BAD INK: New study reveals what recruiters really feel about body art

Almost nine out of 10 hiring professionals said that having a tattoo could limit a potential employee’s carer progression, highlighting that image discrimination is a central factor in recruitment.

New research from LinkedIn found that 88% of recruiters believed that having a tattoo had a negative impact on a career – with over 40% believing that a tattoo indicated a lack of professionalism in that candidate they were interviewing.

With 75% of recruitment professionals believing that a candidate’s image plays a significant role in the hiring process, Rebecca Drew, Enterprise Sales Leader at LinkedIn, explains that it could be impacting hiring.

She said: “With almost a fifth of UK adults currently estimated as having a tattoo, the current attitude around visible tattoos and physical image means that businesses and recruiters could be missing out on top talent.”