Piercings and Jobs

[KitxKat_Bar]

I just got recently hired for a job, that Im beginning to really not like.

At the interview, I wore nine earrings in my left ear, eight in my right, my nose is pierced, my eyebrow is pierced, and my tounge is pierced. I have been let down for many jobs, but I was very stubborn to take my jewlery out for a job. I figure if anyone wanted to tell me they had a problem with it, It was all religion based. Just because I have unusual holes in my body doesn't make me a bad worker or some irrisponsible.

They did hire me, but told me to wear retainers instead, which i did.

They do not have a problem with it at all, but an employee is starting issues with me due to the fact I do have so many piercings. The job is very tiring, and making me do a little more than 40 hours a week. I can't get any new piercings (I have wanted to do a labret and my septum) and my ahir color is natural and I'd like to get it back to my original hot pink and fuscia.

I'd like to quite my job - and my question is, does anyone know a great job that will actually accept piercings and originality?

[dannydingbat]

Do you really think that you can get the right answers from this board? To say in one posting that you are beginning to not like your job and then say that you quite like it. That, and the need to contantly challenge the rules of society. suggests that you have issues which are unlilely to be solved here. Are you seeking acceptance, against your suspicion that you will not be acceptable in mainsteam employment? If so, you will find someone here to tell you you are an individual and should continue to be you. However, you know the answer. One day, you will have to accept that, to get the jobs that pay the bucks, enough to give you a good standard of living for the rest of your life, you will have to conform. So forget trying to find a job which suits and accepts your "Look at me" approach. You will have to adjust yourself rather than expect the rest of the world to adjust to you. Can you really see yourself in an old folks home asking some teenage carer to adjust your clitoral ring while she changes your nappy? If you have to give up your rebellion one day why not make it soon?

[Jules001]

I'm sorry Dannydingbat, but I disagree with your point of view. KitxKat-Bar did not say she(apologies if you are not female)that she quite likes it (I think there was a typo) which meant to say she would like to quit her job and was asking if anyone knew of any jobs that are interesting and will accept the way she looks. As her employers hired her with the piercings in place, but asked her to wear retainers which she has done means that they don't have a problem with them, it is another employee who has the problems.

Kitkat - I would stay with the job for as long as you are able, because it is experience and it is sometimes easier to get another job if you have some experience. I have no problems with piercings, hair colour or whatever but unfortunately I don't have a job to offer you either.

[Ethel]

He who pays the piper calls the tune, I'm afraid.
As far as I can tell your current employer has no problems with your piercings, and I expect everybody has had problems with a colleague at some point. It is part and parcel of life that not everyone will like you.

As you are unhappy in your job, you need to think of a job that you will enjoy and get satisfaction from. You will have to conform to that workplace standards's though - whatever they may be.


But please - do not blame a person's dislike of piercings on religious grounds! Just accept that some people do like them. You want people to accept you - it works both ways.

[saxy_jag]

Have you spoken to your manager about this person? If you are getting hassle from them for something like this, then that is bullying and harassment and shouldn't be tolerated. You are playing by your employer's rules. If your colleague doesn't like it - tough. Maybe it's him/her that should be considering whether or not to stay.

As for the job, it doesn't sound as though it's the right one for you, does it? You clearly the sort of person who needs to be able to 'be yourself' in order to be happy at work and, as any manager will tell you, a happy worker is a good worker.

You don't say what type of work you do, or would ideally like to do, but I doubt your piercings and pink hair would get you a second glance in the arts or entertainment sectors. My hubby, for instance, sometimes wears dangly earrings and paints his toenails for work - and he's not an actor!! The work here can be anything from gallery assistant or theatre technician through to administrative or marketing work, for any number of organisations. The only restrictions on your piercings would be those put in place for safety reasons, but I know plenty of tecchies with piercings in all sorts of places.

Youth work and play work are also very liberal areas in terms of your appearance, although again, your piercings might be restricted in some jobs.

I would say hang on to your job for as long as you feel able, but don't feel guilty if you feel you really do have to quit. Meantime, look around for something that really suits you. Good luck.

[missjef]

You dont say what kind of work you are doing at the moment so im not sure if these suggestions would be a step down from what you already do..

i have 11 piercings (including nose, lip, tongue), and with being only 17 i have worked in shops since being 16.. i have found that music/dvd shops dont really seem to mind, and i work in New look at the moment and they dont mind either. I have worked in Woolworths and Argos and they would let me keep my ear piercings in and my nose, the others i had to wear retainers.

Ask in interviews if they would allow you to wear your piercings in. as i said before im not sure if working in a shop would be a step down in your career or something, if it is then think about staying where you are.

Talk to your manager about this other employee is they are being rude to you or anything similar as that is not right!!

hope this helps. :-)

[freak_unique]

I stick to factory work for this reason, not too bad pay and can keep all piercings, tatoos on show, and have any hair colour in the world!

[minti]

Well, as an 'oldie' I have seen all sorts of fashions come and go over the years (and I have subscribed to most of them, though I object to doing this second, or even third, time round). However, in my opinion, anything that would permanently 'damage' your body such as piercings and tatoos are strictly a no-no on the basis that you will look pretty stupid peppered with holes and sporting ink splodges in often exposed places . As Soloman said in Ecclesiastes 'there is nothing new under the sun'. Those individuals who strive to be just that, individual, will never attain this status. Stop trying to shock the world with your outlandish look. The world really, really isn't interested.