In the U.S., where one in five adults now has a tattoo and nearly two in five adults in their 30s have ink somewhere on their bodies, the stigma attached to tattoos has begun to fade in recent years. Yet, despite society’s growing acceptance of tattoos — and, to a lesser degree, piercings — several HVAC contractors still consider them to be deal breakers when interviewing potential employees.
“The better contractors out there are looking to hire people who are clean-cut,” said Steve Coscia, president, Coscia Communications Inc. “If you go for a job interview with nose and ear piercings and visible tattoos, and you want a job with a first-rate contractor, you may not get that job as easily as someone who does not have the piercings and visible tattoos.”