The Job Market, Tattoos, and Makeup

Are you considering switching careers during such a tough time in the job market? Well, you might consider going to school to become the ultimate anti-artist when it comes to the human canvas by getting into the tattoo laser removal business; just make sure you wear makeup (but only if you're female, of course).

In a tough economy, there are still a few businesses that are booming. One of those businesses, as odd as it may seem, is that of tattoo laser removal.

The New York Post reports that dermatologists that perform tattoo laser removal procedures are experiencing a boom in business. This is because many jobseekers fear that, in the current tough job market, their ink is a stamp that says, "don't hire me." As common as tattoos have become, they can still give an unprofessional impression and make a prospective employee look less like a trustworthy adult and more like a teen out to have a good time. As jobseekers realize this, they are regretting their personal statements and undergoing the painful, long, and costly process of tattoo laser removal.

Tattoo laser removal isn't an easy procedure to undergo, so if you're thinking about getting a tattoo, consider this: it takes monthly treatments that can cost around $200 each to remove a tattoo, with medium-sized markings taking up to a year to get rid of. And if you've ever looked at Angelina Jolie's arm where she had the tattoo of the name of ex Billy Bob Thorton removed and another put in its place, you'll notice that the skin where it was is white and looks a bit like a large scar; it's really impossible to go back to exactly like you were before. But if you're still considering getting a meaningful tattoo, get it somewhere that will for sure be covered up at work.

Some people undergo tattoo laser removal to get rid of a gang-related tattoo or name of an ex, which makes sense. But if you have a tattoo that you'd like to keep, you might consider getting some heavy-duty body makeup like Dermablend to cover it up. And speaking of makeup, in the current job market, women might want to make sure they wear it to work.

Is this sexist? Of course. And with things being so tough, many women may consider giving up things that are a part of their beauty regimen, like makeup. Even drugstore brands of powder, mascara, concealer, eyeshadow, blush, lipstick, and foundation can be expensive; if you stuck with the Covergirl brand, I would estimate that all of these items could cost about $35 or more; and I'm being conservative. But, as SignOnSanDiego.com reports, one waitress, a fresh-faced, pretty blonde, found out the hard way how important makeup can be. Shenoa Vlid just flat-out didn't like the stuff, and when her restaurant changed management and she was asked to start wearing it, when she refused, she was fired. And she was a well-liked waitress who had been there for years; was good at her job; and even trained new employees!

This may seem sexist and unfair, but in most cases, employers can fire whomever they please for whatever reasons they want. And to many employers, appearance is very important. So with the job market the way it is with so many people searching for jobs, employers can be as picky as they want, automatically dismissing women who don't wear makeup or stylish clothing and the tattooed before even glancing at their resumes.

So what's the best thing to do? You can be a bargain-hunter and go shopping for makeup at dollar stores and find the most fashionable clothing you can at thrift stores or on sale at places like Wal-Mart or Target. Or you could take the time to find an employer that hires you because of the work you do; it may be hard to wait for that paycheck, but if you find an employer like this, then you've probably found a job that will make you feel happy and secure instead of one that forces you to be someone else and feel insecure.

Oh yeah, the aforementioned waitress went on to find a job at a bar that was just fine with her naturally pretty look.

SOURCES: http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/may/20/1m20stetz014224-waitress-says-bare-face-led-firing/
http://www.nypost.com/seven/05242009/news/regionalnews/detatched_attitude_170771.htm