Piercings in the Workplace

I'm going to start this blog with my disclaimer: I would be happy to take my piercings out if I worked at a company that did not allow them.

Now that I have covered that, I must say, I am near my wits end hearing about why people with piercings don't get hired. I've participated in two mock interviews in college and both of them marked me at a 2 out of 5 for professionalism ONLY because I have piercings. I'd be happy to mark them a 2 out of 5 for opinions that I care about.

For those of you who don't have piercings, therefore don't have the pleasure of listening to how we're ruining the world one diamond stud at a time, here's are a few statements I'd like to challenge:

1. "I encourage you not to wear your piercings in an interview because they can be very distracting."
   Well I would be happy to introduce you to the medical doctor who can prescribe you something for your ADD, but for now take a look at my resume and portfolio (that is, if you can managed to tear your eyes away from the pink 1mm gem in my nose)! If you are distracted by a gem next to my mouth then you have much bigger problems in life that being short-staffed.  I encourage you not to make up a BS excuse for why I shouldn't keep my piercings in and just acknowledge you have a personal distaste for it.
2. "We understand you're an individual, but we want to you to be a positive representative of our company."My bad. I've gotten so used to negatively representing myself through a temporary, minimalistic hole in my face that I can hardly wrap my head around the concept of presenting myself in a positive light. Remember when people used to say "don't judge a book by it's cover"? That only applies if you don't have piercings.
3. "Piercings are unprofessional."
   Poorly made web sites are unprofessional. Not knowing how to use social media to promote your 'modern' company is unprofessional. Spelling errors in publications are unprofessional. Not responding to job inquiries is unprofessional. I'll take your advice on what IS professional, when your company holds themselves to that standard.
4. "Piercings might be acceptable if you want to work in the music industry or design field. That's where the alternative look 'works'".
   Piercings might be acceptable everywhere if you got the image of a 1950's women out of your head and started focusing on my work instead of my face. If you asked me about my long-term career goals you would know that I want to work in the design sector of the music industry, so stop wasting my time with how I don't fit in with your company, when I never wanted to work for your company. Also, I'm not alternative. If it's not appropriate for me to call you average-looking, than I don't find it appropriate for you to label me either.

Well this is what I have to say about my piercings. I've held two jobs, and two internships throughout college and somehow managed to make it through each one without being held back by my piercings. I'm not making a statement with my piercings, or 'fighting the system' or doing anything other than putting a temporary piece of metal in my lip and nose.

Long story short. I'll take these piercings out when I feel like it. For example, I felt like taking my lip ring out last week and I did. But let's not forget to bring this full circle, with or with out my lip ring, I am still unemployed.