A survey for everyone with tattoos...?

This is mostly out of curiosity. I'm an ecology and evolutionary biology major, so that means I'm going to end up with some career in the sciences (as opposed to say, working in a record store or tattoo parlor). Lately I've been thinking about getting a simple black and white tattoo done about 1/4th of the way down my upper arm. It's a design that means a lot to me (so I'm going to wait a few months and see if I still want it) and I really really like it and the idea of getting it tattooed, but I'm curious as to the possibility of it jeopardizing a future career. I don't want to put it anywhere else, and if you're going to write something dumb along the lines of "lolz don't get it," go waste your time somewhere else.





So my questions are: if you have a tattoo, where is it, what is it, how big is it, what do you do for a living, and do you regret it?

A survey for everyone with tattoos...?
I am a 27yr old law student, who has worked in the legal field since I was 19, since I am going to be a lawyer I made sure that my tattoo can be covered by work clothes. I have mine on my hip and its an angel with devils horns in memory of my father. Many attorneys I know have tattoos and the best advice I can give you is make sure if you wear a polo shirt that the tattoo can't be seen. Every guy in the professional field I know who has one has gone to the shop with a polo shirt to make sure where he can get one and where is inappropriate. If you are a girl, do not get an anklet or you will be getting it lasered off in a couple of years...Good luck and be forewarned they are addicting, I am going in for my 2nd on my birthday.
Reply:its always a good idea to put some thought into your tattoo. your upper arm is a good place to get a tattoo. if there is some need to cover it, it can be hidden with a sleeved shirt. i have a little black cat on my ankle and a butterfly with vines across on my lower back. i am an administrative assistant and i have no regrets about my tattoos. good luck!
Reply:Okay so i work in a school district office and i have 2 tats. One on each ankle and a small one on my inner wrist. They have not jeopardized my career in any way. Im educated and an excellent employee and THAT is what everyone focuses on when they meet me. I've had about 2 people aske to see my writs tattoo (because its the only one out in the open every day, unless i wear long sleeves) and they both thought it was great! It really depends on you.
Reply:I got a tattoo of an orchid almost 10 years ago on my ankle. The total design is almost 4 inches tall. I chose the orchid because I was born in Hawaii. I thought long and hard about what I would not mind having on my body when I was 70 years old and I also chose not to put it on a part of my body that would sag.....seriously. I didn't want people to look at it and wonder what the hell it was. I work for a power company. They are a bit strict about tattoos and piercings. Apparently, their policy has since changed and has become even more strict but existing employees with existing tattoos are grandfathered in. I would say go for it but I would still put it somewhere that it can be covered up in the corporate world.
Reply:Im a engineer in a hospital that is really picky about aperance nothing showing is thier rules no pericings which i have and tattoos can be visible to others but that comes from the high end people that run this place my boss is cool with them and dont mind them at all unless he is told by someone up high then he will half to tell me to cover it up and remove the pericings..I pretty much have to wear pants all year around as my leg has a nice size tattoo that is the start of my whole leg being done and any other place i would half to wear a long sleve shirt for when i get my arms done in the near future..If you want to get this done on your arm im pretty sure you will be in the same boat wearing nothing but long sleve shirts to cover up your tattoo which isnt a big deal and im sure you will be fine with getting your arm done.. Try asking people that you might know in that major and see what they half to say or go and ask employers while your on interviews on thier policies on tattoos..
Reply:I keep all my tattoo's wear the clothes I wear to work are covered. I work as a security gaurd some my tattoos must be covered.
Reply:Check my 360, all my tattoos are on there. I don't regret getting them. I'm getting a half sleeve done in a few days.
Reply:I have 3 tattoos: a small black lily on my ankle, a small black abstract squigly thing on my shoulderblade, and a large blue snowflake on the back of my neck.





They have never affected my employment. I can easily cover all of them without it looking like I'm covering any of them (the snowflake is the hardest - and for that I just wear my hair down). All three have been visible at work at some point and they haven't been a problem.





Now I manage a gym, but at my last job I did IT procurement at the State Department. I also have my nose pierced, and some slightly unusual ear piercings (rook, daith), and those haven't been a probem either.





Tattoos are becoming more and more accepted in the workplace. There will always be some people who look down on you because of your ink, but for the majority, how you do your job is more important than what you put on your skin.





I don't regret getting my tattoos at all. I plan to get more in the future.





Besides, those science types are usually pretty laid-back. :) I was a geo/paleo major, and some of my professors were tattooed, which I thought was pretty cool.
Reply:I am a college student in my mid-twenties studying to be a Spanish teacher. At the moment I have two tattoos. The first one is 4-5 in. long and 3-4 wide at it's widest point and consists of five words in arabic script on my my upper bicep, and the other is on my right shoulder blade. It is about 7-8 in. in diameter and consists of a hibiscus, a lily, and a clematis flower connected with leafy vines. (the flowers represent my mother, grandmother, and myself) I don't regret them, and I don't think I will in a career situation. My general rule is that I'd never get a tattoo I couldn't cover with a business suit or other basic work clothing.
Reply:I have 4 tatoos:


1. A rose above my breast


2. A heart design on my upper left arm


3. A ying-yang on my right shoulder


4. A Chinese character on the back of my neck.





I have a BA in Archaeology. I have been a supervisor for almost 10 years at 3 companies, I worked as a supervisor in a musuem and currently manage an accessories store. I haven't had a problem having tatoos. Mine are all in good taste and the one on my neck and my arm are quite visible. I do not regret any of them. I think the important thing is to design ones that you can be proud of and that have meaning. If you get it on your arm you can always cover it when needed. I say go for it!
Reply:I have four tattoos: on my upper back, lower back, left ankle and left hip. I do not regret any of my tattoos because I thought carefully before getting all of them. I work in a professional office, and I purposely got all of my tattoos in places where I knew I could hide them.


You'd be surprised at how tattoos are becoming more widely accepted in the workplace... but I suppose it depends on your job!
Reply:I have 5 and I don't regret any of them


I have 1 on my lower back, 1 above my ankle, 1 on my should blade and 1 on my upper right arm and 1 on my upper left arm. They are big enough to see but not that big. The largest is on my lower back and you can only see that one when I bend down. I'm a CEO
Reply:Mine is on my butt cheek/hip area, it's a devil with a halo. ;) about 2 1/2 inches tall, I work in manufacturing and I don't regret it.
Reply:I'm 15 and i have 2 stares on my lower abs right over my d**k ,i don't work i go 2 school and no i don't regret it because the girls i have gone out with like it
Reply:I have 4 small tattoos (heart in flames on hip, chinese symbol for woman below belly button and dove of peace and a quote by Oscar Wilde on my shoulderblade) and I got a full backpiece of wings from shoulders to hips a couple of years ago. I work in a small office I made sure that all tattoos can be easily covered (in all weather, inc. summer heat) for work. I used to regret the dove as it was my 1st and not done very well, but got some work done on it and I love it again now.





I recommend choosing a customised design and finding a great tattoist and if you have any doubt in your mind at all I recommend waiting. I waited 9 years to get the wings, just to be sure I really was making the right descision.
Reply:I have a tattoo on my neck my chaste and leg and no one see them but me . but the one on my neck and you cant see that one if I have my hair down and I'm in school I'm going to be a NA
Reply:I'm a university student. Planning on going into education.


It's on my lower back. Three Chinese (Cantonese) symbols, which are vertical that read "Black Queen".


Each character is about the size of a quarter.





I was sure to get something I wouldn't regret. The only thing I SOMETIMES question is why didn't I do it in English, or maybe Hebrew.... something closer to my heritage? But then, I really like Chinese writting, I think it's kinda classy.


I don't plan to get anymore body art done until I graduate University.





If you decide that you want it, I would say go ahead because the location seems like it would be something easy to conceal during an interview or when necessary. If you've got sufficient qualifications for any job, if they see your tattoo afterwards, I highly doubt they will judge you. First impressions are important though.
Reply:Do you really think working in a tattoo shop and working in a record shop are one and the same? For the counter help, maybe, but you do realize that tattoo artists, and piercers, are trained professionals, don't you?
Reply:The one thats noticeable on my arm I regret, if I could do it over I would of had it put some where else where else so it could be covered up when I wanted it to be.
Reply:i have two tattoos one one my arm and the other on my back. the one on my arm is about 4 inchs wide and 7 inches long it says my nickname. and the other is on my back it pretty big and i regret i got it cause it has no meaning i got this tattoo 3 months ago to make this girl jealous now i dont want it. so before u get a tattoo think long and hard cause its with you for life. i work as a ticket agent at greyhound bus lines
Reply:I'm a research chemist and I have 2. The first I got 4 years ago, its a pair of crescent moons on my spine, about 2 inches below my bra, about an inch square in size. The second is a star, its on my upper thigh, about 2inches square. I don't regret them, they are totally coverable, most people don't know I have them.
Reply:I have 8 tattoos.. I have one on my leg, three on my back, and 4 on my arms.. there is one on my arm that extends from my wrist to my elbow.. the other arm just has a small butterfly on it... whats the worst that could happen .. you have to wear longs sleeves to work. Most people at my work don't even notice I have them..





I am a kindergarten teacher...
Reply:I am completely sleeved to my wrist on the left arm, half way (soon to be all the way) down my right arm, full chest, stomach, hip, thigh, ankle and toes... more to come.





Various stuff, most moderately large to very large.





I am an Associate Securities Broker for an Investment Banking Firm. I have a good professional job, which means I wear a long sleeve shirt and slacks. None of it is visible so it has no impact on my career at all.
Reply:i have some tattoos. one on my back, it's a full back piece in the works. i also have one on the top of my right foot and am getting one on the top of my left foot soon.


the one on my back is... well, the size of my back. i would guess 2 1/4 feet by 1 1/2 feet? the one on my foot is probably 3 inches by 4 1/2 or so.


honestly i think you'd be fine with a 1/4 sleeve. i have many friends who have partial sleeves. one who works in a library. and i'm pretty sure that it is illegal for you to be discriminated against for having tattoos. i work in a hospital and some of the guys there have tattoos on their forearms which are visible unless wearing long sleeved shirts. i have toyed with the idea of getting partial sleeves but i don't think my husband is too keen on that. we'll see. if you would like to check out my tattoos there are links below.
Reply:I have one tattoo on each shoulder, and one on my shoulder blade. They are all tribal designs; a sun, a hand and an eye. They are each about 4 inches in diameter and can all be concealed if I wear a T-shirt. If I want to show them off, I can wear a tank top. I am a logistics supervisor, and I do not regret getting tattoos.
Reply:I have 2 tattoos. One on my lower back which is about 4 inches and the other on my foot which is about 6 inches long of flowers on a vine. I am a therapist in a hospital and I don't regret it at all. There are doctors and nurses walking around with visible tats. I don't think any differently of them.
Reply:2 tats: one on back of shoulder of Chinese writing and butterfly (probably 2inx2in) and one on lower back one of my own designs its a shadow of a man and woman doing a seductive dance. Its about 4-5 in high from tail bone and about 7in wide (there are some swirly things that make it so wide and since I've never measured it I'm pretty much guessing). I worked in an IT dept for a hospital up until 2 years ago when I started working at a credit agency. Do I regret them: No. They are both in areas that I can cover or show off if I want to, depending on my mood and where I'm going). When I'm old and wrinkly, I wont be showing off my lower back to anyone so I'm not worried about what its gonna look like then. I took a lot of time choosing the tats I have and they both have specific meanings to me and where I've been. Even with my opwn design, I waited some time (even taped it my lower back for a while) before going to get it done. As far as a career goes, tats are becoming more of a norm but first impressions are the ones that count when applying for a job. My advice would be to look at the area your getting the tat in, can you cover it with a shirt if you needed to? If so, then by all means go for it.
Reply:Where is it? I have 10 tattoos in all...one across the small of My back, one on My left hand, one on My right forearm, one on the inside of My left forearm, one on the back of My right calf, one on the outside of My left calf, one on My right upper arm, one on My left upper arm, one on My left shoulder blade, and one on My right pec above My breast.





What is it? In the same order as listed above...Old English Letters, gang tattoo, Haida Wolf, Pikachu, wolf paws morphing into human footprints, 8" tall Lycan with grappling hook, The Beast from Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical, gold and silver Yin-Yang, Mi Vida Loca, Purple trible rose.





How Big is it? Varying sizes.





What do you do for a living? Whatever I can make the most money at, legally.





Do you regret it? Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. depends on the situation and how I'm feeling at the time.
Reply:I don't have a tatoo (although I would love to have one!), but I don't think that a tatoo would jeopardize your career. You want to get it done on your upper arm, so unless you get a job that requires you to wear a tank top everyday, then no one will even see it, unless you choose to show it to them. So I say, GO FOR IT! Good Luck! Let me know how much it hurts!
Reply:im a 41 year old mom of two. i have 4 tatoos, the,first was a small unicorn on my upper arm, small to see if i could handle the pain everyone told me about ,lol, it was not pain but more a discomfort, so the next is a large unicorn on my upper back, again not painful, and the last 2 are babyfeet, one on each breast with my childrens name and date of birth(and yes they are high enough so everyone can see) they are a part of me and if i could not have them in a the workplace i would find another job!!
Reply:Hey I'm 20 I actually have 4 small tattoos. My first one is a nautical star its blue and green and about the size of a quarter on the inside of my right ankle. I have a star design that i drew in history class and its on my lower back and its about 5" . I have a ferry on my left shoulder and its about the size of a deck of cards. the only on i regret is my Chinese love symbol on my left side of my pelvic. the only reason i regret it is because i did it myself and now i want to wait to get it redone until after i have kids so it doesn't stretch. I work at Stewart Title Guarantee and its a very respectable company and none of my tattoo's interfere as long as the shoulder and the lower back don't show. The only advice i have for you is the truth tattoo's are ADDICTING!