Instead they reckon workplaces need to get with the times and accept they are perfectly normal and a fact of life in 2016.
An estimated third of young people have tattoos but former Apprentice star Margaret Mountford caused controversy this week when she said body art stops people getting jobs.
The lawyer claimed it was a “real problem” and there were “vast swathes of the workplace where it is not appropriate to be greeted by a young person with a tattoo”.
We headed down to the 12th International Tattoo Convention in London to get people’s thoughts – and discover whether the inkings have ever held them back.
Betty Miles, 29, from Canterbury, Kent, works in management and reckons it depends on the individual culture of the workplace.
She says: “When I was interviewed for my current job, I turned up in a 50s pin-up style dress with all my tattoos on show – and I got the job.
“I get the odd comment but it’s not to do with being unprofessional, more about what they will look like when I’m older.
“People can express themselves with hair and make-up in the workplace, so why not tattoos? As long as it’s not offensive, I don’t see the problem – and mine have never held me back.”
Emma Kelly, 43 – a police officer from Birmingham – has a trailing biometric design down her spine and other tattoos around her midriff.
She explains there are strict rules on tattoos in the force, but mainly for protection.
“You are not allowed to have tattoos on your hands, neck or face,” she says.
“But they have started to allow them as long as they are nonreligious, not related to football and not racist or insulting.
For example a British bulldog tattoo wouldn’t be acceptable these days. “Anything below the elbow must be covered with a shirt but it’s for the officer’s own protection.
If someone recognises a distinctive tattoo, it could make you a target.”
Emma thinks attitudes to ink in the force have dramatically changed since she joined 19 years ago.
She says: “Then it just used to be ex-servicemen with military tattoos but now people in the force have some really beautiful pieces done.
"The police service has really evolved when it comes to tattoos.
“The only time I’ve had anything negative is from older men who have said stuff like, ‘You’re so pretty until you turn around.’ But I don’t really care what they think.”
Bristol girl Nicki Silvanus, 25, has just quit her job to start her own fashion line called House of Junk.
Previously she worked in the marketing department of a luxury London fl at company. She says: “Tattoos are certainly not unhygienic or dirty.
“My dad used to be a policeman and he thinks that but only because the tattoos he used to see were on criminals! “Nowadays it’s so different – things have changed so much over the past 30 years.
“When I was in my last job, sometimes I might be asked to wear a slightly longer skirt to cover my thigh tattoo but it wasn’t a big issue and no-one had a real problem with it.”
Emery Ruth, 31, is a massage therapist and she believes the best way to deal with prejudices about tattoos is to change them.
“I was told no-one would take me seriously with ink,” she says. “But I proved them wrong.
“I started work in a spa and people were visibly shocked when they saw my tattoos. My main clients were housewives aged 45 to 60 who couldn’t believe my tattoos.
“But once they had a session with me, they said they didn’t care about them because my work was so good.
“And once I got to know them, many told me I’d changed their opinions of people with tattoos.
“It shouldn’t matter what you look like, people should judge you on the quality of your work.”
Salvatore Iacomo, 31, is an Italian music director who lives in London. He thinks your line of work should influence your choice of tattoo.
“You wouldn’t hire an obese personal trainer and you wouldn’t want to see a bank manager with a huge tattoo on their face,” he says.
“It depends on the job you do as to what is acceptable. “I work in music and no one has a problem with tattoos there.
“People who have a problem with tattoos in general need to realise that it’s down to fashion and how style changes over time.”
Accountant Becky Motley, 28, is a mum of two from Luton. She feels she gets more negative reaction from when she is with her kids than in the workplace.
“People can be judgmental,” she says. “I get comments or funny looks but mainly when I’m with my children.
“I don’t judge people on their hair colour or clothes, so I don’t see why people feel the need to judge me on my choice of body decoration.”
Nicola Wyatt, 29, from London, works in marketing, but also has a tattoo shop.
She says: “Tattoos are acceptable now thanks to all the celebs and high-profile people who have them.
“But you couldn’t really have a normal office job if you were covered in tattoos – and you probably wouldn’t want one.
"I wanted to be different and I got tattoos on my hands and legs, knowing that would limit me in terms of what job I could do.
“But I think tattoos show you are a creative person so in some industries, they can be an advantage if that’s a quality that’s valued.”
Many people actually make a living out of their tattoos, including model Lauren Rock, 24, from Cardiff.
She says: “It pays and I enjoy it – so why not?”
The 12th International London Tattoo Convention continues all weekend, visit the london tattooconvention.com
