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Ask HN: Are visible tattoos stigmatized in our industry?

4 points by jessehorne ↗ HN
When my brother passed, I didn’t think twice and got a tattoo on my neck to symbolize my commitment to remember him as often as possible. It was a clear path in doing that and has honestly helped me achieve that goal.

On the flip side, I wonder, without regret, how I would be perceived in general to potential employers.

Have you seen these sorts of things lead to hiring decisions? If not tattoos, what other physical factors contribute? Unprofessional appearance, facial hair, clothing choices, hair dye, piercings?

Is there a list of employers somewhere that don’t let these factors affect hiring decisions?

Is punk rock dead? :-)

15 comments

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yinser
Even living in a state with a lot of tech workers who are LDS/ "mormon" (they specifically outlaw tattoos for practicing members) I have never seen nor heard of a single instance of someone feeling negative pressure for their tattoos either in hiring, or as a full time employee. There are other people beyond slightly more fundamental Christians that might have an issue with tattoos but I feel like if you don't have an issue in Utah it's a strong signal.
jessehorne
I lived in the triangle for a year or so. It was quite an experience. Thanks for sharing! I've heard from a few friends that Utah is booming.
Bostonian
By "our industry" I think you mean tech, but a forum created by a VC firm will also attract some people from the financial industry, in which I work. I almost never see visible tattoos on colleagues. When you are trying to raise money from investors, I think visible tattoos have only downside.
jessehorne
Just keep me in the back. I'll code and you can raise the funds.
MDGeist
I have many tattoos (but none on hands/neck) and pretty long hair. I did have facial piercings which I removed during grad school because people really did not care for the piercings. I've never had the tattoos be an issue in the corporate world. The only person I know with hand tattoos is a software engineer and he is plenty successful. I think if you are good enough at your job and good to work with employers will care about that more.
jruohonen
In Japan these are a taboo.
jessehorne
Despite having such a rich history of body art? Actually the history itself answers my question. I get it.
primitivesuave
In Japan, tattoos are commonly perceived as being associated with organized crime.
jruohonen
Yes, I think it is almost entirely because of Yakuza.
whatamidoingyo
My tattoo (half sleeve) is Japanese-inspired. I frequent a Japanese restaurant. My friend speaks Japanese and chats with the owners in their language. She noticed the Japanese design on my arm and asked, "is it Japanese? Can I see it?". I showed her and she let out a nervous laugh and said "looks like mafia. You know mafia?"

Damn, I felt awkward. But it's nothing more than an ode to jiu-jitsu.

Edit: OP, I just have to say, I would never get a tattoo that I wouldn't be able to hide with clothing. Hopefully it doesn't stunt your growth as a developer.

jessehorne
Thanks! Yeah, worst case I get to change careers and keep doing it as a hobby.
eimrine
What is really stigmatized in the industry is absence of an smartphone and refusal to use a non-free software.
loughnane
I put visible tattoos in the same class as branded clothing and bumper stickers— you either want passers by to see it as a part of “you” or you think so little of the medium that you’ll toss anything on.

In either case it says _something_ about you. I think most would agree that, on its own, it doesn’t say enough to make a judgment on you as a person.

But given that most people judge others within the first few minutes of meeting them it’s def a component.

I don’t know if companies that make it a policy to ignore, but I wouldn’t trust such a list. The world is full of firms that state “core values” that can only hope to approximate what the rank and file believe