Tattooed woman 'told to put bag over head by Jobcentre'

telegraph.co.uk ^ | Sept. 23, 2010

[Free ThinkerNY]

A woman with 30 tattoos claims she was told to "put a bag over her head" when she went for a job interview.

Hayley O'Neil, 23, - who also has 20 body piercings - says was also advised to "stand behind a wall" when she asked a job centre official what post she could apply for.

She eventually left the Job centre plus centre in Blackburn Lancs in tear without any interviewers lined up after the advisor concluded: "Who would hire you looking like that?"

Miss O'Neil, who got her first tattoo from her mother as an 18th birthday present said: ''I just felt so humiliated. I couldn't believe what this guy was saying.

''I said I could take the the piercings out but they look a lot worse when they are out."

"The guy said: 'on first impressions do you think anyone would hire you?' He said: ' look at it this way if you were to stand behind a wall - or put a paper bag over your face do you think you would have a better chance?'

[absolootezer0]

nope. they just need to be smart about it.
i made the choice to get both, but kept my gauges small enough that they aren’t disgusting when i take them out, and all my tats are easily covered by normal work clothes.

i have every intention of getting plenty more tattoos, but that is one rule i keep for myself- they have to be easily coverable.

[Hat-Trick]

OK - I’ve never heard of a “three” bagger. I’ve got the first two, so could you kindly confirm for me if the third bag is a barf bag?

[Little Ray]

Maybe she could work as a clerk at the record store or a video rental store?

[NonValueAdded]

Misleading headline alert!

From the story: "The guy said: 'on first impressions do you think anyone would hire you?' He said: ' look at it this way if you were to stand behind a wall - or put a paper bag over your face do you think you would have a better chance?'"

The guy was NOT instructing her to appear with a bag over her head but rather using a hypothetical illustration to show how the poor choices she made destroyed any chance she had at getting a job.

Personally I'd recommend two bags in case the first one broke.

[FormerACLUmember]

Exactly! The third bag is the emesis depository.

[Responsibility2nd]

Ping to the tattoo and trailer trash crowd.

[papertyger]

You’re kidding yourself!

Everyone can easily see all those holes in your screen name ;o)

[Vor Lady]

The surface skin heals somewhat, but the holes are still there and leave marks. Just look at actors ears to see what that looks like.

[GOPsterinMA]

Ah yes, Nicole Eggert...YUMMY! Never watched an episode of Full House though, although the twin girls, who are apparently Gagillionaires, are still fugly.

Not guilty on the Swaziland pic! Do they have cell phones in Swaziland...?

[BillyA]

Let this be a lesson to all those who think making their body into a “work of art”.

Those of us who do the hiring think you’re an unsightly mess.

At best.

[a fool in paradise]

[Slings and Arrows]

I could see that happening to Biden.

[5thGenTexan]

What happens when he has a cold or allergies?

[qman]

I have never found work at a government employment agency, I go looking on my own, her first mistake was the facial piercings, her second was her choice of whom she sought help from. Both problems are rectifiable with even the smallist of deductions. Pull out the peircing, were long sleeves and look for a job on your own, or start your own piercing and tattoo shop.

[RingerSIX]

[Terabitten]

I always wonder what that guy is going to look like when he’s 75.

[Julia H.]

Good grief. It's ink and jewelry. It's not unsanitary, it's not hurting anybody, and just because you don't find that look attractive doesn't mean it's wrong for somebody else to do something harmless to his or her own body. So far, nobody has answered the age-old question of why putting a hole in your face is disgusting and dirty, while putting an identical hole in your earlobe is sweet and charming. Piercings and tattoos now mean something entirely different than they did 20-30 years ago. They're hardly "rebellious" or "countercultural" anymore. They're well into the mainstream now. ...THAT SAID, as stupid, irrational and unfairly judgmental as I think it is to disregard a person's abilities because he or she has piercings and tattoos, the fact remains that a lot of people are still repulsed by them. It's your choice whether you want to put yourself up to be judged negatively when other people's opinions actually do count, as in when you're trying to get them to hire you. If you decide to do something permanent and deny the possible social consequences, you're going to be leaving a lot of places in tears until you learn how the world works.

[peeps36]

The truth hurts sometimes. She should have thought about her job prospects before she stuck earrings in her face. The person at the job center was only giving her an honest assessment from an employers point of view.

[Impy]

My cousin has piercings and tats. He got a job, in the music industry.

[skya7]

Have to say guys, I got a real shock reading how you all from the US behave towards anyone different. I came across this site whilst looking at the news from UK and wow! Have I been surprised. I guess none of you have ever had the necessity of attending a UK Job centre...just pray God you never do. One is treated as an animal, no matter how well educated, or indeed well mannered. The staff in the UK public sector no longer feel they owe something as ‘small’ as respect to their public. I think you all missed the REAL POINT, which is very sad. I am sorry to say,it also makes you guys appear very shallow.
Can you imagine if people made the same comments about those who are overweight? In the US? Some people view that as hideously ugly too, but then no one here would be impolite or personal enough to make the nasty type of comments I have seen here...very, very sad. Shame on you guys, and a very poor advert for ‘open-hearted Americans’ I am wondering now who coined that phrase :(