Facial Piercings and Job Interviews

[cornflower]

What's your opinion on this? Are facial piercings becoming more acceptable now than before? Of course, it depends on the type of job and the level of professionalism required, but what do you think would be deemed acceptable and what wouldn't?

I have a labret piercing and use an 18 gauge stud with a 3mm silver ball (VERY small - as shown here), do you think this would raise a fuss and/or lower an interviewer's opinion of me? This labret piercing is the only thing on my face other than my glasses, and I've had an interpreter who went through FOUR months until he finally said, "What the hell is that?" and he was surprised when he was told that it was a labret piercing, since he had thought it was some sort of sticker or decoration. I'm not quite sure if I want to remove it for an interview, it would leave a hole (albeit a *very* tiny hole), and I don't know if it'd be any better. Your opinions on this?

[riptide]

Whatever float-eth thy boat-eth.

[The Mormegil]

i think i would all depend on what you are interviewing for, job as a bartender in a night club then sure, a law firm/doctor's firm then i would say no. and what those people are like might have a little bit to do with it also. so what are you applying for?

[cornflower]

I've got an interview for a scrapbook store. I somehow doubt that I'll get it, there isn't much call for Deaf employees at a place like that, but I'll tell you that I kick MUCH arse at the scrapbook thing. Truly. So, I hope I'll get it.

[foildad]

I basically agree with southernsword. When I was young tatoos were only worn by sailors and drunks. I've come to view piercings about the same as I view high heels: sadomasochistic attempts at attention-grabbing.

I did a major double-take when I read that you had a labret piercing; I misunderstood what that meant.

[cornflower]

Originally Posted by foildad

I basically agree with southernsword. When I was young tatoos were only worn by sailors and drunks. I've come to view piercings about the same as I view high heels: sadomasochistic attempts at attention-grabbing.

I did a major double-take when I read that you had a labret piercing; I misunderstood what that meant.

What did you think it was before?!

[Larrison]

I hate to follow the rest of the convention here, but for that interview, I'd drop the facial piercing item.

Now.. depending upon what job you were applying for, would be whether or not I'd give the same advice. But from my admittedly limited experience with scrapbooking stores a lot of the customers aren't really going to be new wave, GenX'ers who accept a lot of tattoos or piercings. So the owner is going to look who is applying and try to pick out the person who is not only the best fit to the job, but also whom will be the most comfortable to his customers. And given two people of equivalent skill, personality and everything same but that.. they are going to pick the one without the facial piercing for a scrapbooking store.

For other places it'd be certainly more acceptable, and possibily encouraged -- particularly if the store was trying to show off a hip, "with it" style.

But either way -- good luck with the interview.

[noodle]

to make a long story short, if you REALLY want a specific job, why would you not do whatever it takes to nail the interview, including removing piercings? some jobs that require a certain ammount of professionalism aren't likely to give you points for the piercings in an interview.

[VELISARIOS]

No piercing. Remove it...after all it is not healthy.

[cornflower]

Not healthy?! Oy vey. I hope this won't turn into a debate on the dangers of piercing.

[Insipiens]

How important to you is the job? How important to you is the piercing?

What is a scrapbook shop? Is that like a secondhand book shop?

[Zilverzmurfen]

I'd say remove it for the interview.
If you get the job, then ask your boss/shop manager/scrapbook shop person if it's ok to wear it during work.

Good luck with the interview!

[Gav]

To be sure remove it for the interview. However as it is so small I wouldn't overly worry. Folks in the US seem a lot more conservative than us Europeans.

[cowpaste]

No no no no no. Grow up. Get rid of spiked hair. Get rid of piercings. If you look like a child, interviewers will think of you as one.

[Maeve_Mari]

Originally Posted by cowpaste

No no no no no. Grow up. Get rid of spiked hair. Get rid of piercings. If you look like a child, interviewers will think of you as one.

THIS from a man dressed as a cow puppet!

[Insipiens]

well we cannot all live up to your standards in style and sartorial elegance.

[Moonitic]

For the interview, maybe you should wear a retainer to err on the side of caution. However, if it's not way "out there" (isn't what you have an "ear" piercing anyway?), it shouldn't be a problem, though.

And Larrison, for a moment I thought you were saying that Gen Xers wouldn't go for the pierced look. That's what I get for reading the board before being fully awake. I nearly cracked up.

I have a navel piercing myself. People only see it if I show them (& it'll look really hot when I'm in costume for a magician's assistant...yeah, I do that.)

[Peach]

Gee--you mean my piercings make me look like a child? Sigh. I wish it were true. That effect only works up to a certain age. The other day, my mother finally noticed my conch (deep ear cartilage) piercing and demanded, "Are you wearing a hearing aid?"

Twelve years ago when I interviewed for my present job, I did remove my upper ear cartilage piercing for the interview, and then left it out for a couple of months during the day once I got the job, but now nobody comments. We have a dress code (it's a private school with a uniform) so it would be discourteous to the kids (and modeling incorrect compliance) if I were to wear facial piercings, which they are not permitted to have.

Of course, if I had one, my mother would probably assume I had a booger.

Piercings these days are a fashion statement rather than indicative of some deep lifestyle preference, and therefore like all fashion statements you have to consider their appropriateness in the work setting you choose.

[Insipiens]

some might say that self-mutiliating fashion choices are a lifestyle choice

[Louweasel]

Originally Posted by cornflower

I've got an interview for a scrapbook store. I somehow doubt that I'll get it, there isn't much call for Deaf employees at a place like that, but I'll tell you that I kick MUCH arse at the scrapbook thing. Truly. So, I hope I'll get it.

Good luck with that - I'm a scrapbooker and I love it. Hey, if I'm nice to you, will you send me free stash?!!! Only joking.
Seriously though, which shop is it? Do they have a website?

Where in your face is the piercing?

In any case, for a scrapbook shop I'd say leave it out for the interview as scrapbooking is often done by older (I mean older than you) women with families (I read earlier that the average american scrapper is 42 with kids) and I would say they are likely to be more conservative.
You could always reintroduce it after you are established in the job and they recognise your more important finer qualities!