Piercings and welding

Piercings and welding

I think too many people are more worried about what people look like rather then what their skills are! Who cares how many piercings he has, as long as he can weld! Who knows maybe I am bias.

[youngwelder_154]

Johnny Im glad to see some employers can see past the physical look.Where abouts do you work If there are ways around my losing my body mods I will But as I said If it comes to it they will be taken out.

[JonnyTIG]

There comes a time when the skills you have to offer to the world out weigh the outward projection of what defines you as 'you' physically. You can choose to give your first impression using your gifted looks, or you can choose to give your first impression by using your skills (inter-personal, physical, learned, what ever they may be). You are still an individual how ever you choose. This choice you make may or may not define your career path in life.

Employers seldom evaluate you on apperance (causing termination of your employment) after they hire you(in this trade). Unfortunately not all employers are as open minded as others (including the views/ideals posted). As discussed in this thread, there are open minded employers out there, as much as there are many traditional thinking employers. When I say open minded, I'm speaking of the ones that see beyond the first impression. New age, or whatever you want to call it.
The whole world is a big wheel, and big wheels turn slowly, and sad as it may be, the majority of current employers out there are looking for the right fit, a fit that is tried, tested, and assumed to be true.

Two years ago I applied for my current welding position. I've had a shaved head for ten years and carry some tats, however I grew my hair out and went to the interview in a long sleeve shirt. Within the first week of work, I had my sleeves rolled up and a clean shaven head. Within the first couple of days worked, I found that my co-workers had piercings, shaved heads, and exposed tats. The hair thing was a percautionary measure in case the hireing employer had stereotypes, same with the covered arms. I found out that my employer works really hard to see past individuallity statements, and looks deeper into every opportunity that they are presented. The shop I work in has a diverse culture of old and new...

Little hair not by choice vs: no hair by choice, fresh canvis vs: full shirts or sleeves, I was pierced by a piece of scrap steel vs: prince albert.

Ok, seriously, like I stated, big wheels turn slowly.

Essay not included...

[fun4now]

There comes a time in life when you should quit trying to define yourself with your outward appearance
verry well put.

[fun4now]

i supose that would depend on the collor choices you make as well as you shoe choices, size , stature..... ...yea i think we just might.

[monte55]

I'm thinking of painting my toenails......do ya think we can talk about this for 40-50 post.........I have ten.......

[Engloid]

There comes a time in life when you should quit trying to define yourself with your outward appearance. Your friends will still like you without all the blingin jewelry. You will still be the same person if you cut your hair, etc.

Give up on trying to define yourself in a visual way. God already did that, leave it alone. Now, from there, you need to do what is best for you... that will be to ditch the huge nose rings and freakish stuff that will only hold you down in life. Hopefully you haven't stretched your skin out to the point that it won't go back. 10 years of thinking you're cool...then 70 years of being the idiot with huge earlobes? That's pretty stupid, if you ask me.

Yes, you have a right to do that...but it's your future you're playing with, not mine.

[Trooper]

Dude I know its messed up. Most people are going to think that way at first. Here is what you need to do PROVE YOURSELF! If you put your mind to it you can accomplish anything. Just always be polite and never give up always do your best you will get there!

That is a fact! I am in a position where I can hire (or fire) any person, with cause. I have always attempted to allow a person to “impress me” by their self and not their looks. It never hurts to “hide” certain aspects if you think that it may put an unfair bias on yourself, but if “you are what you wear” then don’t hide anything and if they can’t accept that then you don’t want to work there. We are who we are. There is a place and a time for everything. I would never trust a mechanic that didn’t have grease under his nails nor would I go to office person that had torn clothes. We chose our professions and our professions dress us. Could you imagine going to a farm and everyone was wearing a tux; not worth the overhead.

[fun4now]

seems like you have decided takeing them out will increase your odds of getting work. so do what you need to do to keep working. if your presesnt job is ok with it and you intend to stay on there after the aprenticship then it realy should not matter as you are already hired.
if you intend to go out knocking on doors for a job, yep better take them out, get the job and feel out the inployer befor putting them back in. odds are good if you show up for a wile doing a good job and being on time he will be ok with the pierings if you are in the shop. if its a shop requiring lots of interaction with cliants he will likely say you gotta lose them, calling it a safty ishue as you cant "discriminate" so it will be all about safty not looks. some people can be realy extream about it, the last place my wife worked they made her take all her earings out, she had 3 in each ear. none were larger than a standerd ladys piering, the smallest one you can get. it was said it was due to safty incase the ball was to fall out of the hoop and land in some ones food. more likely it was to inshure that a guy like you could not scream discrimination about his piercings when they let my wife where hers. so every one has to deal with it in one way or another.
i spent many years as a carpenter with long hair, few tat's, and a few earings(2). kinda expected of a carpenter so few would not hire due to it, but add a few face piercings and things start to change. best to get your foot in the door befor trying the piercings, and then you can decide if you like the job and the pay enough to keep them out or move on to another place to try again.
best of luck to ya.
FWIW i have a few tats that would not be to well acepted by many cliants or even alowed show on this board, but add a shirt and all thats seen is my POW*MIA and my U.S.Army. both pretty well accepted.

[Eric Carroll]

I understand what is the "norm" but hate to hear a young person told the only way to make it is to wear the appropriate "costume".You can make your way as long as you are good at it and work hard.If I could hire a dependable,hard working kid who didnt mind working weekends,I wouldnt care what was in his face.The saftey thing is 99% crap,how many time have you had you watch almost hurt you?Rings on fingers are definitely dangerous because your fingers engage every thing you work on,but your lip?your ear?I could make up reasons that nascar stickers all over you windows are dangerous but really I just dont like them.If the job market is that bad or you could only get this job by changing how you look,then thats what you have to do,but by no means does it mean you couldnt make a living at welding and have a few piercings.

[harcosparky]

"Is the only way to be mature,appear smart and get a job by looking like the average person that does your chosen job?

I can tell you this, one of the things people are told to do BEFORE going to a job interview is to go and scout out your potential employer. See how people in that company dress and when you go for your interview dress as they do.

So the answer to your question is YES. An interview is not the place to make a fashion statement.

Here is what one online employment service says about dressing for an interview.

Trades

John Coffey worked as a factory production manager for years before becoming a career coach. His take on appropriate attire for an interview in the trades: Business casual.

"For men, this might be a nice pair of Dockers and a buttoned shirt, along with well-kept and polished shoes," says Coffey, career success officer for Winning Careers in Woodbury, Minnesota. "The same goes for women -- nice slacks and a professional business top. I think a suit or sports jacket for this type of work is overkill."

Of course, one industry's excess is another industry's underdressed. So don't be afraid to ask, because no matter what, "your packaging counts," says Holland.

That packaging includes the little things. "The details matter," says Mary Lou Andre, president of Needham, Massachusetts-based Organization by Design and author of Ready to Wear: An Expert's Guide to Choosing and Using Your Wardrobe. For example, shoes "should be in excellent condition, as should totes and outerwear."

"You really never do get a second chance to make a good first impression," Andre stresses. "By investing some time and money in creating a suitable interview wardrobe, you will invite others to easily invest back in you."

The go on to publish a " 10 Interview Fashion Blunders " and the cover jewelry. Following is quote from their website ...

Jewelry That Jangles: Don't wear more than two rings per hand or one earring per ear. And no face jewelry or ankle bracelets allowed.

Actually this is all pretty much standard interview knowledge.

[storts]

looks

My ins. co. would not let me hire any one with any thing that can be cought on,and injured,,Some even have it for wedding rings,,Jack

[Ioneth]

I got my ear pierced when I was about 6 years old. I took it out 10 years ago and the hole still has not fully closed. As long as your holes are not new they should be able to go 8 hours with no ring/bar in them. the only exception would be maybe your lip and tongue the mouth heals really fast.

[Winger Ed.]

"Is the only way to be mature,appear smart and get a job by looking like the average person that does your chosen job?

In a predominatly conservative society where first impressions are so important & part of our human nature, and the percieved image of a company is a valuable/tangible item- especially to it's owner.......

Yep... Be it right, wrong, or indifferent......
That's about 99% true.

.

[Eric Carroll]

This one is much harder to respond to then I thought. Tat's are usually tasteful or mean something to the person getting rivited by a needle with ink.

Piercings are an "in-your-face" (no pun intended) statement. They tell me you are immature, and under-educated. You do not have interpersonal skills, nor do you have self esteem.

No I would not hire you - you are a walking freak show that you choose to live, I do not need to introduce you into my workforce.


sjmiller

Are you for real?How old are you?Where is the freakshow,undereducated line drawn? I dont really like most facial piercings but have never thought "that person has no self esteem."Is the only way to be mature,appear smart and get a job by looking like the average person that does your chosen job?