Tattoo, bling craze raises hiring issues.

• Position: Job Market

A decade ago, most job search authorities would have said showing off tattoos and body piercings is a surefire way to get your resume placed in the "No Way!" pile. However, times have changed. With some surveys indicating that more than one-third of young people now sport tattoos and other forms of body art, John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of the global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., Chicago, feels that companies will be forced to become more accepting.

"Some employers are already having trouble finding skilled workers--they are not going to let some body art get in the way of hiring the best qualified candidate. Plus, a growing number of employers recognize the benefits of diversity in all its forms and are embracing the unique attributes that make people stand out from the crowd;' notes Challenger.

At one time, the issue of tattoos and body piercings in the job interview or workplace would have been nonexistent unless the job was with a punk rock band. However, body art is going mainstream and growing in popularity, particularly among young people. One study by the Mayo Clinic found that 23% of university...