by Sairica Rose
WHAT’S HAPPENING
- Ink on the skin can blot candidates’ job prospects — so claims Barcelona’s Planas Clinic, which has seen an 81% rise in demand for laser tattoo removal since 2008 (LaVanguardia.com, 27 December 2011).
- As job competition increases in Spain, these former fashion statements are becoming a pain.
- Rafael Serena, head of Planas’s laser unit, warns that tattoo removal is more expensive, time-consuming and painful than being tattooed. Prices range from €200 to €1,500.
- Work is the main motivation: Men wishing to join the police or fire services get their ink removed, as neither employ tattooed candidates; women working with the public often want tattoos removed from visible areas like the neck or ankle.
- Youngsters setting out on executive careers also don’t always feel comfortable wearing a suit and tie over their tattoos, says Gabriel Buendía, head of Barcelona’s Teknon Centre, which has also experienced a rise in demand
WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS
- Spain has long been tolerant of piercings, dreadlocks, tattoos and other fashion statements. As the job market constricts, taming the image and toeing the line can give candidates a competitive edge.
RESOURCES
