# First one in my family to get a masters degree, and I got tattoo sleeves several years ago; scared! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 29, 2015, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163 "2015-05-29T23:43:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/21 "2015-05-30T05:37:04Z")
The tattoos may be an obstacle in your career but your life is not ruined. It’s just something you might need to work around. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/22 "2015-05-30T10:51:16Z")
I’d really have to hear the nature of work you are looking to pursue. If you are looking at professional services - e.g., consulting, financial services - they get all concerned about how they present their Team to their clients. That would be tough. But many professions are far more flexible. IT project managers walk around wearing shorts and flip flips, with tattoos, piercings, etc. Same with creatives in Marketing. Congrats on the Masters. What is it in? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/23 "2015-05-30T13:55:30Z")
Perhaps a more specific recommendation would be helpful. Dermablend is the go-to brand for tattoo cover. The [leg and body cover](http://www.dermablend.com/leg_and_body_cover.html) will cover even a very dark tattoo on very light skin. If there’s high contrast between your skin and you tatts, then drugstore makeup is unlikely to work. It’s too dilute - to achieve the “sheer” coverage that most women want, they dilute the pigment in carrier solutions. Dermablend’s products have less carrier and more pigment, giving you better coverage. Does it work? [Oh, yes.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CukxjO0l67w) That being said, in my career (nursing) tattoos, particularly on male nurses, are not a problem at all. Which kind of surprised me; I expected there to be some issues with my single visible tattoo, and I went to some lengths to cover it up my first year in nursing. Then one of my patients (an elderly Black man raised in Mississippi, who came to Chicago during the Great Migration) saw it and when I explained I hid it so people wouldn’t be offended, he yelled at me for covering it up. “You be who you are, you hear! You try to hide, you’re letting them make you a slave!” Strong words, considering the source. I’ve left it uncovered ever since, and my boss hasn’t gotten a single complaint about it. You do you. Don’t let them make you a slave. If \*you \*are more comfortable having it covered, fine. There’s the link to Dermablend above. But don’t hide it because you’re scared of other people. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/24 "2015-05-30T14:39:38Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > No one in the Seattle area would give it a second thought Even with the “penises and swastikas” motif? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/25 "2015-05-30T14:40:36Z")
_four thumbs up to the old black dude_ ---
**Author:** ![Nefario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Nefario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefario)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/26 "2015-05-30T15:11:49Z")
> [@Hossdonad](#): > > I’m so scared that I won’t ever become a business executive, because of my tattoos. I may be at an age where I’m not with it anymore but yeah I think you screwed up. It really depends on where you work and your typical associates accepted appearance. “Business Executive” can mean “professional salesperson” in which cause you’d probably be OK for quick in/out sales visits. If “business executive” means a manager of professional workers you’ll have to choose jobs very carefully to rise though the ranks. By the time you’re in a position for promotion all around you will know of your tattoos and wonder what statement is intended and does that coincide with the business? Choose wisely and keep the shirts. Perhaps your temperament to get the tattoos is already leading you to work areas where they are acceptable. I must say that I find very few tattoos to be artistically inspired and the delicate shading or fine lines that make them so will fade with time. The typical amateur art and crude lettering I see a lot will become a marker of the thug/redneck/nonconformist that stays in lower levels of employment for most people. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/27 "2015-05-30T16:15:53Z")
Would help if the OP came back and gave us some more details, like what field he’s going into. I’m curious about what sort of master’s degree puts you on the road to being a business executive, unless of course the degree was an MBA. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/28 "2015-05-30T17:19:04Z")
Maybe you could find a job in a Marine town. People will probably look at you and wonder why you don’t have even more tattoos. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/29 "2015-05-30T17:28:33Z")
I work at a pretty conservative place, and yeah, tats would hurt your chances. If you want to work at a place like that, find a way to hide them during the interview. It probably won’t be a big deal after the interview, unless you work in a very customer-facing role, in which case, it depends on the type of business. I think people like their banker to look conservative. They might welcome tats on their interior decorator. Tattoos are very common these days, I’m sure they are fine at lots of places. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/30 "2015-05-30T18:42:36Z")
Its going to depend on the business. That includes the industry, the part of the country, the hiring manager. AND its going to depend on you. You don’t generally get an MBA and step into the role of business executive (unless your MBA is from some elite B-school) - you start in some sort of other management job and work your way up. People are willing to overlook a lot of things if you are right in other respects - including (depending again on the industry and part of the country) being short, female, overweight, a minority, gay, from the wrong part of the country or having gone to the wrong college - or having a tattoo. But the more strikes you have against you (and in most industries in most parts of the country, full sleeves are a strike) the harder it will be to climb the ladder. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/31 "2015-05-30T18:50:24Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Would help if the OP came back and gave us some more details, like what field he’s going into. Oddly, **Hossdonad** tried to start [another thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758154) rather than coming back to this one. According to that other thread, > [@](#): > > my aspirations have always been to be an executive for a record company, music publisher, or even a place like Harley Davidson ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/32 "2015-05-30T18:56:25Z")
> [@Hossdonad](#): > > The part on my wrist pops out occasionally from under my dress shirt and suit jacket. Is it visible? why does it only " occasionally" pop out ? Which looks worse: the tattoo, or wearing a suit and shirt that’s one size too long in the sleeve? ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/33 "2015-05-30T20:13:29Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Oddly, **Hossdonad** tried to start [another thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758154) rather than coming back to this one. According to that other thread, Yeah - well, we know Harley folks are rabidly against tattoos of any kind. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/34 "2015-05-31T04:04:56Z")
I’m guessing those are industries or businesses that would likely be more tattoo-friendly than most. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/35 "2015-05-31T12:44:51Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Oddly, **Hossdonad** tried to start [another thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758154) rather than coming back to this one. According to that other thread, And in that one he’s a “law student”. :rolleyes: It’s interesting how location dependent this sort of thing still is (tattoos, not buckshotting the internet with questions). I’ve worked all over the country, and in California and Colorado tattoos are really no big deal, even for executives. The East coast and the Midwest, however, are much more buttoned down, if you’ll pardon the pun. ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/36 "2015-05-31T13:50:26Z")
You could try ‘interview math’ and use French cuffs (+3) to make you look so much more conservative than any tiny peek of a tat (-2). ---
**Author:** ![edwardcoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cab0a1/32.png) [@edwardcoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwardcoast)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/37 "2015-06-01T04:11:12Z")
> [@Hossdonad](#): > > I’m so scared that I won’t ever become a business executive, because of my tattoos. The part on my wrist pops out occasionally from under my dress shirt and suit jacket. The regret is making me near suicidal! Is my life completely ruined? Did I totally fuck up? Calm down. You can have tattoos removed. See a plastic surgeon. Do a [Google.com](http://Google.com) search for _tattoo removal_. Get an office visit and see what the cost is and what’s involved. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/38 "2015-06-01T05:13:37Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Oddly, **Hossdonad** tried to start [another thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758154) rather than coming back to this one. Yes, a little suspicious. > [@Hossdonad](#): > > I’m so scared that I won’t ever become a business executive, because of my tattoos. The part on my wrist pops out occasionally from under my dress shirt and suit jacket. The regret is making me near suicidal! Is my life completely ruined? Did I totally fuck up? And one day later: > [@](#): > > I have tattoo sleeves, and am a law student, but I actually don’t “regret” my tattoos though; my aspirations have always been to be an executive for a record company, music publisher, or even a place like Harley Davidson; in that kind of environment, isn’t it logical that the musicians I’m negotiating contracts with, or the musicians I’m representing in court, or the motor cycling company in leading, would even someone perfer or advocate someone with tattoos? ---
**Author:** ![sich\_hinaufwinden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@sich\_hinaufwinden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sich_hinaufwinden)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/39 "2015-06-01T05:14:01Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > …Does it work?.. > > [Oh, yes.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CukxjO0l67w)… Wow. That was pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163/40 "2015-06-01T08:51:31Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Even with the “penises and swastikas” motif? This swastika made of penises is, like, who I am, dude, and covering it up would be like denying my own self, man. Now would you like fries with that? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-one-in-my-family-to-get-a-masters-degree-and-i-got-tattoo-sleeves-several-years-ago-scared/721163.md?page=3)