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January 1, 20168 CommentsGeneral, Tattoo AdviceBy Dr Greg Hall

College tattoos

1129_williams-college_485x340As teens and college students assert their independence on their journey to adulthood, many choose to make a bold statement permanently on their body . . . the college tattoo. Tattoos have become almost the norm for young people. Some reports estimate that a third of people 18 to 25 have at least one tattoo. In some environments, the people with tattoos are actually in the majority. Look at professional football or basketball, and try to find a player without tattoos.  With these men as prominent role models, what do we expect of our high school and college football or basketball players? Many of them “can’t wait” to get their first tattoo, and unfortunately many rush to get a tattoo on a dare, while drinking, or in response to some life changing event (first love, recent death, etc.).  In some cases, a hurried tattoo can lead to life-long regret, and make finding gainful employment more challenging than they ever expected.

A few years ago, Ohio State football players showed what they value the most by exchanging football memorabilia for something of real significance to them. . . a tattoo.  To their credit, they were all seeking a professional tattoo (not a dorm room imitation) which carries with it significantly less risk for disease transmission, or regret due to poor artwork.  OSU-tattooBut these young athletes get consumed with the drive to get tattoos, and lose sight of the fact that upon graduation, the vast majority of them will not play professional ball (yes, even at Ohio State).  In fact, if they’re lucky they can enter today’s highly competitive workforce at an entry level position. This is where the problems arise.

Employers, managers, and corporate leadership still have a strong tendency to negatively pre-judge individuals with tattoos.  As the younger people with college tattoos age and move into these positions, this will likely correct itself, but for now, these are the facts. Employers view a person with tattoos as less intelligent, less aristocratic, more impulsive, and less likely to climb the corporate ladder. An online survey on debates.juggle.com found that 68% of people believe that tattoos are negatively stereotyped in the US. With scarce jobs and a challenged economy, the final decision on hiring a young applicant could easily hinge on the presence, or absence, of obvious tattoos.

Here’s another problem.  The most recent trend in the tattoo world is to be independent and bold, therefore getting a tattoo on the neck, hands, lower legs, and even face is the new sign of autonomy.  Mean BossUnfortunately, employers haven’t jumped on that band wagon yet either, and these college students with un-hide-able tattoos will find that a lot of jobs will simply be out of their reach.

The answer is simple.  Think of a tattoo as a surgical procedure similar to plastic surgery.  You wouldn’t get a tummy tuck in your friend’s basement. When getting a tattoo, do a considerable amount of research.  Think about your family, future, career, and life’s possibilities.  Go to websites like shoulditattoo.com and review the pros and cons of tattoos in a balanced way.  Talk to people who have tattoos and get their honest opinion about their experiences. Studies have consistently shown that when people research a major life decision thoroughly, they are overwhelmingly more happy with the outcome.

 

This article, by a person with tattoos and piercings, reviews the latest information about workforce tattoos.

Workplace Tattoos 2

Too Tattooed

College tattoos 2

 

 

 

Tattoos coping

About the author

Dr Greg Hall

Gregory Hall, MD is a physician, author, speaker, inventor, professor, and public health professional. He strives to improve the quality of medical care through fair disclosure, quality care, and an honest approach to patients and their families.

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8 Comments
  1. December 5, 2011 at 4:24 am
    Auggy

    Good article and straight to the point. Check out http://www.hepatitistattoos.org/ Thx 🙂

  2. December 17, 2011 at 6:58 am
    Latisha Harting

    Thanks a lot for sharing your blog.

    • January 13, 2012 at 3:28 am
      Chassidy

      This piece was a lifjeacket that saved me from drowning.

  3. January 9, 2012 at 8:05 am
    Job Hunter

    The problem rests in younger people being unwilling to really access what their needs may be 10 or 20 years down the road. Rebellion is what most are thinking. Tattoos are the evidence of the rebellion, and employers don’t want rebellious employees (or ones that have a rebellious past). You reap what you sow.

  4. January 10, 2012 at 9:05 am
    Nollie

    Always rerfsheing to hear a rational answer.

  5. January 13, 2012 at 4:30 am
    Sherlyn

    Great points. I hope college kids listen.

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