Ash Putnam, who goes by the online handle ashxobrien, recently went on TikTok and complained that TJ Maxx rejected her for a job in retail.
“I applied to TJ Maxx a few weeks ago and they denied my application,” the 24-year-old started in the TikTok clip that was viewed more than 7 million times. “They couldn’t even call me. They just sent me some automated email.”
Looking for some clarity, Putnam – who has visible tattoos covering her face and body, along with numerous facial piercings – said she decided to confront the hiring manager.
“So, I went in today, and I was like, ‘What was the reason I didn’t get hired?’ And she was like, ‘Oh, you just don’t have enough experience. There [were] candidates with more experience than you,’” explains the young woman.
“I asked her if it was because of my tattoos. Obviously, a lot of places don’t like tattoos. She said that [it] wasn’t the reason. I don’t feel like that’s true, but whatever. I’ll leave it at that.”
‘Doesn’t make sense’
Hoping to get some insight from the online audience, Putnam asks in her video, “I’m just wondering how teenagers and young adults who haven’t had a job before are supposed to get employed.”
“How are they supposed to get a job if these places are only hiring people based on experience? It just doesn’t make any sense to me.”
Before ending her clip, she asked her followers to share their experiences and any obstacles they may have experienced when looking for work.
“I want to see if I’m the only person experiencing this right now. I hate that my tattoos have been such a defining factor for me getting a job or not,” Putnam added. “Just because I have tattoos doesn’t mean that I’m not going to be a good worker.”
‘Unemployable’
Her story struck a chord with many viewers, prompting an outpouring of comments from people offering their opinions.
“Maybe it’s the demon spider??” writes one user, referring to the prominent tattoo that spreads from her neck to her lower cheeks.
“[You] can be a bartender, tattoo artist, an extra in a prison movie, bassist for Motley Crue,” jokes a second TikToker, while a third simply writes: “Unemployable.”
Others suggested it’s the placement of Putnam’s tattoos and not the actual body art. “There’s a reason that tattoo artists refer to face tattoos as career enders,” writes one user.
A second says, “I don’t think it’s because you have tattoos…I think it’s WHERE you have tattoos.” And a third, pens, “I have tattoos everywhere but my face…but I can get a job anywhere. Be [for real].”
Offering some professional advice, one netizen writes, “HR supervisor here. There is no way any company would put you in front of customers like TJ Maxx.”
Next, a former hiring manager at TJ Maxx confirms the suspicions of facial art in the workplace: “I used to be a hiring manager for TJ Maxx and I will tell you it’s the facial piercings and tattoos.”
‘Shows creativity’
Over the past decade, tattoos have become far more accepted in the workplace. However, for individuals with extensive ink – like Putnam – the job hunt can still be an uphill battle, especially for customer-facing roles.
And if her body art is the reason she was denied a job at the retailer, Putnam told the Daily Star that companies need to rethink their hiring process.
“If they think tattoos determine job skill and qualifications they really need to rethink. Tattoos, piercings and colored hair are not unprofessional. It shows creativity and uniqueness…people need to get over not liking tattoos.”
