Got a return offer in September, accepted it, now I have a small tattoo - hopefully not a problem?
I got a return offer to a BB for credit derivs trading in August. The place has an awesome culture and I loved my internship. In September, I got a small tattoo on my wrist - it's a tiny geometric design, very minimalist and black. I have other tattoos but they're all small and hidden, this is my first visible one. I can probably cover it with a watch, but it may slip here and there - I've been back to the floor for visits, but since it's Winter now I always wear long sleeves.
I've seen a small ankle tattoo on a salesgirl and cartilage ear piercings etc on people (including myself) so it's not an incredibly conservative place or anything.
But curious to know whether people think this tattoo is gonna spark a problem? I can always cover it with skin colored medical tape or something, I would just rather prepare for this a few months in advance so I'm not blindsided. I'm a girl, if that's relevant at all.
A visible tattoo was a terrible idea, to be honest. I would cover it up with a watch, long sleeves, or whatever. Some people may not care and some will. The people that don't care if you have one won't give you extra credit if you do have one, so you might as well keep it covered. The non-visible tattoos are not a big deal for the obvious reason that nobody can see them.
The visible one is all downside and no upside.
Wrist tattoo? Maybe you should go work at some hipster coffee shop.
Just kidding. But you should keep it covered at all times. As long as it's not visible, there's no problem. The reason is: if one person sees it, then people talk, sooner or later everyone knows and people are potentially silently judging you, don't want to bring you to meetings/etc because they don't want to run the risk of clients seeing your tattoo etc. It seems kinda retarded, but a visible tattoo is generally no-bueno.
Agree with DickFuld and NESCAC Nothing's going to happen when you start and/or the first time someone sees your tattoo (i.e. you won't get fired) but that was a pretty bad decision. It doesn't matter if this view is correct or incorrect but some people will judge you for having a tattoo and this thing isn't going away after your first job, it's with you forever. And I have tattoos so I'm not against them but they're not visible even with just a tshirt on. Best advice I got when I was 18 and looking to get a tat was from a neighbor who had recently gotten out of the Marines (because when I got a tattoo more than 20 years people who got ink were typically hard core punks, bikers or enlisted men) who told me whatever I did, do not get anything that someone can see if you're wearing shorts and a polo shirt (whatever the equivalent is for women is your guess).
Thanks for the honest & quick responses guys. I'll make sure to get a watch with a band that covers it/put something skin colored over it for extra protection. It's usually cold on the floor and I end up wearing a cardigan or blazer with long sleeves anyway. As you might have guessed I'm not the typical finance type, very into math and art, and it's been kind of weird for me to navigate a different culture despite how much I enjoy what I'm doing. Like I said, it's very minimalist and won't be difficult to cover, as I did get it with my job etc in mind since I know s&t surely has face-to-face client interaction even if I'm on the trading side. In all honesty I knew the risks and was just being a bratty Gen Z child about it.
Fuck no you aren't Gen-Z, unless you're born in/after 1996. Jesus, I'm not that old yet.
Ha, summer '94. So I guess I'm on the borderline but not quite there.
I'd say that the cost of getting rid of you would be much larger than the little tattoo you got.
If anyone actually does notice, say you've had it this whole time and act surprised that they never noticed.
Most people don't notice it. A couple of associates came up to campus for recruiting stuff and when we were getting drinks after, only one dude noticed it - he actually thought I had it the whole time but it was just covered by my watch. He said no one would give a shit, but then again he's 25 and I doubt any of the 25-year-olds would give a shit about anything that's short of completely ridiculous.
I wish this was the world we lived in.
Yeah, I was somewhat surprised about that as well. Ankle tats, some female workers wearing ridiculous dresses and heels that were questionable to even me (and I was the person who got in trouble for breaking dress code every week when I was in high school, believe me), cartilage piercings, etc. My bleached platinum hair and having 4 piercings per ear were never an issue, but I was always low key about it (i.e. only wore studs and not crazing earrings, didn't let my roots get absurdly out of control or dye my hair Khaleesi-silver). I was also rotating on only options desks though and they happen to foster a certain culture since everyone is sort of laid back and at least a little bit nerdy, whether it's exotic equity derivs or FX options. The MDs I was reporting to were all under 40 as well. Things may have been different if I was in mortgages or groups with a more traditional mindset. People actually noticed me because of my hair; it made me stick out amongst all the guys on the derivs desks.
Also, I don't know where that picture on my original post of the woman with the wrist tattoo came from, but it's awesome and made me laugh. If I looked like her there would probably be a 0% chance of anyone noticing the tattoo, or looking at my wrists.
Don't cover it up, own it like a man. It's totally cool to have a personal brand and people actually will respect you for that.
lol? Being delusional will not serve her at all. You have to live in reality, not the world you wish you lived in.
I was at a top group at a top bank this summer and there were quite a few people that were a bit out of the ordinary (tattoos, funky haircuts, beards,..). Really, nobody cared, those people were respected just like everyone else.
What the fuck is up with people who get tattoos? Do they really think that's a novel and meaningful way of expressing oneself? The only time I can imagine myself wanting a tattoo was when i was a child.
It's certainly not novel, but it can be meaningful. I never really got why inking a design into the skin is such a big deal to some people... except maybe my Jewish mother, ha. My dad was in the marines and had tattoos so I grew up around them and it was always just another facet of aesthetic preferences to me. Why do some people get random face piercings or nose studs? Or dye their hair pink? Or get a mohawk? Or wear customized $800 shoes? Different strokes for different folks.
When you take into account the overall insignificance of human existence the whole debate seems kind of petty.
Why do some people put 65 bumper stickers on their rear window? Because they're fucking losers.
Yea, I don't understand when people think differently than the way I do either. Makes it hard to function sometimes but I struggle through.
I have five tattoos. No one would ever know that about me even if I'm just wearing a T-shirt and shorts. I'm not trying to make a statement by having them nor am I trying to be a "rebel." I enjoy them - some mean something to be, others I like the design.
It's really not a big deal. I worry more about people who get this worked up about choices that others make that in no way impact them at all. What's up with you?
Yup, this is my mindset completely. Thank you for both responses.
This is actually hilarious because I do have a pi tattoo, it's not the one on my wrist though. All of my tattoos are math-based. I have the golden ratio as well (also not visible).
Yeah, but the overall insignificance of human existence also means that all of life is petty as well.
If the "geometric symbol" is a money sign or a pi symbol (i.e., profit), then rock it!
If it's anything else (especially a bear)... probably best to cover it so that you don't get people being presumptuous and coming to wrongful judgement about the quality of person you are. Good luck with the opportunity though!
Get it removed.
@ellkay" - you seem to already know the answer here. A visible tattoo was not the best move, but yours sounds like it also won't be the end of the world. Keep it covered at work. You have to remember that when you're at work, you're not representing yourself as much as you are representing the company.
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