Tattoos have become so firmly rooted in German society that sometimes they are no longer noticed
Going to a job interview with a tattoo
Should you deliberately show off a tattoo at a job interview when applying for a job? "It's better not to show a tattoo during the first meeting with an employer," believes Katharina Starlei, a designer and member of the German Council on Etiquette (Deutscher Knigge-Rat). "This will mean that you are focusing on the main, substantive part of your conversation, rather than trying to draw attention to your own person first."
At the same time, as the German style and fashion expert clarifies, you can and even should mention that you have a tattoo during the conversation – to understand the employer's attitude. But your behavior should not fall under the formula "came and surprised." You are not trying to prove something to someone, but simply informing.
Overall, the member of the German Council on Etiquette confirms the findings of recent studies: "Having a tattoo nowadays no longer makes a person exceptional. Tattoos have become so firmly rooted in society that we sometimes don't even notice whether they are there or not. In general, tattoos require the same tolerant attitude as many other topics."
Tattoo as a fashion phenomenon
Although society has already become accustomed to tattoos, notes Deutsche Welle, scandals with inappropriate images occasionally arise in various fields. Recall the story when Russian singer Yevgeny Nikitin had to withdraw from the title role in the opera "The Flying Dutchman" at the Richard Wagner Music Festival in Bayreuth. The reason was the presence of tattoos on his body that were interpreted as "Nazi."
Are there any taboos at all? "Of course, there are. Tattoos with discriminatory and violence-glorifying images are prohibited," emphasizes Katharina Starlei. According to her, today people from all professions and all walks of life get tattoos. "In the past, before tattoos became fashionable, they most often indicated a person's belonging to a particular group – usually criminal. On a subconscious level, we still, one way or another, read this information," says the author of the recently published book in Germany, "Tattoos in the Profession."
However, today even law enforcement officers can have tattoos. True, police officers in Germany are prohibited from having tattoos and piercings in visible places. If they are covered by the uniform and the images themselves do not contradict legal norms, then no problems will arise.
Tattoo and business
If in everyday life it is no longer customary to discuss tattoos and their wearers, it is a completely different matter in business circles. To prevent tattoos from causing misunderstandings and unpleasant consequences for business, companies should openly discuss this topic with their employees. It is important to understand what kind of client you are working with. In her book, the author gives the example of the German concern SAP. "They believe that employees themselves are able to assess the situation when a tattoo can be shown and when it is better to hide it," Starlei quotes the head of the HR department.
Another example is a company working in the building materials sector. The company divides clients into two groups. The first is direct buyers: they are easygoing about tattoos. The second is large clients, architects: they are reserved about tattoos. When communicating with clients, the company's employees do not display their body art.
For those who live and work in Germany, our expert has some practical advice. "In business circles, the rule 'everything that a T-shirt covers is allowed' has been in effect until now. Today, the threshold of sensitivity has shifted. Companies have become more tolerant of this fashion phenomenon. The main thing is that the tattoo owner feels comfortable. A top manager in an elegant dress can afford to show a tattoo on the neck at a corporate evening.
When getting a tattoo, remember that this decision is for life. Even modern methods of tattoo removal do not always guarantee a 100% result," warns the author of the book about tattoos at work. A design on the body is a deeply personal matter. The main thing is that the tattoo artist understands this, and does not view the client as a canvas for their artistic fantasies.
Interestingly, the German expert interprets the desire to become a tattoo owner as a person's desire to preserve their individuality. "A tattoo is something personal that allows a person to stand out, feel different from everyone else, and at the same time remain themselves. It is a kind of protest against the employer's desire to make the team something homogeneous," explains Katharina Starlei.