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Ask HN: Tattoos in tech

7 points by dark_ph0enix ↗ HN
Hey,

Planning to get a tattoo (inner forearm, easy to hide).

Anyone here with some experience to share when it comes to tattoos in tech?

If you have one: - Did it impact your job? How? - Did it impact your job search? - Any advice to share? - Bonus points ff you have one and feel like sharing/bragging/showing off

If you don't have one: - If a candidate had a tattoo, would it impact your decision to hire them?

[background info: software developer in the UK]

15 comments

[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 48.9 ms ] thread
cubtastic71
I just did it - im a UI architect, and its not hidden. Comes down my arm just before my elbow. I mostly did it on the weekends and didn't have issues working with it.. Not sure about job search..
sevensor
A friend of mine is a C.S. professor -- he has a full sleeve and seems to be doing all right. Not sure if the UK views tattoos the same way as the US though.
coolcorn
I have a full sleeve on my left arm, and tattoos on my right forearm. It's always cold in my office so I wear long sleeves anyway, I don't think anyone knows I have tattoos :)
nikolay
Don't do it - fashions change.
jetti
Tattoos can be more than just fashion. I got one last year that is personal and symbolizes the hardships I've faced. It is a reminder that no matter how bad things get it is temporary.
nikolay
Don't kid yourself! It's fashion and nothing more!
Malarius
I worked as a software developer, and there have been quite an amount of tatoos there, so it does not seem to be a problem in Austria.
cauterized
If you want a job at a bank (perhaps because they work on hard problems or because they pay a shit-ton), maybe not the best idea unless you intend never to roll up your sleeves or wear short sleeves. (Maybe short sleeves aren't an option at a bank anyway?) Happy to work at a startup? Go for it.
romanhn
Am a hiring manager. As long as the tattoo is not intentionally offensive (think swastikas, 14/88), I wouldn't think twice about it.
wingerlang
I've got 2 face piercings and I've never had issues with that.

Not completely related but I suppose it is "worse" than a tattoo that you can hide trivially.

efrafa
I have half sleeve and never had issues in either Europe or States.
mattbgates
I work with a bunch of people who have tattoos.. and it is totally acceptable.

Really, there is nothing wrong with tattoos in the workplace, though you probably should not get your face covered or markings that are obvious when you work in a public place where they can easily be seen. On the arm? No problem. On the neck? Possibly a problem if it is on your foreneck. On your face? Big problem. Arms? Legs? Body itself which can be covered? I don't think it's an issue.

Read this article for more on Tattoos in the Workplace: http://www.confessionsoftheprofessions.com/tattoos-workplace...

jetti
I work at a health care company in the US and I've seen many tattoos but they were only because they were sticking out of shirts (such as lower neck that was just above shirt when not wearing a collar) and not covered fully by the shoes they were wearing. Nobody really knows if others have tattoos because they aren't shown.

Bottom line is that tech is more than just laid back startups but there are more formal companies too. If you get something make sure it can be covered up easily as not everybody is as open to tattoos and some companies have policies about them as well.

johnnycarcin
In my experience if you are not in a customer facing role people don't seem to care. Once you move to a customer facing role, say as a consultant, things change. As someone who has multiple tattoos and works in a customer facing role I stick with the yakuza tattoo model: if wearing a kimono/suit nobody should see your ink.