You are excited about your upcoming job interview and want to leave the very best impression. You have the pressed suit and killer optimism. Trouble is, you have a very colorful tattoo on your lower leg, visible below the skirt of your suit. Considering that this is your first real job interview, you've never really given much thought as to what impression the tattoo leaves with employers. Do you cover up the tattoo for the job interview or just take your chances?

"It amazes me that people adorned with body art and piercings don't thoroughly consider how their career can be affected", quotes a manager from a Vault.com survey of 500 employees and managers asking how people with body art are perceived in the workplace.

Although many argue that the tides have changed at the workplace and that the tattoo is now a welcome component, 42.1% of managers interviewed by the Vault.com survey found that their opinion of an employee was lowered when they learned about the tattoo. "Tattoos can be nice but it depends where they are and if they are visible during work time", says one manager.

The Vault.com study found that 66.9% of adults conceal piercings and tattoos at work. With results like the following from the January 2008 Harris Interactive poll which asked 2,302 adults their thoughts on tattoos, who can blame you for covering?The study found:

* 32% of those without tattoos believe an individual with a tattoo is more likely to do something deviant.

* Over half of those without a tattoo believe that someone with a tattoo is more rebellious.

Unless the CEO of the company is sporting a tattoo, it is highly recommended that you conceal your tattoos; at least long enough to get a grip on the workplace culture. Considering that you probably know nothing about the workplace culture prior to your interview, it is recommended that you error on the side of conservative.

There are many options to conceal your tattoo at the workplace. You could always wear longer clothing or strategically placed wrist watches and bracelets. There are also cover up products on the market that will effectively conceal your tattoo such as Tattoo Camo ( tattoocamo.com).

Rest assured that as you mature in your career, the generation behind you may be more inked than you. The day will come when your tattoo can also enter the work force.