Would you be turned off by a vet with tattoos/piercings?

[mrose_s]

Yes, it would be a turn off. A highly visible tattoo or facial piercing says to me "At the time I cared more about standing out than the potential impact on my future career", which isn't what I'd want in a service professional.

See, this isn't me at all. I have visible facial piercings (septum and tongue X2) 6mm lobes (stretching up still) and have plans for atleast a half sleeve and chest piece.
To a certain extent I like the odd looks and the fact that I intimidate people (I'm a complete pushover actually so its a nice change) but the main reason i get stuff done is because with every mod I feel more like "me"

 

[Dizzy]

So.... do you think these people are less trust worthy or professional?

 

[Greenmagick]

Honestly, if I am judging trustworthiness on just looks alone, I would be less apt to trust someone who is very well groomed, power suit on, etc. To me that is trying to push an image vs being yourself (and no, not saying you have to have piercing or tats to be true to yourself lol)

 

[darkchild16]

Honestly the first one I would wonder if he was in fact a real cop because around here it is not common at all for the cops or EMTs to be tatt'd up. Maybe one or two small ones or tatt'd where you cant see them but I have never seen a cop here with a tatt. As for the dr I cant tell what it is so I cant tell you. Most likely I wouldnt care. Like I said in my post it depends on the tattoo. Having something scary tattoo'd on you when you work with children is unprofessional.

 

[Beanie]

Dude, I didn't know Bret Michaels was a cop.

 

[Fran101]

I don't see anything wrong with having tats/piercings I think people should do what they please with their bodies.
BUT.. I just don't think there is anything wrong with wanting people to dress/looking a certain way WHEN AT WORK. I like dress codes and certainly see a reason for them I like that everybody looks neat and uniform at work

AKA: I don't care if my great vet looks like this when he takes off his coat lol

[/IMG]

 

[colliewog]

Perfect pic Fran! Professional on the outside - I don't care how much ink or metal you've got under that coat!

 

[CaliTerp07]

That's exactly it, Fran!

 

[Laurelin]

I work in an arena where you'd better look professional and conservative. I am pretty sure I wouldn't have gotten the job if I came to my interview covered in tattoos. I went to my interviews in a full suit and no jewelry except my aggie ring and one pair of gold studs in my ears. (I take the other piercings out for work). I honestly do want another piercing but I won't get it likely and decided against it because of work. To me that was being responsible and respectful.

The decision doesn't bother me in the slightest. I really value having a secure job with benefits. I could not limit myself just for something like that, the idea is silly to me to be honest. Especially someone in my position looking at the kind of field I was looking into and who had been jobless for a while. I NEEDED a job much more than I wanted my extra piercings or wanted 'to make a statement'.

I actually like the dress code and like the fact that everyone goes to work looking 'professional'. Argue about what being 'professional' is, but there's a standard we're held to and it's far beyond just a dress code. Like it or not, your employer is just plain going to tell you what to do while you're on their watch. We can't be running around doing whatever we please, saying whatever we want, and yes this extends to dress codes. There is a certain professional standard. Just like I am not going to go to a team meeting and start swearing like a sailor, I'm not going to go in wearing a mini skirt or have a bull ring. It would be distracting and unprofessional imo. I think dress does affect people and I think employers have every right to set their dress code. We represent our company/business. We are often meeting with people from our competitors and representing our company to them. We need to handle ourselves and present ourselves well.

Realize you're cutting your options if you do something like that, even a pretty tame visible piercing or tattoo can hurt your chances depending on your area and your industry. If you're fine with that, then go for it. Just be aware that's how a lot of the world currently works and you're cutting your chances.

Yeah, I'll be labeled as a bah humbug now.

 

[Babyblue5290]

I don't care if they have tatoo's or piercings if they are a good, personable vet. I do have to say though, I hate gauges. I just don't like them at all, and they make me queezy to look at them. ew. So gauges would likely put me off of the vet though.

 

[noludoru]

Personally I don't care what race/creed/hardware/horns whatever people have who are my vet. I just ask that they are competent, not every interaction involves selling me something I don't need, and that their office is clean. Whoever is left after that (all two of them I expect) can be my vet and my backup vet.

I personally agree with this. Be covered from neck to knee in professional clothing or scrubs, and I don't really care what else is showing or what shoes you're wearing. However, I'm the minority in the real world - most people think like this:

You are a professional. Present yourself that way. If it was a case of a studded vet vs a terrible vet, or no vet, of course I'd have my dog treated. But in the real world, people generally have a whole lot of options for what vet they use. Every vet I've used, for the small and large animals, has always presented themselves cleanly and professionally, and I think it sends the right message.

and will view that behavior as unprofessional enough to stop going there. I also think that this sums it up quite succinctly:

I think dress codes (and with that, tattoo/piercing guidelines) convey to the customer/client that you take the position seriously. I could teach in a hoody and jeans (many teachers do), but I choose to wear heels and blouses each day. It commands respect, imo.

An unprofessional appearance can convey an unprofessional attitude, and with some clients (if not most) you'll have to try much harder to prove to them that you are competent and deserve their respect and trust.

I would hope that if I had a visible piercing or tattoo, and stretched lobes, that the way I conduct myself would be enough to show that I'm "professional" and that I'm here for the welfare of your animal. Maybe taking a public speaking class would be helpful, I could learn tips on speaking effectively and let conversation/information pave the way?

That's not how it works, though. I can respect that you want to express yourself with tats and such, but the fact is that if you plan on getting a job in an industry where you will be interacting with clients every day, that will set you back. It will turn away clients because they will view your appearance as distasteful or unprofessional, and that will hurt your business.

If you want to have visible tattoos and excessive piercings, my advice would be for you to choose another industry, or choose to keep your body modifications out of sight.

A public speaking or communications course is a GREAT idea, though.

 

[darkchild16]

Also in the medical field peircings would bother me because they are easy to snag, rip, and just overall isnt a good choice in the field. I dont want to worry about them getting hurt while treating me, my kids or my dogs or worry that they wouldnt jump right in something just in case because of a peircing.

 

[PlottMom]

"Would you be turned off by a vet with tattoos/piercings?"

I guess my biggest worry would be that I'd be turned ON by a vet with tattoos/piercings.. hahaha.