Piercings at interview (dudes)

[tiedyeddog]

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Let me preface this by saying I am a dude.

I have a single ear lobe piercing and I am getting a cartilage piercing this week in one ear. I'd rather hide them during my interviews. Was anyone brave enough to keep their's in during their interviews?

My main question is this: anyone put a retainer in their cartilage piercing? Does it look less obvious with a retainer in? I'm not worried about the lobe piercing, it won't close on me if I leave it out a day. I have short hair so I can't hide a cartilage piercing with my hair like a chick can.

 

[JoshUNCW]

I have my eyebrow pierced. I'll be taking it out for the few hours I'm interviewing at medical schools. I won't even bother putting a plastic stub in. I doubt it'll close up in the hours I'm there.

 

[JRainey]

I have a few ear piercings and just took them out for interviews. I'm pretty sure my adcoms knew they were there (I had talked to them prior to my interview many times) but I thought that it showed a bit more professionalism on my part to remove them for the interview.

 

[MiniMoo]

I have a cartilage piercing that I took out for interviews. I never saw anyone (male or female) with any kind of alternative type of piercings left in at the 10+ interviews that I went to (take that however you will).

 

[call me x]

i have 7 total ear piercings (3 on each lobe and 1 cartilage) and i left them all in....i had 4 interviews and 4 acceptances.....granted i am female but it's still a lot of holes haha....also op if you get your cartilage pierced now and are interviewing next cycle (i'm assuming) taking it out for a while should not cause it to close up on you

 

[dw2158]

i have my cartilage pierced and left a small stud in during interviews. it was definitely visible. i wouldn't worry too much about it. (though i'm female, so do with that info what you may...)

 

[Charcoal]

I am a lady with a nose piercing. I left my noes piercing in but replaced it with a stud instead of a ring. 10 interviews, 7 acceptances. LizzyM might be the best person to chime in here...

 

[ThaliaNox]

Take them out, take them out, take them out. I personally have no problem with most piercings. Neither will most of the people who might interview you. It is possible, however, to get the 85 year old biochemistry professor who wears a bow-tie and starched shirt and jacket every day, and thinks we all should wear them to class too. He will not like piercings and might just consign you to the depths of the underworld for the sin of it.

 

[CaliGirl14]

Um, well you do realize that you're talking to probably a bunch of old(er) and (more) conservative people on the board interviewing you. (I'm generalizing here, don't kill me). I'd take it off. Definitely want to dress nice enough to impress your gf's parents or your grandma. (Again, don't kill me)

Don't take chances.

 

[missbones]

I really don't think a cartilage piercing will heal in a few hours. I would err on the side of caution and just take it out anyway though, despite the possibility of it closing. You want to do everything you can to make the best impression possible on your interview day (obviously)

I have several facial piercings which I am in the process of slowly removing (so hard to part with I feel like I'm losing my identity haha) and I have my ears stretched to 5/8 inch.

Anyone have experience with plugs/large gauge holes at an interview? I can't really take them out it would look much worse. Maybe flesh colored plugs?

 

[metallica81788]

I would take it out.

Too bad your hair isn't just a little longer, then it wouldn't be an issue. That's the key.

 

[JenniferRU]

I plan on going with a horse shoe ring in my nose and flashing my tattoos and gang signs
J/K I consider the medical school interview the same as a job interview, professional attire required. This is why i got rid of my piercings last year, eyebrow piercing, lip rings, buh bye!

 

[BlueElmo]

I had a piercing in my ear, and I took it out for interviews. Just take it out.

 

[teenmachinery1]

i have 7 total ear piercings (3 on each lobe and 1 cartilage) and i left them all in....i had 4 interviews and 4 acceptances.....granted i am female but it's still a lot of holes haha....also op if you get your cartilage pierced now and are interviewing next cycle (i'm assuming) taking it out for a while should not cause it to close up on you

😍

 

[JJMrK]

Take 'em out.

 

[PinkIvy08]

I'm a girl, but I saw a few guys on the interview trail with ear piercings (one had an industrial)...you might not be along, but you will be in the minority. If you're alright with that, then I think you should go for it. But, if you think you'll be paranoid about it, and it'll distract you from being at comfort at the interview, I'd put it off until after your first acceptance.

 

[schrizto]

.

 

[Law2Doc]

Let me preface this by saying I am a dude.

I have a single ear lobe piercing and I am getting a cartilage piercing this week in one ear. I'd rather hide them during my interviews. Was anyone brave enough to keep their's in during their interviews?

My main question is this: anyone put a retainer in their cartilage piercing? Does it look less obvious with a retainer in? I'm not worried about the lobe piercing, it won't close on me if I leave it out a day. I have short hair so I can't hide a cartilage piercing with my hair like a chick can.

The interview is a really bad place to express your individuality. Programs are looking for reasons to cull the herd and it only takes rubbing one dean or adcom the wrong way to get you into the reject pile. They are interviewing you to enter a profession, so look professional. (And yes, I mean an adcoms' antiquated view of professional, not your personal view of professional). There are some biases you perhaps can't avoid, but this one is avoidable.

 

[tiedyeddog]

I really don't think a cartilage piercing will heal in a few hours. I would err on the side of caution and just take it out anyway though, despite the possibility of it closing.

I'm taking out the lobe for sure, it won't close. I guess you're right, I should be ~4-5 months after the piercing when/if I come up for interviews. My cartilage piercing will hopefully be close to healed and won't close if I take it out a day, but I'll take it out anyway. It would suck to have to repierce it. 🙁

Thanks everyone.

 

[coronaradiata]

Missbones,

I would say flesh colored plugs for this one. If you have long hair, maybe wear it down to "cover" them up? Can you get a single flare so that it looks like you're just wearing large "button" styled earring? I've got my lobes stretched to, but nowhere near that big. I'm at a 4ga, but I secretly want to go bigger. 🙂 I've also got my nostril, septum, and brow pierced. I'll be taking my brow and nostril piercing out, and flipping the septum up. I hate it too, but what can you do? I don't plan on taking any of my piercings out permanently however. Not just yet.

I really don't think a cartilage piercing will heal in a few hours. I would err on the side of caution and just take it out anyway though, despite the possibility of it closing. You want to do everything you can to make the best impression possible on your interview day (obviously)

I have several facial piercings which I am in the process of slowly removing (so hard to part with I feel like I'm losing my identity haha) and I have my ears stretched to 5/8 inch.

Anyone have experience with plugs/large gauge holes at an interview? I can't really take them out it would look much worse. Maybe flesh colored plugs?

 

[missbones]

Missbones,

I would say flesh colored plugs for this one. If you have long hair, maybe wear it down to "cover" them up? Can you get a single flare so that it looks like you're just wearing large "button" styled earring? I've got my lobes stretched to, but nowhere near that big. I'm at a 4ga, but I secretly want to go bigger. 🙂 I've also got my nostril, septum, and brow pierced. I'll be taking my brow and nostril piercing out, and flipping the septum up. I hate it too, but what can you do? I don't plan on taking any of my piercings out permanently however. Not just yet.

Yeah I will definitely wear my hair down but even with the flesh colored plug it obviously makes my lobe extend out so its impossible for them not to notice lol
Ive taken out everything but my lobes and my septum, which like you said can be flipped up, love it!

 

[RadioCure]

Look at it this way. It's definitely not going to help you to leave it in, unless you postulate that the adcoms will see it as some sort of sign of self expression and independence, which is unlikely. It's much more likely to hurt you, so take it out.

I'm a male with my tongue pierced and it will be coming out for my first interview, regardless of the fact that I probably won't be able to get it back in.