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Post by hmmm on Feb 18, 2012 17:54:42 GMT -5
How crucial is it to hide a tattoo during a job interview? I have some that take a bit of effort to hide and was wondering if anyone had experience with this. Also, thoughts on facial piercings? Leave in or take out?
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Post by anonymous guest on Feb 18, 2012 18:17:12 GMT -5
I strongly encourage hiding tattoos and facial piercings-especially facial piercings-during job interviews.
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Post by me on Feb 18, 2012 18:39:37 GMT -5
I too wondered this. I have a nose ring (a VERY small crystal stud) and a fairly visible hole in my lip from a labret piercing I took out about 6 years ago. I did not take out my nose ring and I dont think it was a big deal. Most people dont really notice it. Something more obvious like a lip or eyebrow ring, I would probably take out. But, you could probably gauge that based on where you are interviewing- if it's a religious institution or some place more conservative, maybe covering would be better.
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Post by tatted on Feb 18, 2012 18:40:20 GMT -5
My sleeves are tatted and I'm a male with ear piercings. Both times I was out on the market, I always hid my tattoos and took out my earrings. While most sociologists are okay with these things, you never know about other people (e.g., that outside SC member from economics, dean, provost, students). Some tattoos and piercings are impossible to hide (e.g., the huge ear lobe gauge piercings), so you obviously can't do much to hide some of these things. If you have more eccentric tattoos or piercings, I'd recommend that you play down your "style" (e.g., don't go to your interview with a mohawk). Again, most sociologists are okay with stuff like this (but even among sociologists, there are some very judgmental conservatives) but others tend to be less forgiving. Think about white privilege. People enjoy white privilege only from being thought of as part of the normative group. In essence, you are starting with a blank slate with mostly no prejudgments. As a tatted and pierced person, there are obviously more opportunities to prejudge you. Wouldn't you rather start your interview with a blank slate?
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Post by laughthroughit on Feb 19, 2012 9:50:27 GMT -5
My tattoos can all be covered with my clothes (as long as I don't roll up my sleeves), but my ears are stretched to 5/8". This isn't huge or anything, but I can't just take my jewelry out without people being able to still see right through my ear lobe. So, I tend to wear NICE plugs (not eyelets) in my lobes for interviews. Stone and glass are my preferred materials, though a dark wood could also work. Really special materials could be a conversation starter in some cases. However, I think the important thing to consider for any body modification is whether that will be the first thing they notice about you. Does your piercing stand out or is it something subtle that they will likely notice, but only after you've been talking with them for awhile? Septum jewelry, eyebrow rings/barbells, cheek piercings, lip rings, and the like are probably best either taken out or replaced with a much smaller and less noticeable piece of jewelry. Tiny nose studs are probably fine unless the school seems very conservative or is in a conservative area.
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Post by unclekarl on Feb 19, 2012 11:11:03 GMT -5
I personally do not lack tattoos & piercings, but I appreciate those who do have them, as another form of diversity. I hope most sociologists who may not like things personally would have similar views. However, there may be some older faculty nearing retirement, though, who might view them as 'unprofessional'.
The stuff which would should not be shown is hopefully obvious--anything racist/sexist, things which would offend religious groups, etc. A school in the rural South would likely also have very different views that a school in a major metropolitan area like New York or LA. Wearing a suit which covers up most of the body would deal will hopefully take care of all of those issues.
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Post by Truckerbabe on Feb 19, 2012 12:19:15 GMT -5
I was on the market last year and got a postdoc. Last year I worried a lot about the places on my face where I had had a nose ring and eyebrow ring (that were out) and the tragus piercings (still in).
I'm a woman.
I found that most of the older men who might look down at piercings didn't even seem to recognize that they were piercing holes. And I wore bangs to cover up somewhat.
So, this is all to say, wear long sleeves and you ought to be fine.
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ok
Junior Member
Posts: 64
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Post by ok on Feb 19, 2012 12:55:10 GMT -5
Yes, remember that some of the people hiring can be in their 60s or older, and body modification is in no way a protected status item. You can show your personality more once you get a job.
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punk rock sociologist
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Post by punk rock sociologist on Feb 19, 2012 13:16:56 GMT -5
I have numerous facial piercings and tattoos. I had gotten into the habit of removing piercings due to my research in prisons (where they must be removed to get through security). I had four on-campus interviews this year and I did remove my piercings and wore long sleeves for all of them, and I was ultimately offered all four jobs. While I do think that I wouldn't necessarily want to work in a place that would discriminate against me due to my appearance, I was actually more comfortable looking boring/conventional during my interviews with deans, provosts, and vice chancellors in those moments. I've had literally no interaction with these administrators before in my life and would have been less on my game if I was even momentarily distracted (read: infuriated) by what I perceived to be a judgmental look or comment.
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Post by curious on Feb 19, 2012 13:28:59 GMT -5
so if you get the job...when do you become "yourself" again?
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Post by tatted on Feb 19, 2012 13:54:58 GMT -5
I slowly ease into it at the departmental level. I start wearing my earrings for the first few weeks of class. Eventually when it starts getting warmer, I wear short sleeves and reveal some tattoos. In terms of my behavior (which comes with the package), it slowly leaks out as I get more comfortable with people in the department. However, I'm always very professional when I have to meet with the dean, provost, president of the college, etc. It may be worth noting that the provost and president at my college are very conservative, and the president plays a vital role in deciding on my final tenure vote.
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Post by hmm2 on Feb 29, 2012 16:37:18 GMT -5
I think everyone should commit to looking as weird and freaky as we really do and feel, and insist the discipline adjust to us. This will help make the discipline and the academy a safer, more supportive environment for all different kinds of non-normativity. Isn't that what we would want? It's what I want, and need.
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Post by hmm3 on Feb 29, 2012 17:00:03 GMT -5
Hmm, this must be what it is like to be a minority, except one cannot cover up or hide one's minority status. Just saying.
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Post by privilege on Feb 29, 2012 17:05:23 GMT -5
Well, I think it's a tricky discussion about minority status because our multiple statuses intersect.
For example, I am a woman who does not remove her body hair, and I have very obvious, dark leg hair. I am, however, white and thin, which might make breaking a norm easier. On the other hand, I know that for others its easier to just f*** lots of norms.
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Post by maybe on Feb 29, 2012 18:42:52 GMT -5
Hmm, this must be what it is like to be a minority, except one cannot cover up or hide one's minority status. Just saying. Maybe, but search committees don't, on occasion, give preferential status to applications from tattooed/pieced individuals
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