Why Was She Denied the Job?
Have you ever been rejected from a job and wondered why? Was it your lack of skills or something else? Ash Putnam, a 23-year-old woman covered in tattoos, recently experienced this frustration when she was denied a job at TJ Maxx. She shared her story on TikTok, and the video quickly went viral, accumulating more than seven million views and tens of thousands of comments.
Putnam explained in her viral TikTok video that she had applied for a job at TJ Maxx and received an automated email denying her application a few weeks later. Dissatisfied with the response, she visited the store and confronted the employees to find out the reason behind her rejection. She was told that she lacked experience compared to other candidates. When she asked if her tattoos were a factor, she was told it wasn’t the reason, although she doubted it.
Are Tattoos a Barrier to Employment?
Putnam voiced her frustration, stating that having tattoos doesn’t determine someone’s work ethic or abilities. She believes that tattoos should not be a barrier to employment, as some of the most intelligent and talented individuals she knows have tattoos and piercings. While she never received a straight answer from TJ Maxx, the comments on TikTok seemed to agree that her tattoos played a role in her job denial.
People shared their experiences and opinions, with some suggesting that companies like TJ Maxx might hesitate to put someone with visible tattoos in customer-facing roles. Putnam herself acknowledges that she has received hateful comments online, with people suggesting she should work at a circus or Halloween stores due to her tattoos being considered “demonic” or “scary.”
Challenging Stereotypes and Embracing Uniqueness
Regardless of whether her tattoos were a factor in her job denial, Putnam believes that companies need to rethink their hiring process. She argues that tattoos, piercings, and colored hair should not be seen as unprofessional, but rather as expressions of creativity and uniqueness. In her view, it’s time for society to move past the stigma and biases towards tattoos.
What Do You Think?
So, do you believe tattoos should influence a person’s chances of getting a job? Should they be a factor in the hiring process? We want to hear your thoughts! Join the conversation on Facebook and share your opinion.
