel for a while. Which is why the tattooing of identification numbers during the Holocaust was so humiliating to the Jews.
So if I interview you, or some other old coot interviews you, don’t tell us about your tattoos. It is not part of the job description.
You will be hired for your wisdom and your judgment.
October 11th, 2006 at 6:57 am
Yes, it is true that the person who cuts the check can make the rules, but I would be careful about setting criteria that may cause you to avoid a candidate who can really do the job well.
I, too, fall out of that age range and I do not have any tattoos. But I have hired people with both tattoos and body piercings and they are exceptional people. One in particular has both the talent to create great graphic designs AND write the application source code to make a Web site run. If I had used a “no tattoo” policy, I would not have found him nor hired him.
I also know many people use a college degree as a filtering technique. This, too, can lead to some qualified candidates not being considered. The key is to figure out what you are looking for in a person, then add in the “nice to haves” so that you don’t miss out.
Again, I did not say that you wouldn’t find the “best” candidates, because “best” will include your own (important) criteria. The labor market is tight today and I am all for finding great people who have talent, integrity and want to work as part of the team. I cannot afford to exclude some of these folks due to their preferences for expressing themselves through body art, the same way that I don’t care what car they drive, what house they live in, who they hang out with or within acceptable business boundaries, what clothing they wear.
October 11th, 2006 at 7:47 am
Paul, you are right. It would require ability beyond my meager talent to evaluate the entire book beyond the cover.
To overcome my shortcoming, I have been lucky to work with people who could make human resource evaluations looking beyond such external statements. I trust my managers’ judgment.
For example, a few years ago, one of my staff made a hire and the twenty something young man had to work near my area. He came to work around me with band-aids on his ears.
Now, young Alert Readers know instantly what’s going on. But not me. I had to ask his boss, if everything was alright.
“He’s fine,” said the manager. “He’s just covering up the holes.”
I was dumbfounded. Which is quite normal. (But of course, I didn’t show it. Your Business Blogger finds that stern, direct eye contact covers any lack of comprehension and competence.)
http://www.charmaineyoest.com/2005/11/the_first_lesson_in_how_to_loo.php
But I was humbled to learn that anyone would care what I thought. Doesn’t happen much. Even when I write the checks.
Paul, the young man went on to do outstanding work, as you might have guessed from the wisdom you use on making your hires.
But they better not smoke around me.
Best,
Jack
October 11th, 2006 at 10:08 am
I have tattoos, Jack. I have two (actually had 3 but one is a cover-up tattoo over another). I can see how having tattoos running down both arms, around your wrists or on your neck could affect your employment situation (or lack thereof). It is a lifestyle - and it is a form of self expression. I do not regret my tattoos, but they are in places that are either covered up or cannot easily be noticed. But even though I have them, I must say that I would not walk into a tattoo parlor looking to have one placed on my neck or arms. I do realize that if I choose to do that - It could, most definitely, affect my employment. So I can respect your opinions on that matter and do agree to a certain extent.
But keep this in mind. . .these twenty somethings that are expressing themselves in this way are very open minded, creative, outside-the-box thinkers. Granting them an employment environment that encourages their expression and creativity - may lead to some great new things, new ideas, creative technology. And everyone knows the old saying “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” I know some pretty intimidating and fearsome looking fellas - covered in ink from head to toe in skulls and flames - and they are some of the sweatest people I’ve ever met.
The days of associating body art with Hell’s Angels and convicts are gone. Body art has moved out of back alleys and biker rallys and into the suburbs. And I would guess that at least 60% of today’s college students - tommorrow’s leaders - have at least one example of body art. And it is quite possible that your recent hires, the attractive young women you referred too in the post, may have you fooled. They may be sporting a butterfly on their lower back, or a flower on their shoulder - that isn’t meant for everyone’s eyes to see. Ask around - you may be surprised!
October 11th, 2006 at 10:51 am
Chris, you’re right, I don’t know if the young women have body art or not — and I don’t want to know. Statistically, they will.
I think my sister has a tattoo. My dad was in the Navy. I was in the Army. I’ve hired wild coders and graphics humans of unknown gender. Eye shadow used to be a clue. I’ve been surrounded by blue ink.
(Which is, as you imply, much better than red ink.)
Zig Ziglar would often say, “You can feed your ego, or you can feed your family.” And landing a deal might be difficult with distractions, however artful.
But Your Business Blogger does hold for hiring people who are very different — violating my symmetry and chemistry rule:
http://www.charmaineyoest.com/2005/09/hire_the_homosexual.php
Consistency being the hobgoblin of little minds…
Thanks again,
Jack
October 14th, 2006 at 8:59 pm
Watch Those Piercing
The Small Business Trends blog had a post earlier this week about whether or not you should hire job candidates with body art (Job Candidates With Body Art: Hire Or Not?). I believe that it depends on the position the
October 14th, 2006 at 10:54 pm
Scot, from Virtual CFO, thank you for the track back and analysis on hiring the receptionist who would be the (first) face for your company.
A face really does make a difference — even which side you show. See:
http://www.charmaineyoest.com/2006/06/the_camera_loves_you_baby_here.php
Best,
Jack
April 25th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
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