| Author | Message | ||
     Socoken |
Ive got a few tats on my shoulders and upper arms, and Im strongly considering starting a sleeve. My first step would be to start at the watchline and go up to my elbow, or just shy of it. I have my design picked out, but I want to make sure that Im sure before I do it. Anyone have any negative experiences with large, highly visible tats in the professional world? Im currently closing in on a geology degree, and I want to be sure its something that wont hinder a career. Tattoos seem to be becoming more and more mainstream so I would think the stigma would be fading, but I could be wrong. It would be able to be covered by a longsleeve shirt but I like to roll my sleeves up. edit- Ah crap, I misspelled Tattooed. (Im claiming typo!) If someone could fix that for me, it would be much appreciated. (Message edited by socoken on May 28, 2010) | ||
| Niceguyeddy |
Not sure about the ink but, we should rip the Mindoro Cut some time.  | ||
| Danger_dave |
As a professional career move - I think it's a really bad one. | ||
| Socoken |
For sure. I havent ridden it yet this year, waiting on a new belt and fresh rubber. Wildcat Mtn is just a few twisty roads away, too. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
There will always be some stigma attached to tattoos for some people. In today's job environment, you don't want to add any reasons for someone to cull you out of the running for a position. I'm sure I'll get flamed by pro-tat folks, and I am not anti-tattoo at all. I think No_rice's work is some of the coolest I've seen. It does make a difference. It's one of the things keeping me from getting ink myself. | ||
| Danger_dave |
I have several tattoos. You wouldn't know I have them unless I show you them. (No FB they are not on my Wazza). FB is right though. The straights rule, that's the way it is. Ink is rebellion and of the dark side. It's self inflicted pain FFS - or as the Christians would have it - messing with God's creation. I make no moral judgments, but for a career on the 'light side' - they are an impediment. On the dark side. Please post pics. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Eh, as long as a long sleeve shirt will cover it and u don't mind long sleeves year round if need be, go nuts. I've got one sleeve done, ready to start another one as soon as my artist get it worked out.  | ||
| Fahren |
Badlionsfan, are you a geologist? I mean, great work on your arm, don't get me wrong. But I agree completely with Dave. Unless your attitude toward your career and your life is "F*** 'em if they can't take a joke," then I would keep the inkwork to more discrete areas. | ||
| Dragonslayer |
I've got alot of ink, but I don't have an office job so it doesn't matter. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I've got a couple of short sleeves that get covered up if I wear short sleeves... You might see them if I'm reaching for something but for the most part they are out of site. I have a LOT of customers that may not want to deal with someone all inked up. BUT.... if I hit the lotto.... I'm getting sleeves Tattoo's are like potato chips... ya just can't stop at one | ||
| Hr_puffinstuff |
i rode wildcat the first time last week. haven't run the cut yet. when do we leave? i won't bore you with the long story about my tiny, but VERY significant to me, tat. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I don't have any, and given my strong aversion to needles, I doubt I ever will, but I think some of them are pretty cool. You definitely do NOT see many of them in professional circles, at least not above the "worker bee" level. I find it interesting that one of my favorite guitarists, Johnny Winter, didn't get his first tattoo until he was 40, but now he's pretty much covered. I just finished reading his recently published biography, and he said he figured since he was 40, he wouldn't get them because he was young and stupid, he'd get them because he was old and stupid.  He did note that when he appeared in a magazine showing his tats, he picked up a whole new listening audience who'd never really payed him much attention before- bikers.  | ||
| Road_thing |
Ken: I'm a petroleum geologist in Houston. Been here 35 years, in the biz for almost 40. I can't think of a single professional acquaintance of any age in the geology field with a visible tattoo. A sleeve would definitely make you "different" from your peers and competitors for jobs down here. I'm guessing the difference would not be positive from your point of view. rt | ||
| Badlionsfan |
No, I'm not. But I've known nurses, business to business sales people and others that had sleeves. I suppose different regions of the country look at tattoos differently, but I don't know of any line of work that either doesn't allow visable tats or long sleeve shirts to cover them up besides maybe law enforcement. Hand, face or neck should be avoided of course, but other than that I don't see a problem. I would deffinately suggest to the OP to wait to make sure that a full sleeve is what he really wants to do tho, I waited 5 years to decide it was what I really wanted and that I plan on staying in trucking for life, where tats are ok and even if I were to end up somewhere that doesn't like them (UPS is all I know of), long sleeve uniforms are acceptable. I can only speak to my personal experience, as I only know what I know. I do think asking people on a message board if one should perminately change their skin is a good idea or not isn't a great idea. I'd suggest keeping your advice or questions local and in your field. | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>I'd suggest keeping your advice or questions local and in your field.<< Ironic that it comes after 250 words of advice. | ||
| Whatever |
You can only see mine with a tank top on... so no big deal... thing is, on the right shoulder I have a Valknut, which is a German pagan symbol of being one of Odin's warriors, it has three upright triangles interlocked... I get "Are you gay?" alot and "What does that mean?" alot. It is symbolizing you are ready on the battlefield to be taken away by Valkyries at any time... and more significantly it is for the warrior I lost... Anyhow, the rather large one on my back gets a lot of stares from children... but that I do not mind. (Message edited by Whatever on May 28, 2010) | ||
| Whatever |
I am also a geologist, but the last boss I had professionally was an engineer who was a born again christian... two bosses in a row way more conservative than me... so I would not recommend getting them anywhwere you can see in a professional workplace... legs are ok for the most part bc you almost always wear pants in the field, and like I said, no tank tops allowed either... | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
BLF, that work is stunning! Casey here at the shop has some really nice work. Very high end. Unfortunately tattoos are much like my mother said: "You can appear as you want or as others expect you to appear. Unfortunately only one of those is likely to get you paid." The trick is to be so successful in what you do that YOU get to make the rules. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Wasn't meant to be advice, but sharing my personal experiences for entertainment only, just like the point spreads in the news paper. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I don't know of any line of work that either doesn't allow visable tats or long sleeve shirts to cover them up besides maybe law enforcement The U.S. Marine Corps Effective April 1, Marines are prohibited from getting sleeve tattoos. Those individuals who have sleeve tattoos are required to be documented by their command by July 1. A sleeve tattoo is a very large tattoo, or collection of smaller tattoos, that covers or almost covers a person’s entire arm or leg. Half-sleeve or quarter-sleeve tattoos that are visible to the eye when wearing a standard physical training T-shirt and shorts are likewise prohibited. Marines who currently have sleeve tattoos need to have them photographed by their command and have them documented in their service record books to be grandfathered into this policy. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Might be a good idea to wait until you are settled in to a job to get the lay of the land. As a retired architect, tats don't seem to me like a great idea for a budding professional, but that's just me. Of course, in certain professions, they might be an advantage. Like for my Ducati Tech, who has a desmo valve train on his back. Hasn't hurt is business one bit.  | ||
| Firebolt32 |
As long as you don't mind wearing long sleeves all the time. I had my guy stop just above the wrist so if there was an issue I could wear sleeves to hide them. My boss personally doesn't care. I do however work in various atmospheres with building broadcast systems. In 10 years I've yet to run across a customer that didn't like it. Although at UCONN I was harrassed over my Boston Red Sox's B on my arm. It was in good fun though.... | ||
| Svh |
2 days ago thcable guy came to attempt to fix our cable. 90* and humid and he had a thrmal long sleeve shirt on under his cable short sleeve button shirt. When he was done i asked him why the long sleeves? Because he has tattoo sleeves and cable company doesn't want them seen. | ||
| Firebolt32 |
Unless your attitude toward your career and your life is "F*** 'em That's my attitude toward the association I officiate football for. They've asked me, my father and a friend of mine that have visible tats to cover them. I do that for fun, they don't pay my bills, therefore can kiss my rear. Most White hats like their crew to be uniform. I'm not wearing sleeves if no one else will and don't expect them to. I don't walk around the association with a chip on my shoulder but I'm a strong official. Would you rather have me on the field with some tats showing or a guy on the field that doesn't have clue but has clean skin. I still officiate! | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
Socoken- Quite honestly it depends on the type of geologic work you want to do. If you want to be in the field working oil wells and mapping then youre more than accepted. If you want to get into more of the environmental stuff with a lot of PR, then its a bad career move. My motto is, if I can cover it up with a suit Go for it. Did you go to field camp? And if so where at and who was your prof? One of our Profs at UWO headed out to MN and runs a field camp out there. (Message edited by chrisrogers3 on May 28, 2010) | ||
| Bikertrash05 |
If I were to get a tattoo, I would get this on my chest. The desire to and the cost is what is holding me back.  | ||
| Socoken |
Its funny that someone posted that MCO. Its my time in the Marines and my two tours in Iraq that makes me feel that I could get away with it. I'm pretty clean cut aside from the tats I have, no piercings and short hair. I hate to think someone could interview me and look at my resume and think, " gosh, that young man is intelligent and professional. Too bad for all that stuff on his arm. Guess we better hire someone else." Heck, Mr Rodgers had a childrens tv show for hundreds of years and most people never knew about his. Thanks a ton for all the well thought out replies, even a few geologists. I am getting the same sentiment from the people I ask around me. Its either "Why do it? It can only hurt your career" or, "If they won't hire/promote you because of a tattoo, you don't want to be working for them anyway." Both of which make a ton of sense, but the cocky side of me wants to think I can be an exception and succeed based on performance. I know its what I want personally, but I also want to reach my goals and its a tough job market out there. If anyone has an opinion or experience they don't care to share on here, Id love for you to email me and tell me about it. Ken17_mp@hotmail.com Thanks again for all the input! | ||
| Danger_dave |
I understand where you are coming from. If it's you - it;s you. It's not an insurmountable challenge. Life - and a White Collar Career - throw up enough Licence checks road blocks along the way without installing extra speed bumps on your own. | ||
| 86129squids |
Heck- I stopped at the drug store on the way home today, had this fat, fugly woman as a cashier, what was the worst about it was she had these 2-tone blue fake fingernails, twice as long as they should be, handling my stuff. I had just rented "Avatar" from the Redbox out front, couldn't help thinking about blue freaks and how she got to thinking to herself "this is pretty, I want to be in public wearing these freakishly long, garish colored nails."  BTW, I have always appreciated nice tats, never got any ink myself, but may someday... Don't let your skin ink impede your career, otherwise, FTW and dowhutchalike. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Its my time in the Marines and my two tours in Iraq that makes me feel that I could get away with it Semper Fi! When someone ask why I have tattoo's I tell 'em it all started when I got a USMC tattoo in 1985 and I just couldn't stop.... |
