Does having a tattoo still hurt one's chances of being hired or getting a promotion?

A lot of conservative folk still consider tattoos to be horrendous. Show your granny someone with a tattoo and you’ll probably see her squint her face and hear her say sies. While most of society is catching up and realising a tattoo or piercing doesn’t necessarily equal gangster, lazy or rebel, the stigma unfortunately still prevails in many professional industries.

Thanks to the ever growing number of individuals that sport tattoos, both young and old, male and female, working, middle and upper class, moms, uncles, and everyone in between, these perceptions are slowly changing as society realises the book cannot be judged solely by the cover. Which begs the question: if getting a tattoo doesn’t affect your education, experience and skills, will it still decrease your chances of getting hired?

Read: Top traits interviewers admire

First, you have to understand why people associate tattoos with trouble. Tattoos have always been associated with different, strange and not normal. The tattooed lady was a circus attraction in at the beginning of the 20th century. In the 1950s outlaw bikers and other social outcasts sported tattoos. It is believed that this is when their nasty criminal-intent reputation began. Soon after, it spread to prison and inmates who were tattooed were considered more dangerous than those without.

It wasn’t until the 90s that more and more people within 'normal society' got inked. But the generalisations still stuck.

Many businesses are concerned about their reputation especially how their their investors, clients and customers respond perceive them. Visible tattoos at work might present a problem if you’re in a typical suit and tie industry. Depending on your job title, industry, the company, and management’s beliefs you could encounter various levels of discrimination because of the size, content and position of your tattoo.

During the job interview process, job seekers are always advised to always dress appropriately and professionally. Even though it is unlikely, your interviewer may still hold onto common tattoo misconceptions. If you do have a tattoo, investigate the company’s culture. If you’re uncomfortable in a conservative environment, you may reject the job offer.

Read: Company culture clues to spot at your interview

If you are employed and are considering getting your first tattoo, you should be aware of your company’s policy regarding attire to ensure that you’re always within the rules. Regardless of how you may feel, once you sign a contract you are obliged to comply with company regulation.

Being professional has a lot more to do with your manners and etiquette than your attire - just ask two of the most successful companies in the world: Google and Facebook famously have very casual environments.

Due to the overwhelming persistence of negative connotations with tattoos, it is true that you may encounter difficulty finding employment. Even though it isn’t ideal, it is safer to cover up your tattoos until you get a feel for the workplace environment. While you may be wondering, do I really want to work at a place that doesn’t respect my choices? a better question to ask is, am I willing to risk losing this position because of a tattoo?