Jananas

As those of you close to me probably know by now, I’m in the middle of my post-MBA job search. I took some time off and Jason and I traveled – though the States, to the cottage, and all around Asia. I started looking shortly before we returned and have been searching and applying away since then.

I’m applying to financial analyst-type positions at various corporate head offices around downtown Toronto. Places where suits are common and proper dry cleaning/ironing technique is directly linked with perceived job performance. I’ve read a lot about applying for jobs, interview questions, interview apparel, etc. Don’t get me started on the directions for women – like wearing minimal, but tasteful makeup, a light scent, and a low to medium height heal (my teeth are grinding in irritation as I type). And the general overwhelming consensus is that piercings and tattoos are not acceptable.

Here’s the problem – I’m pierced and tattooed. I’ve had a lot of discussion with Jason, good friends, people I respect, colleagues, and even acquaintances about taking out vs. keeping in my facial jewelry (both nostrils and my medusa). My tattoos are all hidden by a suit, although not by short sleeves and so I’m not as concerned about them at this point in time. If I take them out (i.e. wear retainers), I feel like I’m deceiving my potential future employers because I already know that once I pass probation they’ll reappear. Plus, they are still somewhat visible. If I keep them in I run the risk of being judged based on people’s perceptions of what being a pierced / tattooed person is. And sadly, the current norms aren’t compatible with knowledge based, corporate HQ-type work.

This morning I had my first interview (which was scary in and of itself because it was also my first ‘real’ interview ever!). And I did something really scary – I left my facial jewelery in. Have no fear though, I did rock my suit (I play the game at little bit). I made the decision that I have to be ‘me’ in its truest sense, because that’s who they’d be hiring. The slightly offbeat, outside of the box, intelligent person. I have to wow them with my resume and my interview – I can show them that I can do the work. More important than the ability to do the work is the ability to fit well with the team – they can’t properly evaluate that if I’m not honest on my end. And I can’t properly evaluate how well I’d fit in if I’m misrepresenting myself from the get go. Plus, if they react negatively right from the beginning its a pretty good sign that it wouldn’t work out (consider it a pre-screening capability).

So yes, I did something scary. I left myself open to judgment. But you know what, if I’m successful I’ll help change the norms around how people perceive piercing and tattooing vs. an individual’s ability to perform well. And that’s a pretty cool thing.

What have you done recently to challenge yourself? Have you exposed yourself to anything scary or new or different?