Incoming SA with forearm tattoos
Incoming SA in nyc with easily visible tattoos on my forearm. I don't plan to wear short sleeves ( I only wore long sleeves last summer in my old company ) but I saw there will be volunteering / other out of office activities and given the weather over the summer im nervous that i will have to wear short sleeves that reveal my tattoos on my forearm. I dont want to give off the wrong impressions / being judged by it... contemplating getting them removed later down the line.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, visible tattoos in high finance, especially in investment banking, can still carry a stigma, though attitudes are slowly evolving. Here are some key takeaways and advice:
Long Sleeves as a Default: Many professionals with tattoos in finance opt to keep them covered at work. If you're comfortable wearing long sleeves during the summer, this can help avoid unnecessary attention or judgment.
Volunteering/Out-of-Office Events: For activities where short sleeves might be unavoidable, consider lightweight long-sleeve options or even discreet tattoo cover-up products (like makeup or sleeves). This can help maintain a professional image while keeping your tattoos private.
Perception in Finance: While tattoos are becoming more common, visible ones are still rare in high finance. As one WSO thread noted, "The job is hard enough to get and hard enough to do. I'd think very hard about what you can control to make it easier if you're serious about a career in finance." This suggests that minimizing potential distractions, like visible tattoos, could be beneficial.
Removal Consideration: If you're contemplating tattoo removal, it's worth weighing the long-term benefits for your career. While not mandatory, it could eliminate any concerns about judgment or bias in the future.
Cultural Shift: Some professionals in finance have tattoos, but they are typically not visible. As one user mentioned, "I've never met one with visible tattoos." This highlights that while tattoos are not a dealbreaker, they are still uncommon in visible areas.
Ultimately, the decision to keep or remove your tattoos is personal. However, being mindful of the industry's conservative tendencies and taking steps to present yourself professionally will help you navigate your summer analyst role successfully.
At my BB, as an SA, all events were just tacked onto the end of the work day or during it (even our volunteering event) and so everyone was still in work clothes. I doubt you will have work events that are truly out of work, and if they are, just get one of those long sleeve Under Armour shirts that are still breathable in the heat
We did volunteering in volunteer shirts. Some people have tatts. No one cares as long as they aren't something explicit. Take a breath it'll be fine. It's your life. Would you even want to work for someone that wouldn't hire you over something so menial? I have tatts too albeit not visible unless shirtless so work never sees but the point holds. Just do good work and make a good impression
A number of SAs and analysts at my firm had visible tattoos during casual/dress down events/times. Didn't stop them getting an offer + the time you do volunteering will just be around HR not senior bankers who might get offended.
If concerened, have a long sleeve t shirt underneath and the volunteering t shirt over.
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