Tattoos and work.

[Super Trouper]

Hum... So, I'm starting culinary school in september in order to become a chef. And I have a tattoo in my inner forearm and I plan on getting another one in my upper arm. People here are generally pretty accepting of tattoos, but... I was wondering if there's a chance that my tattoos will cause discrimination towards me at culinary school/work. The chef at the culinary school said no jewelry and no piercings, I wonder if that applies to tattoos? And will eventual employers dislike an aspiring chef with relatively visible tattoos?

What do you think?

[flyinhernikes]

pretty sure a few famous chefs have tattoos.

i know jewelry and piercings are for hygiene reason, but you cant take tattoos off and they cant fall in food so im pretty sure they would be fine... they arent unhygienic
your overalls would cover them anyway, so if they arent allowed, no one would see them.

[blightedsight]

I don't know how it is for people in Portugal, but my brother went to culinary school in the UK and he has a visible tattoo on his neck.

In culinary school they want ability not body art.

I'm not sure what it's like in Portugal, but having worked as an apprenticeship chef, and now a baker. You'll find the culinary industry to be very..."open." It's not rare to have chefs talk about porn, and swear and have tattoos all over their body.

Jewellery and piercings poses a safety risk, tattoos aren't a big deal in the industry. And you'll hardly find discrimination for them. Most people I've worked with in hotels and restaurants have tattoos, so I wouldn't really worry about.

Good luck on culinary arts, I hope you have fun!

[prism]

Unless you ask, patrons don't see the chef in the kitchen. I don't see why it would be a problem while you're working. Maybe just wear long sleeved shirts during important interviews.

[PurpleCrab]

As much as it insults me, in the kitchen I work in as a cook, it's forbidden to have visible tattoos. It's the hygiene part of the rules, right under taking your shower everyday. I had a pass on that one because I started working in that kitchen before I had my hand and arms tattooed.
I see resumés come in and the person interviewing writes down things like; has a car, has no tattoo... it's forbidden to discriminate on this but they do it anyway.

[BlueShark]

I think it really depends on the employer, but here on the west coast where I live, tattoos in the kitchen seem pretty acceptable. I work in a restaurant kitchen as a cook, and most of the cooks have tattoos. Even the head cook has tattoos all over both his arms. They did say in the interview I had to get the job, 'No! Tattoos!' But almost everyone at my job has them, so I think employers are pretty lenient if you are good at your job, and try to look nice.

I think the rule mostly applies for waitresses/hosts because they deal with - and are seen regularly by the public. Employers seem to go a little easier on the cooks.

If you already have them, I'm sure you'll be fine. Just find a place that's cool about it. Most are I think, when it comes to cooks! Just like Prism said, maybe cover them up during interview time, if you're worried about it, and tell them how professional and good at your job you are

[BudderMC]

Food Tattoos : Pictures : Recipes and Cooking : Food Network

And yeah, like someone said, I'm pretty sure the only reason jewellery would be frowned upon is because it's actually a health/safety risk. In a customer-based industry, you can't ever risk that.

[Lexington]

I'm trying to remember the last time I talked to a chef WITHOUT a noticable arm tattoo.

Lex

[Pinstripe]

I have several tattoos, and my general rule for any job is to cover them for an interview, and then find out their tattoo policy once they've offered me a job. In an interview, you want to present the most polished version of yourself possible, and the truth is most people don't see tattoos as professional.