Tattoos are increasingly considered a part of personal identity and expression, especially among young adults, and are becoming an integral part of modern culture. Some believe they’re a sign of style, freedom, and character.
If you are among this group of people, you may now be wondering if it’s possible to get a job with tattoos all over your body. While some jobs allow employees to have tattoos, others don’t.
Tattoos and piercings are frowned upon by many employers in the US and other countries due to company policies and the availability of safety equipment.
Here is an overview of jobs that don’t allow tattoos.
List of Jobs That Don’t Allow (Visible) Tattoos
Military Personnel
Due to strict regulations and uniformity requirements, military personnel are on the list of jobs that don’t allow tattoos. Tattoos that are visible in uniform are not permitted in most military branches.
The military’s dress code policy prohibits visible tattoos on the head, neck, and face. The military is also against offensive, sexist, and extremist tattoos.
This policy aims to maintain a professional appearance and uphold the military’s values of discipline and respect. Exceptions may be granted for tattoos that uphold cultural or religious significance, but the decision ultimately lies with the commanding officer.
Flight Attendant
As a flight attendant, you must always uphold a professional image, including not flushing your tattoos. Most airlines don’t allow tattoos to be visible while wearing the uniform.
If you have visible tattoos, especially on the face, neck, arms, or legs, you may be denied a job as a flight attendant. This is because you’re expected to maintain a neat and clean appearance, and any visible tattoos are deemed unprofessional or inappropriate.
You may be lucky if your tattoo is discrete or easily covered. Otherwise, you may face disciplinary action.
Police Officer
You must maintain a particular image as a police officer to reflect professionalism in upholding the law. As a result, this is another profession where visible tattoos on the face, neck, arms, or legs are not permitted.
Moreover, offensive, racist, sexist, or extremist tattoos are prohibited. You should present a clean and professional appearance, and tattoos that don’t meet these standards may result in you facing disciplinary action.
This policy helps to ensure that police officers are respected and trusted by the communities they serve.
Teacher
As a teacher, you’re not typically restricted from having tattoos, but visible tattoos may be discouraged due to concerns over professionalism and influencing the students. Some schools may have a dress code policy prohibiting visible tattoos on the face, neck, arms, or legs.
If you decide to work in a more conservative or traditional environment, you may be encouraged to cover up your tattoos. Ultimately, it depends on the school’s policy and the discretion of the individual school administrators.
Nurses
Any healthcare professional, including nurses, must maintain a professional image. You play a critical role in patient care and must uphold values of care, compassion, and patient respect.
Additionally, you must adhere to a high standard of hygiene, and sometimes tattoos could compromise the cleanliness of your work environment. For example, tattoos on the hands or wrists may not be allowed as they may interfere with hand hygiene practices.
Some hospitals and healthcare facilities have dress codes that restrict visible tattoos on the face, neck, arms, or legs. This policy is in place to maintain a professional appearance and reduce patient distractions.
Employers may also prohibit tattoos that promote violence, gang affiliation, or discrimination. Whether or not you can have a visible tattoo as a nurse will also depend on your employer’s policies and their supervisor’s discretion.
Banker
Your tattoos as a banker should not be visible while wearing professional attire. You should reflect professionalism in addition to your dress code. The rationale is maintaining a conservative and professional appearance to build trust with clients and stakeholders.
However, some banks may have more flexible policies regarding tattoos, especially if yours are small and discreet.
Lawyer
A lawyer is expected to maintain a high standard of conduct and uphold the values of justice, fairness, and ethics. You must always present a professional and conservative appearance to convey these values to your clients and colleagues.
As a result, visible tattoos may not be allowed in some law firms or legal organizations, as they may be considered unprofessional or distracting. Even worse, tattoos deemed inappropriate or offensive may be strictly prohibited, as they may conflict with the values of justice, fairness, and equality, you’re expected to uphold as a lawyer.
Additionally, tattoos on visible areas such as the face, neck, arms, or legs may be prohibited to maintain a conservative appearance. However, some law firms may have more relaxed policies regarding tattoos, especially if they are small and discreet.
Chef
It’s funny how you can create delicious dishes as a chef and still deal with picky customers. Besides that, you’re often required to maintain a clean and hygienic appearance, especially when working in a commercial kitchen or restaurant setting.
Yes, some restaurants allow chefs with tattoos, and famous chefs have become even more popular for their body art. However, it’s different for some restaurants or other establishments. They may prohibit tattoos due to health and safety concerns.
In particular, tattoos on the hands, wrists, or forearms may be prohibited as they can pose a risk of contamination or cross-contamination of food.
This is because, as a chef with tattoos on your hands or arms, you may have difficulty properly sanitizing and cleaning the affected area, which can lead to potential foodborne illness and health code violations.
Receptionist
While tattoos are becoming more accepted in many industries, some organizations may still have strict policies prohibiting visible tattoos in the workplace.
A receptionist is among these professions where tattoos, particularly on the face, neck, arms, or legs, may be restricted as they can be considered distracting or unprofessional.
A professional appearance is important to establish trust and credibility with clients and visitors. If you otherwise have tattoos, they should be small enough to cover or discreet so they’re not visible while wearing professional attire.
News Anchor
While tattoos are becoming more socially accepted, some television stations may still have strict policies regarding visible tattoos on air. As a news anchor, you’re entrusted with presenting news stories to the public clearly, concisely, and professionally.
And having tattoos can be perceived as a distraction from the presented news and may detract from your credibility and professionalism. Furthermore, tattoos on specific body areas, such as the face, neck, arms, and hands, may be prohibited, as they are often visible on camera and can be considered unprofessional.
However, some television stations may have more relaxed policies regarding tattoos, especially if the tattoos are small and discreet. In these cases, the tattoos should not be visible while the anchor is on camera or wearing professional attire.
Politicians
Imagine a politician with a “Born to Lose” tattoo peeking out from under their suit jacket—not exactly the message you want to send to your voters.
As a politician, you’re a master of diplomacy, debate, and decision-making. And when it comes to tattoos, your constituents may not be so forgiving.
Plus, tattoos can be distracting, leading the public to focus more on your ink than your policies. So, while you may have strong convictions as a politician when it comes to tattoos, you might have to compromise for the sake of public perception.
Conclusion
If you want to be in healthcare, law enforcement, education, or even the restaurant industry, you will probably have to keep your tattoos concealed. You need to uphold professionalism in your work; having tattoos doesn’t help as much.
If you do have tattoos, they should not be visible when wearing your uniform. Furthermore, tattoos on the face, neck, arms, or legs may be restricted as they can be considered distracting and can cost you your dream job.