| Is a small tattoo on the inside of my wrist completely unprofessional? I am an attorney working for the federal government and work in a business casual dress environment, so short sleeves are acceptable in the warmer months-- I can always throw on a sweater or jacket if I have a meeting with any "higher ups". |
| What is it and what size? |
| Visible tattoos are always unprofessional. |
| Wear a cuff bracelet. |
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I agree on keeping it hidden if you can.
Maybe that is not too modern or forward-thinking, but I think it is reality for a lot of professions. I work in law, and I would be compelled to hide it if I had a visible tattoo. |
| In more conservative circles, yes. With older people, yes. |
| I hire lots of 16-22 year olds, they have them. So in another 10-15 years your younger co-workers may make it acceptable, for now, it isn't. |
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Just wear a watch or cuff bracelet, but I do agree it needs to be covered.
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Today's wrist tattoos are tomorrow's tramp stamps, which is to say it's the 'trendy' body part for a tattoo right now. It can be covered up in a professional setting so that's not an issue - just make sure you really, really want it.
Signed, In 1998 It Was Called A Lower Back Tattoo |
| I am sure I sound like an old fart (am 31), but every time I see ear spacers/stretchers/gauges on someone I just picture the years of regret to come for them as they age - professionally, personally. |
| I'm in my 40s with visible tattoos and a professional job. There are quite a few of us. I will make sure to wear a jacket or sweater when meeting older, more senior people, but once people know you and respect you it really isn't a big deal. I've had people who have seen me in short sleeves for months suddenly say, "oh I didn't know you had a tattoo." |
| I find it unprofessional, but my MIL is a VP in a Fortune 500 company and proudly sports a wrist tattoo. She's in the midwest though and people don't seem as conservative out there as they are in DC. |
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I'm in a senior position and no matter how long I've known you, the second I see a tattoo on you, my opinion of you goes down.
I don't care if I'm right or wrong, my only point in posting this is you'd never guess that about me if you know me - so my advice would be to hide it always because you never know by whom you're being judged. |
+1 To me it says, "poor judgment, not a planner." |
j +1 |