Should I cover my tattoo before a job interview?

Tattoos are no longer associated with crime and gangs, but could it still be worth covering it up when meeting with a prospective employer?

A job interview is not the time to make a statement – but if you have a visible tattoo, don’t hide it.

You want to go for a job that is aligned to you.

Why would you go for a job somewhere that you are going to be made to feel uncomfortable for who you are?

It’s about cultural fit. You don’t want to do that to yourself.

It is the same for people with a particular personality.

You wouldn’t go for a job somewhere that no one laughs or is excited if you are a happy, outgoing person.

All people should go where they fit, and there are enough options these days for them to do that.

Work somewhere that you can be your whole self – tattoo and all. Picture: iStock

Tattoos are mostly hidden in clothing, so it’s very rare that it is an issue for people, but if you do have a visible tattoo it could work against you in some situations and you don’t want to be fighting an unwinnable battle.

If you get one on your neck, for example, that’s the risk you take.

How you look and your life choices dictate your opportunities, and that’s just a reality.

For example, if you are a lawyer and you go into court and the judge doesn’t like your tattoo, it could work against you – but you might have anther judge that loves it because he has one.

All employees are different.

Either way, be upfront about it.

If it’s a deliberate cover-up during a job interview then you show the tattoo once you have the job, you are only causing more grief for yourself.

People won’t respect you, not because of the tattoo, but because you lied.

Amanda Rose says people should not be judged based on irrelevant details such as a tattoo, but unfortunately that is still sometimes the reality. Picture: Monique Harmer

Of course ideally you shouldn’t be judged at all.

In a perfect society, we would walk into a job interview and say ‘this is who I am and this is what I can do’.

Those decisions should be based on your ability to do the job.

It would be hard to prove, but if you missed out on a job because of how you look, that would be discrimination.

But in stead of putting yourself in a difficult situation, find the employers that have the policies and culture that suits you.

You spend most of your time at work, you want to enjoy it.

Amanda Rose is a business consultant, workplace trainer, LinkedIn influencer and founder of six organisations – and now she is tackling your career questions for SMART Daily every week.

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Originally published as Should I cover my tattoo before a job interview?