Tattoos in IB/PE

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know about tattoos in the IB/PE industry:

1. Visibility Matters:

   • Tattoos that are not visible while wearing professional attire (long sleeve shirts) are generally more acceptable.
   • Visible tattoos, especially on the neck, hands, or face, are still rare and might be frowned upon.

2. Perception:

   • The finance industry, particularly high finance, tends to be conservative. Visible tattoos might still be perceived negatively by some, especially older professionals.
   • However, attitudes are slowly changing, and tattoos are becoming more common among younger professionals.

3. Career Impact:

   • While having tattoos does not inherently block you from a career in finance, it might make you work a bit harder to prove yourself.
   • The rarity of visible tattoos in the industry suggests that they could potentially incur a penalty in terms of perception.

4. Personal Experiences:

   • Some professionals in the industry have tattoos but choose to keep them covered at work.
   • There are anecdotal reports of people with tattoos in finance, but they are typically not visible during professional interactions.

5. Advice:

   • If you are considering getting more tattoos, it might be wise to place them in areas that can be easily covered by professional attire.
   • Think carefully about how visible tattoos might affect your career progression and interactions with colleagues and clients.

In summary, while tattoos are becoming more accepted, the finance industry remains conservative. Keeping tattoos covered during professional interactions is a common practice to avoid potential negative perceptions.

Sources: Final Word on Tattoos, Long Hair, Being Short, Fat, Ugly, Etc. in Banking, Final Word on Tattoos, Long Hair, Being Short, Fat, Ugly, Etc. in Banking, Tattoos in high finance?, Challenging "old" investment banking conventions - getting a tattoo, yay or nay?, Wrist tattoo in investment banking?