A survey for everyone with tattoos...?

Question

This is mostly out of curiosity. I'm an ecology and evolutionary biology major, so that means I'm going to end up with some career in the sciences (as opposed to say, working in a record store or tattoo parlor). Lately I've been thinking about getting a simple black and white tattoo done about 1/4th of the way down my upper arm. It's a design that means a lot to me (so I'm going to wait a few months and see if I still want it) and I really really like it and the idea of getting it tattooed, but I'm curious as to the possibility of it jeopardizing a future career. I don't want to put it anywhere else, and if you're going to write something dumb along the lines of "lolz don't get it," go waste your time somewhere else.

So my questions are: if you have a tattoo, where is it, what is it, how big is it, what do you do for a living, and do you regret it?

Answer 1

I am a 27yr old law student, who has worked in the legal field since I was 19, since I am going to be a lawyer I made sure that my tattoo can be covered by work clothes. I have mine on my hip and its an angel with devils horns in memory of my father. Many attorneys I know have tattoos and the best advice I can give you is make sure if you wear a polo shirt that the tattoo can't be seen. Every guy in the professional field I know who has one has gone to the shop with a polo shirt to make sure where he can get one and where is inappropriate. If you are a girl, do not get an anklet or you will be getting it lasered off in a couple of years...Good luck and be forewarned they are addicting, I am going in for my 2nd on my birthday.

Answer 2

1. Do you have any pets? Yes 1 cat 2. If you do what are they? Cat 3. What country do you live in? England 4. Are you sporty? Nope 5. Favourite season of the year? Winter 6. Do you get more excited about christmas or your birthday? Christmas 7. What type of music do you like? The Killers 8. What's your best personality trait? ??? 9. What's your favourite posession? My car 10. Do you have any piercings/ tattoos? Yes ears 11. Are you on a computer or laptop at the moment? Laptop 12. What are you afraid of? Spiders 13. Are you serperstitous No 14. Do you prefer halloween or easter? Neither hate them both 15. Are you bored of my survey? No

Answer 3

I have 3 tattoos: a small black lily on my ankle, a small black abstract squigly thing on my shoulderblade, and a large blue snowflake on the back of my neck.

They have never affected my employment. I can easily cover all of them without it looking like I'm covering any of them (the snowflake is the hardest - and for that I just wear my hair down). All three have been visible at work at some point and they haven't been a problem.

Now I manage a gym, but at my last job I did IT procurement at the State Department. I also have my nose pierced, and some slightly unusual ear piercings (rook, daith), and those haven't been a probem either.

Tattoos are becoming more and more accepted in the workplace. There will always be some people who look down on you because of your ink, but for the majority, how you do your job is more important than what you put on your skin.

I don't regret getting my tattoos at all. I plan to get more in the future.

Besides, those science types are usually pretty laid-back. :) I was a geo/paleo major, and some of my professors were tattooed, which I thought was pretty cool.

Answer 4

I'm a university student. Planning on going into education.
It's on my lower back. Three Chinese (Cantonese) symbols, which are vertical that read "Black Queen".
Each character is about the size of a quarter.

I was sure to get something I wouldn't regret. The only thing I SOMETIMES question is why didn't I do it in English, or maybe Hebrew.... something closer to my heritage? But then, I really like Chinese writting, I think it's kinda classy.
I don't plan to get anymore body art done until I graduate University.

If you decide that you want it, I would say go ahead because the location seems like it would be something easy to conceal during an interview or when necessary. If you've got sufficient qualifications for any job, if they see your tattoo afterwards, I highly doubt they will judge you. First impressions are important though.

Answer 5

I got a tattoo of an orchid almost 10 years ago on my ankle. The total design is almost 4 inches tall. I chose the orchid because I was born in Hawaii. I thought long and hard about what I would not mind having on my body when I was 70 years old and I also chose not to put it on a part of my body that would sag.....seriously. I didn't want people to look at it and wonder what the hell it was. I work for a power company. They are a bit strict about tattoos and piercings. Apparently, their policy has since changed and has become even more strict but existing employees with existing tattoos are grandfathered in. I would say go for it but I would still put it somewhere that it can be covered up in the corporate world.

Answer 6

Im a engineer in a hospital that is really picky about aperance nothing showing is thier rules no pericings which i have and tattoos can be visible to others but that comes from the high end people that run this place my boss is cool with them and dont mind them at all unless he is told by someone up high then he will half to tell me to cover it up and remove the pericings..I pretty much have to wear pants all year around as my leg has a nice size tattoo that is the start of my whole leg being done and any other place i would half to wear a long sleve shirt for when i get my arms done in the near future..If you want to get this done on your arm im pretty sure you will be in the same boat wearing nothing but long sleve shirts to cover up your tattoo which isnt a big deal and im sure you will be fine with getting your arm done.. Try asking people that you might know in that major and see what they half to say or go and ask employers while your on interviews on thier policies on tattoos..

Answer 7

2 tats: one on back of shoulder of Chinese writing and butterfly (probably 2inx2in) and one on lower back one of my own designs its a shadow of a man and woman doing a seductive dance. Its about 4-5 in high from tail bone and about 7in wide (there are some swirly things that make it so wide and since I've never measured it I'm pretty much guessing). I worked in an IT dept for a hospital up until 2 years ago when I started working at a credit agency. Do I regret them: No. They are both in areas that I can cover or show off if I want to, depending on my mood and where I'm going). When I'm old and wrinkly, I wont be showing off my lower back to anyone so I'm not worried about what its gonna look like then. I took a lot of time choosing the tats I have and they both have specific meanings to me and where I've been. Even with my opwn design, I waited some time (even taped it my lower back for a while) before going to get it done. As far as a career goes, tats are becoming more of a norm but first impressions are the ones that count when applying for a job. My advice would be to look at the area your getting the tat in, can you cover it with a shirt if you needed to? If so, then by all means go for it.

Answer 8

I have 4 tatoos:
1. A rose above my breast
2. A heart design on my upper left arm
3. A ying-yang on my right shoulder
4. A Chinese character on the back of my neck.

I have a BA in Archaeology. I have been a supervisor for almost 10 years at 3 companies, I worked as a supervisor in a musuem and currently manage an accessories store. I haven't had a problem having tatoos. Mine are all in good taste and the one on my neck and my arm are quite visible. I do not regret any of them. I think the important thing is to design ones that you can be proud of and that have meaning. If you get it on your arm you can always cover it when needed. I say go for it!

Answer 9

I have 4 small tattoos (heart in flames on hip, chinese symbol for woman below belly button and dove of peace and a quote by Oscar Wilde on my shoulderblade) and I got a full backpiece of wings from shoulders to hips a couple of years ago. I work in a small office I made sure that all tattoos can be easily covered (in all weather, inc. summer heat) for work. I used to regret the dove as it was my 1st and not done very well, but got some work done on it and I love it again now.

I recommend choosing a customised design and finding a great tattoist and if you have any doubt in your mind at all I recommend waiting. I waited 9 years to get the wings, just to be sure I really was making the right descision.

Answer 10

Okay so i work in a school district office and i have 2 tats. One on each ankle and a small one on my inner wrist. They have not jeopardized my career in any way. Im educated and an excellent employee and THAT is what everyone focuses on when they meet me. I've had about 2 people aske to see my writs tattoo (because its the only one out in the open every day, unless i wear long sleeves) and they both thought it was great! It really depends on you.