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Julie Steelman

11/09/20 at 4:42PM UTC

Women In Tech

Will a nose ring hold me back?

I'm 10+ years into my career in tech and working hard to progress every few years into a new more challenging role. I've always wanted a nose ring, but years ago my mentor advised against it because it will look unprofessional and hold me back from future promotions. Is this an outdated policy or do you agree a nose ring isn't great for leaders in the corporate world?

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Anonymous

11/10/20 at 2:01PM UTC

So as someone who HAS a nose ring...here is what I have done....In an interview, I take it out, and if I do get the job, on the first few days I leave it out as well and feel out the company. Usually a few days later, I put it back in... I don't have the luxury of passing on job offers, just because I want to wear a nose ring and the management is more conservative. Especially in this time, I have to consider what is more important...my ability to provide for my family or to express my individual style for 8 hours a day. Right now...Money talks

Meredith Swain

122

Talent Strategy & Pipeline Development Leader

11/10/20 at 1:55PM UTC

Julie - I think the comments from others are helpful, but I'd also encourage you to think about whether you want to work for a company that would consider a nose ring unprofessional. As someone else said nose rings can come in all shapes and forms and your company (present or future) should trust that you'd present yourself (including your style of nose ring) appropriately in any given situation.

Anonymous

11/09/20 at 10:57PM UTC

Agree with what everyone above is saying. Also, depending on the type of nose ring you get, they can be pretty small and you can hide them relatively easily at work if needed. Not that you should have to hide it, but in case you deal with someone more conservative in the company, it could make it easier. I don't have a nose ring, but I do have blue highlights in my hair. They peak out from the base of my hair when I have it down, but are really visible if I have it up in a ponytail. I work in a pretty conservative company, so I make sure that I have my hair down when I first meet people. Some people catch it, most don't, and based on how they act I decide if I continue to wear my hair down or not around them. I absolutely love my blue highlights, so taking the time to read people and wear my hair certain ways at work is totally worth it to me. If you want it badly enough I say go for it get the nose ring, especially right now when everyone is remote (for the most part). Just make sure that you also learn how to make it less noticable, in case you need to at work. If you want it enough, it will be worth it to you to figure out how to do that. If you think that is too much effort, then you probably should get a belly button ring instead ;)

Victoria Zona

11/09/20 at 10:12PM UTC

Sadly it depends on company you are going to work in high tech for or at times even the person you are interviewing with. Unfortunately best policy to follow is dress for the job you want not the job you have etc.

Liz G-O

Head of Global Employer Brand & Marketing

11/09/20 at 8:23PM UTC

Hi Julie! We hire for tech in NYC, and a nose ring wouldn't be an issue at all :-) Coincidentally, the last person I hired into a leadership role had one. If the company has an issue with self-expression, it may not be the company for you. Best of luck!

Julie Steelman

11/09/20 at 9:25PM UTC

Thanks, Liz!

Kristin Jacobsen

11/09/20 at 7:07PM UTC

Likely a company would not have a formal policy against such things unless they are considered a danger (like wearing certain jewelry while using power tools or on a manufacturing line). But every company has a culture and a more conservative company or department may see nose rings (or tattoos) as unprofessional. We're hearing these days that women of color might be considered unprofessional if they wear their hair in certain ways, even though we know that's wrong. I recommend you look around you, look online at pictures of those in the roles you aspire to. It's human nature, you will probably do better if you emulate those in higher-level positions. Then, you decide if you want to try to change the culture or roll with it.

Julie Steelman

11/09/20 at 9:25PM UTC

Great tip. Thanks, Kristin!

Elizabeth Stiles West

1.78k

English teacher, debate coach, and exam proctor

11/09/20 at 7PM UTC

While it shouldn't hold you back and you should have every right to wear a nose ring if you want to, you might want to research the dress code at the companies you would consider working for. I think that there are still some people who are intolerant of unconventional appearance, including tattoos, piercings, and hair colors that do not occur in nature. I wouldn't expect that to be prevalent in the tech industry, but we are at a strange crossroads in history, so you should probably "look before you leap." Of course you could go to the job interview without the nose ring and begin wearing it once employed if it isn't against the dress code.

Julie Steelman

11/09/20 at 7:05PM UTC

Good compromise to slowly feel out if the company is accepting of out-of-the-box attire and piercings. Thanks!

Sarah Allen-Short

11/09/20 at 5:07PM UTC

What part of the country do you live in? Unless you live in a particularly conservative area, I think tech is a field where a nose ring wouldn't make a difference, especially if you have 10 years of experience. I hire in tech and have been for 15 years and wouldn't think twice about promoting someone with a nose ring up through managament if they were capable.