Tattoo on my forearm. Yay or nay?

I have a tattoo appointment for monday. I really have my heart set on getting this particular tattoo on my forearm, but everyone is telling me not to do it for professional reasons. They tell me to get it on my bicep or tricep. My view on it is that if i work in a professional job, i will be wearing long sleeves. If it's a casual day, i can always cover it with a large bandage or get special makeup designed for covering tattoos. That's the worst case scenario, for all i know i might ultimately end up working for a company that doesn't have a policy against tattoos. They have become more and more socially acceptable in recent years and i truly think i won't have any major employment issues. What do you guys think about this?

Neolithium said:

It's up to you, not anyone else. I have a sleeve done on each arm and a few ring tattoo's and it's a nonissue for me. They're visible when I have short sleeve DEU's on, or when my combats have the sleeves rolled up, but I don't necessarily look any less professional. It's not like you're getting a big "***** YOU" in old english lettering tattooed on your forehead.

Click to expand...

Yeah but in the military tattoos are a non-issue. I don't think the same applies for office jobs. And i'm not even sure what career field i will end up in.

EricNau said:

I think to some degree it depends on the tattoo. Some appear more professional than others and I think it's a combo of tattoo design, artist's skill, and the person who has the tattoo.

But I think if you're ok with accepting any possible consequences, then I see no reason not to, if it's what you want. Then again, there are some professions where it would matter more than others. A lawyer? Fine, because you'll always be wearing a suit. A doctor? Probably not; scrubs don't hide much. etc.

Click to expand...

Well i definitely don't plan on being a doctor or lawyer. I'm a psych major in college and want to work in substance abuse counseling. But for all i know, i can end up doing something totally different. It's still up in the air, I'm only 22. As for the tattoo and artist, the tattoo will be a DNA double helix with the word "Evolve" written inside it. It will be around 6x3 inches. The artist is very highly rated and a bit pricey, he did my first tattoo and it came out amazing.

----------

ericrwalker said:

Not true, they are an issue. They can't be in certain locations, and they can't be considered offensive.

I just got out of the Army in September after 12 years.

BTW I am not a fan of tattoos, but they don't really bother me either, unless you have them on your face or neck.

Click to expand...

Yeah i can definitely understand they can't be offensive, no one wants someone with a swastika tattoo representing this country. What locations are they not allowed to be in? Yeah i don't like face and neck tattoos either. They're particularly trashy, but i personally wouldn't turn someone down for a job if i were in a manager position and they had those types of tattoos.

BoxerGT2.5 said:

I can tell you right now as someone who is in charge of hiring for my department, if you come in and I see tattoos, I won't hire you. If you are able to hide them at the interview and I see them after the fact, you better keep hiding them. If you want to be taken seriously in a grown up world, I suggest you think twice. What's cool at 22 can end up seriously hurting you at 34.

Click to expand...

What kind of company is this? And why the anti-tattoo policy? Also, what about ear piercings? I have both of my ears pierced, what if i came into an interview with them in?

roadbloc said:

My place of work has the same policy. It is a restaurant. And it has the same attitude with ear piercings. We want smart looking people working in our restaurant, not people who look like rodents. Even if you're a Chef because the customers can see inside the kitchen.

Tattoos have to be hidden and never ever shown, piercings have to be taken out. If you have one of them awful ear stretcher things, you've got no chance.

Click to expand...

So people with tattoos and ear piercings all look like rodents? How forward thinking. and with all due respect, it doesn't exactly take a rocket scientist to work in a restaurant.

roadbloc said:

Unsure where the dig about intelligence came from. Remind me not to bother replying to your posts in future if you're going to be like that.

Click to expand...

It came from your statement that they want "smart looking" people working there. Wasn't a dig at your intelligence.