Comments on: Ink @ Inc? How Your Appearance Affects Your Career

By: Chloe Walker

Chloe Walker — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:28:03 +0000

Wouldn’t a ‘full leg sleeve’ more accurately be described as a ‘full leg pant’?

By: nyxmoxie

nyxmoxie — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:50:31 +0000

This article just makes me thankful that i never got a tattoo…I’m not against them but they’re not for me. Even in creative industries where things are more open, it seems that appearance still counts for a lot.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:09:42 +0000

Tattoos and piercings aren’t the only things to consider while working in the office. How you dress can have an affect as well. I’ve always heard the phrase “dress for the position you want.” For me, that means dressing like a successful person in nice clothing instead of going casual. This even holds true in a business that allows for a daily casual wardrobe. If everyone else is wearing jeans and you’re coming in in slacks, that says something about how you prefer to be perceived and treated.

I could gripe about how people should just “get over it” and not judge others by their appearances, but that’s the reality of the world we live in. People ARE judged by their appearance whether people like it or not. So I take that into account with how I present myself on a daily basis.

I personally love dressing professionally. I like the clothing and I like how I feel in it. Jeans, t-shirts and sweatpants are reserved for my weekends and weeknights.

By: Steve Boese

Steve Boese — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:03:07 +0000

I enjoyed the post and ensuing discussion. To me, it is all about fit and compromise. Are the positives that any job may contribute to your life (money, challenge, prestige) so strong that you are willing to cover tattoos, remove piercings, and tone down your personality to fit in. Sometimes, especially early in your career, that is the right choice. But eventually, one of two things happens. You either start to ‘rebel’ and your true self starts showing, and that either flies with your company or it doesn’t. Or you cover up for so long and so fully, that that part of your personality takes a permanent back seat. Good article!

By: Juliet | Careers Made Easy

Juliet | Careers Made Easy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:01:53 +0000

It is a great pity how one is judged by one’s appearance.

I once saw a documentary where they sent actors into job interviews. They took really good-looking actors and those not so great in appearance; prepped them for the same job interview where they had the same backgrounds and would give the same responses to typical questions. Guess what? The good-looking actors always got positive responses and possibly through to the next stage while the others were immediately shown the door.

If you think about, it even starts at the resume stage. You haven’t even set foot in the door! Why is including one’s interests in a resume so often discouraged? Because it influences the way you come across, the way you “look” to the company.

Juliet

By: Joel Falconer

Joel Falconer — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:57:11 +0000

I published this post with the word “Affects” in the title and upon arriving at the office and looking again it seems some “helpful” but a-little-less-than dim-witted soul has changed the title. Have reverted it back.

By: Wordsmith

Wordsmith — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:04:35 +0000

Since it’s an article about the workplace, I’d draw the attention more on the correct use of terms. I think the title should be “How Your Appearance Affects Your Career”. Effects: belongings; Affects: have an effect upon; “Will the new rules affect me?”, or affected – influenced or changed by something; simulated in order to impress.

I do think your appearance affects your career, and communication is one of the elements of appearance, and as such it dictates and is attached to your appearance, and it very likely has at least some impact on the authority of the person presenting an argument.

By: TheDebtHawk.com

TheDebtHawk.com — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:02:36 +0000

I always tell people that they should perform their job as if it was a performance. Act like you should act.

This also applies to how you dress. Dress in character. If your role requires a suit and tie, where a suit and tie. If it is more dress casual, where dress casual clothes.

I think the best way to determine what to where is looking at what your boss wears. Make sure that you look at least as good as him. But, if you think that your boss doesn’t do a very good job in dressing the part, step up your game.

By: Rondal

Rondal — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:56:35 +0000

That’s why I’m so glad you wrote this article. Its always surprising to me just how strong the social stigmas that surround subversive culture (piercings, long hair, tattoos) are inside the work enviroment and out. I hope that many of the other “awesome workers” and their employers can take something away from this article as well.

Oh, and Bob… awesome quotation!

By: Erica McGillivray

Erica McGillivray — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:30:44 +0000

While I don’t have any ink myself, I do think things are changing. I have a friend who’s a kindergarten teacher in public schools and she’s pierced (nose) and has several tattoos. She does not take out her piercings for her job, and while all her tattoos can be covered with clothing, she does wear short-sleeves and skirts to her job. When asked about how her ink and piercings affect her job, she says that she looks like the parents of the kids, that most of them have have ink/piercings and wouldn’t think twice about her having them.