Credit: @ashxobrien/Instagram
A Woman’s Experience With Tattoos and Job Applications
Aash Putnam, a California native, recently gained widespread attention on TikTok for highlighting the hurdles some people face in the job market due to visible tattoos.
She posted a video with the title: “It’s impossible to find jobs right now!!”, where she expressed her struggles in securing employment.
Despite the video garnering millions of views, Ash encountered negative comments, with some suggesting she seek work in less traditional environments like a circus.
Her account detailed her application to TJ Maxx, a major retailer known for clothing and home goods. Ash relayed to viewers, “I applied for a job at TJ Maxx a few weeks ago and they denied my application. They couldn’t even call me, they just sent me some automated email.”
Feeling uneasy, Ash visited the store and asked an employee if her tattoos were the reason for her rejection. Although the employee denied this, Ash felt skeptical, adding, “I don’t feel like that’s true, but whatever, I will leave it at that.”
Currently, Ash Putnam derives her income from working with Uber Eats and various social media platforms. She firmly believes that her extensive tattoo coverage played a role in her job rejection. Since the video gained momentum, many viewers participated in the discussion, pondering whether visible tattoos could hinder job opportunities.
Viewers pointed out potential reasons for her employment struggles, with comments like, “There’s tattoo… and then there’s TATTOOS.” Another person remarked, “It is the type of tattoos and the placement of them.”
Some agree with the sentiment that facial tattoos may not align with certain professional standards. As one viewer summarized, “There’s a reason why tattoo artists refer to face tattoos as career enders.”
Ash has taken the feedback to heart, stating in an interview with IGV that the backlash has convinced her to avoid customer-facing jobs. “At this point, I do not care,” she says, suggesting a strong resolve.
Having invested over $10,000 in her body art, Ash advises people to consider their tattoo choices carefully, especially facial and neck tattoos, if they aspire to work in corporate roles.
A snippet of TJ Maxx’s dress code was shared on Reddit, and while there’s no direct mention of tattoo restrictions, their Global Code of Conduct emphasizes non-discrimination based on any legally protected status.
The impact of tattoos on employability remains a contentious subject. Career coach Claire Brown notes, “The placement and content of tattoos is important to consider as it can impact other’s perceptions and first impressions of you.”
She further points out that tattoos in prominent places like the face, neck, hands, and arms, especially those with bold imagery, can sometimes be poorly received by potential employers.
IGV has reached out to TJ Maxx for their perspective on the story.
