I have noticed that beards, visible tattoos and lobe "gauging" are becoming more popular with younger job applicants.
Firstly they don't bother me, other than "gauging" which freaks me out, and secondly I have little input to the recruitment process, and we have got employees with all of the above.
I also have tattoos, but always made a conscious decision when I had them to make sure none are visible when I wear a short sleeve shirt.
Just curious how other people perceive these things and is it likely to put off some client.
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I like how you started your opening para with "beards"
Middle aged people have 'em too, and some oldies.
I think beards is too generic.
A ZZ top beard, or American hillbilly beard, not great. A nice trimmed beard not so bad.
Designer stubble, particularly when left to day three or four, can be an issue (even though I go for that sometimes).
The firm I trained at had a complaint about a colleague for the 'shabby stubble' look. We didn't lose the audit client and the staff member never changed his look but it was brought up. Mine was raised in a jovial sense when admitting me as a partner (or at least I assume it was jovial as they still let me in!)
People aren't going to stop being idiots until we stop pandering to them being idiots. While it would be ridiculous to say it would never cross my mind that it might be off putting to some more conservative clients I wouldn't let that influence my decision to hire someone because taking that in to account is condoning that sort of attitude which I absolutely don't.
That said, professional people ought to look smart and professional, I just don't think visible tattoos and piercings are a barrier to that.
Almost everyone I know, young or old, has a beard (in some cases, I think this even includes the women). I only find them offensive when they are populated with last night's meal.
Depends on the purpose. Some of these things can look smart.
Others, though, signify the applicant screaming 'look at me, I'm an individual' which could raise questions about their ability to conform and fit into a team.
So, do you think people in teams should just be clones then?
Every team that works effectively is a collection of individuals each of whom contributes their opinion and knowledge.
I have the current and previous year tax rates tattooed on my left and right hands, I get them lasered off and reapplied every 6 April.
[***]! Apple Notes is much easier but there again non painful !!
( and no deletion necessary!)
Sirry --- why is the English language and dictionary qualified word M---A--S--O ,,,C...--H::I ;;--S-->>T
being deleted from my post reply!!??
Sirry --- why is the English language and dictionary qualified word M---A--S--O ,,,C...--H::I ;;--S-->>T
being deleted from my post reply!!??
If they want to have a big scruffy beard and a tattoo of swastika on their forehead, they have the right to have them. Because in todays world, they are entitled little sh-it-es.
Do you not ask your prospective shortlisters to send you a polo shirt open necked head and shoulders photo including outstretched arms before deciding to invite for interview? We find this eliminates the scrotes wthout exposing our partnership to claims of unfair candidate selection.
I've wondered about this myself, I don't have any of the three mentioned items but I do like tattoos (in general) and beards can be fine if tidy etc. (some people look better with them!), lobe gauging can look a bit "eeww" and just untidy.
I think as long as the individuals overall appearance is appropriate, then fine. A hypothetical question: if it isn't acceptable to wear a shirt/top with a full motif along the sleeve or collar or trousers with such a motif, is it acceptable to have visible tattoos and other artificial adornments? The reason I ask is that I have come across people who seem to believe that because tattoos (etc.) are a personal aspect and virtually permanent on themselves, that somehow they should be seen (literally) differently to wearing clothing with a similar appearance.
I think top of the list for me for being offputting is sleeve tattoos. If you don't know what they are, Google it and see the images. I just couldn't square that with a professional look.
I a man with Red Leader on this, a big beard and sleeve may look cool if you are a bar tender in a slick cocktail bar, but not a look you would appreciate on your lawyer or accountant.
I saw the Dad of a guy I went school with yesterday (he will be 65+) and he has recently had a Mike Tyson style tattoo around his eye and face.
I just thought how bad he would look in a care home.
So for me no visable tats if you work in a professional setting and those gauge things look horrendous.
I just thought how bad he would look in a care home.
So for me no visable tats if you work in a professional setting and those gauge things look horrendous.
I agree with this. I just don't think it looks professional but that's just my opinion.
I have a rather large tattoo on my forearm which is perfectly presentable, but when started with new employer few months ago I admit not to wear the short sleeved shirt as did not know how the colleagues and the Director would react. Now when I know that no one gives a toss about my tattoo I wear short sleeved shirts every day.
Always found it strange that some colleagues/clients find tattoos inappropriate.
I have tattoos and a beard. None of that gauging rubbish though. Never had a problem in my professional life. I always wear a long sleeved shirt (occasionally rolling the sleeves up) as I think short sleeve looks a bit weird.
Possible justification-A beard can add 30 minutes a week to possible chargeable time, more if one has a tendency to create nicks and have to delay until the bleeding stops.
I grew mine because I am singularly lazy and it has the bonus that whilst all my hair is grey or silver odd bits of my beard carry hints of my natural colouring-even the ginger highlights.
I am not actually able to grow a beard.
I have hair follicles about 5 mm apart on my face. Last time i grew any facial hair the wife said I looked homeless.
The trend in 10 years will be clean shaven, suit and no tats.
Interesting discussion from an accounting trainee point of view.
I currently have one tattoo on my back which is easily hidden in a working environment. When I had it done, I was very conscious of where it was going to go to make sure I could cover if needed.
I've deliberately put off getting anymore for how they may look in an interview and how I may be perceived for having visible tatts.
Wouldn't employ anyone with ugly tats or face piercings but certainly wouldn't tell them!!!! But a nice beard looks good.
I do have a tattoo, but it's upper arm and covered even when wearing a short sleeved shirt.
I have a short van [***], which is there because I was assaulted some 34 years ago in a nightclub which left some facial scarring. The van [***] helps to cover/distract from it.
Neither the tattoo nor the facial hair have ever caused a problem professionally.
It's the latter part of that, though his Richard doesn't feature anywhere. Dick van [***] - worst cockney accent ever.
(really hoping for an extra moderated word - time to hist "Post" and see).
EDIT: Damn. Cocks are allowed but not Dicks.
I remember a discussion at work in the late sixties about whether female bank employees would ever be allowed to wear trousers in the workplace.
The consensus we arrived at was "not in our lifetime".