Continuation of Spring Newsletter 2008

Employing the Inked..... 

A survey last year by the Pew Research Center found 36 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds and 40 percent of 26- to 34-year-olds boast at least one tattoo.

Conversely, a Vault.com poll revealed 85 percent of workers suspect body art hampers your job prospects, while 64 percent of respondents said tattoos and piercings adversely affect how co-workers and bosses regard you.

But change may be just under the surface. According to international outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, employers will have to loosen standards for body art if they hope to recruit youthful but competent employees. In fact, this is happening already, said CEO John A. Challenger.

"A decade ago, showing off tattoos and body piercings would be a surefire way to get your resume in the No way! pile," Challenger said. "Times have changed. Those making the hiring decisions are younger and not as adherent to traditions about workplace appearance."

Cindy Titus, executive director of the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce, said it is unwise for employers to exclude newer professionals based solely on their tattoos.

"You can't very well eliminate half to a third of the workforce because of body art," she said. "Thats not going to be possible, because the pool (of candidates) is shrinking anyway."

The oldest Baby Boomers those born in 1946 turned 60 last year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the 78 million-plus Boomers comprise almost a third of the U.S. population, and estimated more than 500,000 secretarial positions alone have opened over the last decade because of retirements.

"We are seeing a lot of people for management (who are) three to five years out of college," said Tricia Drake, director of professional recruiting for Innovative Staff Solutions in Mattoon, who seeks out candidates across the country for mid- to upper-management level positions. "We interview quite a few younger people more than in years past."

Challenger said, "Some employers already have trouble finding skilled workers why let some body art get in the way of hiring the best qualified candidate?"

Still, local experts advised up-and-coming employees to be reasonable, if not cautious, about their body art in the workplace.

Drake recommended tattoos remain covered, certainly during job interviews, and even "when you start the job." She added, "Once you get in and get to know the surroundings, (then) you can be the best judge of whether they're worth revealing or covering up."

Eastern Illinois University Business and Technology Institute offers an extracurricular class to imminent college graduates titled "You're Hired." The course focuses on the do's and dont's of entering the workforce, including the display of body art.

Jeanne Dau, BTI director, said its best to observe closely the appearance and behavior of other employees at your new job. "You have to look at the culture and environment of where you work," she said.

Not that the office culture is universally accepting of body art now, nor will it be anytime soon, experts added.

"Business dress is still business dress; the suit has been around for a long time," said Dau.

She said typically conservative workplaces banks, law firms, accounting offices, etc. might prove particularly resistant to the ever-increasing prevalence of body art among younger employees.

"But as the labor market gets tighter and tighter, they have to be less strict to attract people," said Dau. "But I think its going to take a while."

She believes it is important youthful workers remember who puts food on their table. "The main thing is, you're still representing the company," she said.

At Lake Lands Center for Business and Industry, April McCormick said she doesn't recall any discrimination because of her menagerie of tattoos, including those on her calf and ankles that are easily seen when she wears sandals or even hose. "Half the people at work don't realize I have them," she said.

"I've never heard any complaints except from my mother."