Tattoos and interviews

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cassrae

cassrae

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I was wondering what everyone thought about having a tattoo visible during an interview? I have one on the top of my foot, and it would definitely not be visible if I were wearing pants.. but I would prefer to wear a skirt. This creates a dilemma because my tattoo could be visible, depending on what kind of tights or panty hose I wear.
Just curious on what your thoughts are, or if you know of any schools that I should definitely be cautious about whether a tattoo is showing or not?
Thanks!
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cassrae said:
I was wondering what everyone thought about having a tattoo visible during an interview? I have one on the top of my foot, and it would definitely not be visible if I were wearing pants.. but I would prefer to wear a skirt. This creates a dilemma because my tattoo could be visible, depending on what kind of tights or panty hose I wear.
Just curious on what your thoughts are, or if you know of any schools that I should definitely be cautious about whether a tattoo is showing or not?
Thanks!
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I would go with the pants just to be safe. A tattoo on my foot isn't something I would like to be rejected for.
 
I'd definitely cover it up. That way you know for sure it is not an issue.
 
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definitely pants. cover it up. if you get an ultra-conservative dinosau.. i mean interviewer, you will be glad you did.
 
boo.. ok I think I knew what everyone would say.. i was just hoping someone out there would save me from the confinement of pants LOL
 
I wonder if tattoos will be frowned upon by profs in OMM lab. I personally don't have any, but I'm sure a lot of med students do.
 
Maybe you could find some sort of concealer and wear tan pantyhose or shoes that cover up the tattoo. I really wanted to wear a skirt too so I know what you mean. Otherwise, I would cover it up. I have a tattoo of a sun with a sunset in the middle of it on my upper back and the top ray is sometimes visible above my shirt but not ones with collars so it wasn't an issue for me. I could be wrong, but I highly doubt the professors will care in OMM lab as long as the tattoos are tasteful.
 
Eudjinn said:
I wonder if tattoos will be frowned upon by profs in OMM lab. I personally don't have any, but I'm sure a lot of med students do.
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Lots of people in my class have tattoos and i've never heard it even mentioned in OMM, except when you're "inspecting" because you should bring up every mole/tattoo/scar/etc, but that's just being thorough, it's not a negative thing.

As for the interview, I agree that you should cover it up. Most people don't care, but you don't want to end up with that ultraconservative interviewer that thinks it's bad.
 
Once you're in school, wear and show whatever you want. Before that, play it on the safe side. Why risk possibly offending your interviewer or coming off as "unprofessional." I took out my earings (I'm a guy) and tongue piercing before my interview and shaved off my facial hair.
 
I would go with t-funk. Try to find a concealer and wear darker panty hose. To quote The Shawshank Redemption, "I mean, how often do you look at a mans shoes?" Of course not a man in this case, but you get the point.
I kept a larger hoop (14 gauge) earring in that goes through the cartilage of my right ear. Nothing was said, and I got in.
 
paramediclizard said:
I would go with t-funk. Try to find a concealer and wear darker panty hose. To quote The Shawshank Redemption, "I mean, how often do you look at a mans shoes?" Of course not a man in this case, but you get the point.
I kept a larger hoop (14 gauge) earring in that goes through the cartilage of my right ear. Nothing was said, and I got in.
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You call 14 gauge large???:laugh:
 
bluemonkey said:
You call 14 gauge large???:laugh:
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Haha...:laugh: It was originally pierced with an 8G needle.

It looked silly with a big hole in the middle of my ear. You can see clear to the other side.

I guess it all is a matter of perspective right?
 
As long as the tattoo is not offensive, you should be fine wearing a skirt. At the hospital, the policy was that any tattoos that could be constrewed as offensive or provocative had to be covered. I can't see that they would have a problem with you having a tasteful tattoo on your foot (which they probably wouldn't see anyways). If you are not sure if it is acceptable, or you're not comfortable with it, then I'd suggest just covering it for the interview.
 
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Right...something about it depends on the piercee, not the piercing...
 
I also have a tattoo on my foot and in classes it's never been a problem. If anything my professors have looked at it just to see what it says. But if you're really worried about it and want to wear a skirt, you could always try a big bandaid (depending on how big it is) to cover it up with the panty hose. It's the easiest to do and it won't wear off like cover up could.

As far as OMM lab, lots of us have tattoos and no one cares. The only thing that our dean had problems with was nipple rings on guys. Those had to go.
 
Kateb4 said:
... I can't see that they would have a problem with you having a tasteful tattoo on your foot ....
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Perhaps you can't see why....but you're not a man born between 1930 and 1960. Some of Her interviewers are likely to fall in that category. They WILL see a problem with showing it in many cases. After you're in, it won't matter. Lot's of people have them.
 
i have a tattoo on my neck that says "BADASS MOTHERFVCKER" just because that's the nature of the tattoo, can i wear a turtle neck instead of a dress shirt/tie? plus i'll look more artistic
 
last year at my NYCOM interview, my lady interviewer asked me "if you were to get a tattoo what would it be and why?" my initial reaction was, how do you know I don't?? (I actually don't, but have always wanted one) my next reaction was to answer the question...but it would have been way cooler if i had been like hey i already have one and whipped out my foot to show her. Just another perspective, although I wouldn't actually expect that question again.
 
scpod said:
Perhaps you can't see why....but you're not a man born between 1930 and 1960. Some of Her interviewers are likely to fall in that category. They WILL see a problem with showing it in many cases. After you're in, it won't matter. Lot's of people have them.
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How do you know I'm not? Kate is just my front. But really, I worked with alot of medical professionals in the demographic that you are discussing, and as long as it wasn't offensive or obnoxious, they didn't really have any strong objections. I guess it's just going to depend on who you talk to. Really, you're right though, it is better to be safe than sorry and just cover it up for the day.
 
Why risk it? Just look as professional as possible. I'm not saying my opinion is that tattoos are unprofessional, it's just something that an interviewer could possibly look down upon, so it's not worth taking a chance if you don't have to. Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine either way though!!
 
I have a tatoo that says "Dr. Lovin" across my forehead. Maybe that's why I keep getting waitlisted...


sorry, it's after 2am and I've been trying to sleep for 3.5 hours to no avail, and I have to wake up at 5am. Getting a little silly at this point :laugh:
 
I have a pretty decent sized tattoo on the back of my neck. For all of my interviews I wore a turtle neck.

Getting rejected for something like that isn't worth it. But now that I'm accepted, I'm not planning on covering up....until residency interviews!!:scared:
 
No offense to anybody here with a tattoo but who gets a tattoo that's planning to go to professional school? Especially on one's neck? I mean if you were desperate to follow the herd and show what nonconformist conformist you are at least get a tat where it would only be visible in a swimsuit.

Honestly that's what I like to see when I go to my doctor for a check up is some wicked ink on their neck. Stay classy San Diego.
 
tatt on the foot, cover it up. tramp stamp, show it off! 😛
 
Thanihilist said:
No offense to anybody here with a tattoo but who gets a tattoo that's planning to go to professional school? Especially on one's neck? I mean if you were desperate to follow the herd and show what nonconformist conformist you are at least get a tat where it would only be visible in a swimsuit.
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🙄 There are other reasons for getting a tattoo . . .


:laugh: I'm guessing you don't have any tattoo's, eh?

I think there's a difference between having full sleeves on your arms and tattoo's on your face or something, but who cares if a physician has a freakin tattoo?!?!? All that says about them is . . . . they have a freakin tattoo! It's 2008, man.
 
prionsRbad said:
🙄 There are other reasons for getting a tattoo . . .


:laugh: I'm guessing you don't have any tattoo's, eh?

I think there's a difference between having full sleeves on your arms and tattoo's on your face or something, but who cares if a physician has a freakin tattoo?!?!? All that says about them is . . . . they have a freakin tattoo! It's 2008, man.
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I like you. 👍
 
prionsRbad said:
🙄 There are other reasons for getting a tattoo . . .


:laugh: I'm guessing you don't have any tattoo's, eh?

I think there's a difference between having full sleeves on your arms and tattoo's on your face or something, but who cares if a physician has a freakin tattoo?!?!? All that says about them is . . . . they have a freakin tattoo! It's 2008, man.
Click to expand...

I like you too 🙂
 
Thanihilist said:
No offense to anybody here with a tattoo but who gets a tattoo that's planning to go to professional school? Especially on one's neck? I mean if you were desperate to follow the herd and show what nonconformist conformist you are at least get a tat where it would only be visible in a swimsuit.

Honestly that's what I like to see when I go to my doctor for a check up is some wicked ink on their neck. Stay classy San Diego.
Click to expand...

I have to agree with Prions. A tattoo is just a tattoo, typically just an expression of oneself. Most people don't get them to try to be cool except maybe drunken frat boys. I got mine when I was waiting for my SO to get his his bc I had wanted one for as long as I could remember and was waiting to find the perfect one. The only thing I would change about it if I could is that I would have made it bigger. My SO was comemorating the birth of our son and got a daddy dragon cuddling a baby dragon in black and white on his pec. It is beautiful.

I have several successful female friends who have full sleeves on both arms and are some of the nicest, most amazing and caring women you will ever meet in your life. They volunteer so much of their time to children and other important causes and just try to make the world a better place. I can pretty much guarantee that none of them were trying to be nonconformist conformists but were just trying to express their inner selves through body art. Although I know some people would, I would have absolutely no issue going to a doctor with lots of tattoos as long as they were tasteful but, then again, I married an artist and ran away to Colorado when I was 17.
 
I'm more baffled by the "confinement of pants" part. I wear pants all day and have anatomy that should feel more confined. I don't think it is THAT much of an issue to wear a pants suit. Not to mention that fact that the skirts that one should wear for an interview tend to longer and probably more restrictive of motion. Anyway, how big is this tattoo and wear on the foot? I'd think shoe selection has more to do with it than anything. As a doctor, you aren't going to want to wear strappy high heels and what not all day long...You'll what comfortable shoes that are still business like, depending on specialty of course. If you are absolutely dead set, a combination of makeup and panty hose should obscure it. If they can paint over tats for movies, then I don't see how it is impossible for a few hours of interview. If you're flashing your feet in the air you are probably sending a wrong message.....or a very very friendly one that'll probably get you into the school. Depends who is interviewing you I guess.
 
MossPoh said:
If you're flashing your feet in the air you are probably sending a wrong message.....or a very very friendly one that'll probably get you into the school. Depends who is interviewing you I guess.
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:laugh::laugh: I just got a really funny visual after reading that!
 
That's my goal. I tried to be a little more subtle than saying ankles near her head...which was what I originally typed.
 
MossPoh said:
I'm more baffled by the "confinement of pants" part. I wear pants all day and have anatomy that should feel more confined. I don't think it is THAT much of an issue to wear a pants suit. Not to mention that fact that the skirts that one should wear for an interview tend to longer and probably more restrictive of motion. Anyway, how big is this tattoo and wear on the foot? I'd think shoe selection has more to do with it than anything. As a doctor, you aren't going to want to wear strappy high heels and what not all day long...You'll what comfortable shoes that are still business like, depending on specialty of course. If you are absolutely dead set, a combination of makeup and panty hose should obscure it. If they can paint over tats for movies, then I don't see how it is impossible for a few hours of interview. If you're flashing your feet in the air you are probably sending a wrong message.....or a very very friendly one that'll probably get you into the school. Depends who is interviewing you I guess.
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I just ended up wearing pants.. probably ended up being more comfortable not worrying about it anyhow. Once I get in and once I become a doc I won't care if anyone can see it 🙂

but here's a pic of my tat rather than trying to explain how big it is and where it is and such:
 

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superfan56 said:
i have a tattoo on my neck that says "BADASS MOTHERFVCKER" just because that's the nature of the tattoo, can i wear a turtle neck instead of a dress shirt/tie? plus i'll look more artistic
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my wallet says that:

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi64t3zhDRQ[/YOUTUBE]

longer version:

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd4VSkj0Wks&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]
 
cassrae said:
I just ended up wearing pants.. probably ended up being more comfortable not worrying about it anyhow. Once I get in and once I become a doc I won't care if anyone can see it 🙂

but here's a pic of my tat rather than trying to explain how big it is and where it is and such:
Click to expand...

Yea, that is nothing I'd really worry about. That is more of an issue of shoes than pants, but way to rock the pants suit.
 
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