They come in all shapes and sizes. Bugs, birds, dragons, skulls and anything else imaginable can be found on people’s bodies. Whatever the design tattoos have become increasingly integrated into American society.

However, this increase in popularity of tattoos and body piercings can have negative effects in the job market, with the possibility of employers taking the placement of a tattoo into consideration when hiring for a job.

Arts and Sciences Career Coordinator Staci Heidtke said tattoos are a way for people to express their individuality. She said a person’s concern about whether an employer will care about their tattoos can depend on how much they want the job.

“It’s the student’s choice to keep a tattoo exposed,” Heidtke said.

Justin Webb, owner and tattoo artist at Midwest Tattoo said tattoos aren’t limited to a certain demographic.

“There really isn’t a specific age, race or gender boundary,” Webb said. “Tattooing definitely is something that a lot of people are starting to do . we’ve tattooed grandmas before.”

He said tattoos are becoming increasingly accepted around the country and tattoo trends are a rarity.

“Less often than more you’ll see a trend in tattoos,” he said. “If someone gets something done and another person gets the same thing, it doesn’t mean it’s a trend; it’s all in fun.”

Senior Adam Anderson has two tattoos, one on his shoulder and one on his upper arm. His upper arm tattoo is a memorial to his father, consisting of a cross with his dad’s birth year, the year he died and Anderson’s father’s initials in the center of the design. The other tattoo is a ninja star that was kind of a “spur of the moment thing, but everything was planned out,” he said.

Senior Sarah Lanners has a tattoo on the top of her right foot with a cross and treble clef intertwined. Lanners said her tattoo was also a spur of the moment decision.

“Me and one of my best friends were sitting in the cafeteria one day and she asked if I wanted to get a tattoo,” Lanners said. “I figured ‘why not?’ so I got it because I love Jesus and music and I know I’ll love both of them forever.”

Senior Gwen Rajski has a tattoo of a sunflower on her left ankle and another of the sun coming over clouds on her left wrist. She said she thought about getting them for a long time and decided they are something she will want to remember down the road.

“(The tattoos and what they stand for) are something I’ll still love in 50 years,” Rajski said. “I’ll definitely still have the same feelings I do now about them.”

Junior Jenni Olness has four tattoos. Three are visible depending on her choice of clothing. She said she plans on getting more. Her visible tattoos are a butterfly sisterhood symbol on the outside of one ankle, a lily with the Chinese symbol for faith on the inside of the other ankle and a sun just below her neck.

Olness said her tattoos are a reminder of things she has lived through.

“My tattoos are a symbol of significant times in my life,” she said. “They helped me get through things.”

Heidtke said some employers are still fairly traditional, others may be more progressive and not bothered by tattoos.

“The thing is that in a job interview, you don’t always know what the employer will allow,” she said. “That’s part of the problem with anything, in that you’re not exactly sure.”

Tattoos can be put into the same category as facial piercings, Heidtke said.

“(Tattoos and piercings) are absolutely fine,” she said. “Usually I say some employers would be turned off but if it’s that important, keep it exposed.”

Anderson said the possibility of his future employers taking his tattoos and piercings into consideration doesn’t bother him.

“At this point in my life, I feel that they’re acceptable and tolerated as long as they’re appropriate and can be appreciated for what they are,” he said. “I don’t think there’s the same stigma about them as there were in past generations.”

Anderson said he’s had a few jobs since he got his first tattoo and he hasn’t had any problems with their visibility. One of those jobs was at Super Target, where Anderson said they are very open to tattoos and piercings.

“I’ve got a really good friend that works there and he’s really into body modification with piercings and tattoos,” Anderson said. “He said they didn’t necessarily encourage it, but they like it to a point that it appeared to make the company look more diverse.”

Lanners currently doesn’t have a job, but because she’s both a theater and English education major, she finds ways to cover her tattoo up when she needs to with Band Aids.

“I have to find a way to cover my tattoo up when I’m on stage and when I go to schools,” she said. “If I ever want to pursue professional theater it could prove to be a problem.”

At his current job at Toppers Pizza, Anderson said he has encountered displeasure, but hasn’t had to deal with any punishments.

“The tattoos I have are pretty well covered depending on the length of my sleeves so you don’t notice,” Anderson said. “I also have my eyebrow pierced and my boss isn’t a huge fan of it because it doesn’t feel family friendly, but since it’s not a health issue he tolerates it.”

Rajski said at her jobs at Borders, Lane Bryant and the UW-Madison transportation service her tattoos have been really well received.

“As long as they are tasteful, they aren’t really a problem,” she said. “The placement of both of mine is visible but I really don’t see people staring at my feet and the one on my wrist can be hidden by my suit jacket.”

Lanners said she doesn’t feel that her tattoo is provocative and is considering getting another tattoo when she can afford it.

“My tattoo is pretty easy to cover up,” she said. “I might get the golden snitch from Harry Potter when I have the money . I’m currently accepting donations for it.”

Rajski doesn’t have a problem showing and explaining her tattoos to people and plans on getting more in the future.

“One of the things I think of is where can I put (the tattoo) where it won’t be very intrusive and I can hide it if I need to,” Rajski said. “I love showing them but there’s a time and a place for that, so I need the option of covering them up if I need to.”

Olness said she’s never had problems at jobs with her tattoos, but one of her professors made the class remove piercings before giving presentations.

“I’m a cosmetologist so they aren’t really strict about it,” she said. “They see it as more of a way of expressing individuality.”

If she was going into a more strict business area, Olness said she would worry about the visibility of her tattoos. But since she’s hoping to open her own salon, she said she isn’t worried about it.

“The division of business I want to go into is more liberal about that kind of stuff,” she said, adding that when she first got a tattoo, she cleared it with her employer.

“If I do decide to go into a more corporate level, it might impact my decision,” she said.

Anderson said he isn’t worried about his piercing or tattoos, but plans on making his future tattoos concealable.

“Basically my rule of thumb is nothing on my sleeves, neck, hands or feet,” he said. “If I could wear shorts and short sleeve T-shirts and they cover the tattoos, that’s a good thing.”