My tattoos should not affect my career

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The first thing people see when they look at me are my tattoos. I’ve had many people tell me I won’t be able to get a job later on because of them. I completely disagree with this statement. I have a job now and do well for myself.

Tattoos used to be considered part of a counterculture. It’s probably a fair statement to say that for years, many people associated tattoos with gangs, bikers and other groups that were thought to operate outside of the social center. Today, tattoos are gaining wider social acceptance and more people, men and women alike, have them. People with tattoos work in a variety of industries and hold entry-level jobs as well as top executive positions. Does having tattoos say anything about an individual that is relevant to his or her job? It doesn’t. Tattoos do not define how well someone can do a job.

None of my tattoos are offensive. If someone’s tattoos are offensive, they should at least be able to be covered up. Most of my tattoos are actually flowers. The idea that someone would be denied a job because of their tattoos is absurd. Having tattoos does not make you any less capable of performing a task. Tattoos are creative and artistic. If I applied for a job and did not get it based off my appearance rather than experience then I wouldn’t want to work for them anyway. I am very confident I will be able to do any job I am asked to do. It would be a shame if I wasn’t given the chance because I have a few flowers tattooed on me.

All of my tattoos can be covered up with clothing, so I am not that worried about it. Personally, I wouldn’t get any face, neck or hand tattoos because they are extremely hard and almost impossible to cover up. However, it is incredibly frustrating that I am immediately judged for having tattoos that can even be covered up, especially at the age of 19. Almost everyone I know has at least one tattoo somewhere on their body.

I believe tattoos are a form of expression. They make an individual unique and show other people who someone is without verbal communication. My tattoos are a physical manifestation of the person I am inside, and the kind of person I want others to see in me. They reflect who I am and what I believe in, as well as showing my passion and dedication to those values by permanently inking my skin. Through them, I’m able to celebrate my individuality and my personal identity. Just by looking at me you would see flowers, two names and the word hope. By this, you can see that I like flowers. If people asked me about the names, they would learn that I have two children. Hope is my daughter’s middle name. All of my tattoos mean something important to me.

Tattoos are also a conversation starter. I have had many people ask me about my tattoos and why I have them. Without them, who knows if these people would have talked to me. I will frequently compliment someone on the tattoos they have. This has often led to further conversations in the future. I actually met one of my best friends in college because we bonded over having similar tattoos.

Tattoos are almost like clothing. Everyone has a different style and the clothes they wear represent this. Tattoos are just the same. Some people prefer lots of color. Some people, like me, prefer black and white. There are so many different kinds of tattoos you can get. You can get a quote, something floral, an animal, a picture you drew yourself. There are no limits to what you can get and that is exactly why I love them. There is no one in the world who has my exact tattoo or combination of tattoos. Yet there are millions of people who have the same eye and hair color as me. It’s awesome to know that you are unique and choose to show the whole world what you truly love and have an interest in.

Now, I understand tattoos are not for everyone. They are a huge commitment and some people may fear that they will regret it later. However, I believe that people should not judge one another because of a tattoo. Of course, I wouldn’t go out there and get something offensive though.

In the end, it is my body and my choice on whether or not I have tattoos. I will continue to get whatever tattoos I want and I will do so with no regrets because it is who I am and it is what I want to do with my body. If for some reason I get denied a job in the future, then I will move forward and not give up on applying for a job in my field. If anything, I’ll be better off because of it because I’ll be surrounded by more accepting people. Now, that is the kind of workplace that I want to be apart of.

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