Job Discussion Forums

[nomad soul]

For clarification, a man bun is a hairstyle.

There's consensus that having a neat appearance is important. However, some westerners like to express their individuality with body ink, neon hair color, body piercings, etc.

Based on your teaching region/location, do cultural or religious taboos and stereotypes against tats, facial piercings, and men with buns/long hair exist? Do these displays of uniqueness greatly hurt a job seeker's ability to score a teaching post?

[scot47]

We hired plenty of weirdos but none with inks, stamps, body metal, ear-rings or funny hairstyles. Being crazy was okay though.

[ExpatLuke]

Tattoos do have a stigma here in Vietnam, so we ask that our teachers cover them.

I can't say that we've every hired someone with excessive piercings. Just the relatively normal ones.

I think if anyone had a man bun or neon colored hair, they wouldn't make it passed the interview... But I don't think we've ever had those types apply.

[Shonai Ben]

[kpjf]

Happened to see this the other day: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/14/japan-tube-drivers-seek-damages-beard-row-osaka

[gregory999]

In the Magic Kingdom, having tattoo might lead to this .......

Saudi bans footballers with tattoos: report
Saudi Arabia’s religious police have told foreign players with tattoos on their arms to cover such drawings while on the field, saying they are adversely affecting young Saudis, a newspaper reported on Monday.

The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice sent a letter to the Higher Youth Committee asking it to warn all foreign players in the conservative Muslim Gulf kingdom to cover their tattoos before going into the field during matches, Sabq Arabic language daily said.

The letter cited Columbian player at Al Nasr Club, Juan Pablo Pino, whose hands and shoulders are covered with tattoos “in violation of existing rules.”
http://www.emirates247.com/news/saudi-bans-footballers-with-tattoos-report-2011-10-10-1.422726

[tellersquill]

I've got tattoos along all of my arms. When I wear a shirt its impossible to see them so its not a massive factor. I have, however, turned a job just this last week because I noticed the made staff wear those awful short sleeve polo shirts.

I avoid any company that requires a uniform tshirt as a general rule anyway. But my thing was I turned them down because I had tattoos, rather then them rejecting me. I did this because it is me who wants to have a professional image when I work in a classroom.

[BadBeagleBad]

I have 5 tattoes, and I had a job where it was written into the contract that I could not have tattoes. Since they are all in areas that could be easily covered it was not an issue, until one day when I wore a skirt to work and a couple of them were visible. For some reason someone felt it necesary to report me, and I was reprimanded and told to make sure they were covered. This was in Mexico, about 10 years ago. I also had someone complain about a teacher who had a tattoe on his arm in a different school. This was about 7 or 8 years ago. When I was in a hiring postion, a man bun would be less problematic than a tattoe.

[tellersquill]