A heavily tattooed woman recently took to social media to vent her frustration after being denied a retail job at TJ Maxx. Rather than receiving sympathy, she was met with a wave of online criticism, with many suggesting that her extensive facial tattoos and piercings were likely the reason she was deemed “unemployable.”
Ash Putnam, known online as ashxobrien, shared her experience on TikTok, where her video quickly went viral, accumulating over seven million views. In the clip, the 24-year-old expressed her disappointment, explaining that she had applied for a position at TJ Maxx but was rejected without so much as a phone call. Instead, she received an automated rejection email.
“I applied to TJ Maxx a few weeks ago, and they denied my application,” she said. “They couldn’t even call me. They just sent me some automated email.” Seeking answers, she decided to visit the store in person and speak directly with the hiring manager. “I went in today and asked, ‘What was the reason I didn’t get hired?’” she recounted. According to Putnam, the manager told her it was due to her lack of experience and that other candidates were simply more qualified. However, she suspected her facial tattoos played a role in the decision.
“I asked her if it was because of my tattoos,” Putnam continued. “Obviously, a lot of places don’t like tattoos. She said that wasn’t the reason, but I don’t feel like that’s true. I’ll leave it at that.” Frustrated by the hiring process, she questioned how young adults without prior experience are expected to secure employment if businesses only prioritize experienced candidates. “How are they supposed to get a job if these places are only hiring people based on experience? It just doesn’t make sense to me.”
@dailymail A heavily-tattooed TikToker is lamenting how hard it is to find a job these days. After being rejected from TJ Maxx, Ash Putnam went to the store and asked if she was turned down because of her appearance, but the employee told her it was due to lack of experience. Do you think her tattoos affected their decision? 🤔 #tjmaxx #jobmarket #jobhunt #tattoos #facetattoo #piercings ♬ this place feels familiar – pxlse. & ascxnd
Before wrapping up her video, she invited her followers to share their own experiences with job hunting, particularly if they had faced similar challenges. “I want to see if I’m the only person experiencing this right now,” she said. “I hate that my tattoos have been such a defining factor for me getting a job or not. Just because I have tattoos doesn’t mean I won’t be a good worker.”
Putnam’s story quickly ignited a debate in the comments section, with many users weighing in on her appearance and its potential impact on her employability. Some responses were blunt, with one person joking, “Maybe it’s the demon spider?” referencing a large tattoo that stretches from her neck to her lower cheeks. Another user quipped, “You can be a bartender, tattoo artist, an extra in a prison movie, or bassist for Motley Crue,” while another simply stated, “Unemployable.”
Others argued that it wasn’t necessarily the tattoos themselves but rather their placement that could be the problem. “There’s a reason tattoo artists refer to face tattoos as career enders,” one user noted. Another commenter echoed the sentiment, saying, “I don’t think it’s because you have tattoos—I think it’s WHERE you have tattoos.” A third commenter, who also has tattoos but avoids facial ink, pointed out, “I have tattoos everywhere but my face, and I can get a job anywhere.”
Some professionals also chimed in with their perspectives. “HR supervisor here. There is no way any company would put you in front of customers like TJ Maxx,” one person wrote. Another individual, who claimed to be a former hiring manager at TJ Maxx, confirmed these suspicions: “I used to be a hiring manager for TJ Maxx, and I will tell you—it’s the facial piercings and tattoos.”
While workplace norms regarding tattoos have evolved over the past decade, extensive body art—particularly on the face—can still present challenges in customer-facing roles. If her tattoos were indeed the reason for her rejection, Putnam believes companies need to reassess their hiring criteria. “If they think tattoos determine job skill and qualifications, they really need to rethink,” she told the Daily Star. “Tattoos, piercings, and colored hair are not unprofessional. It shows creativity and uniqueness. People need to get over not liking tattoos.”
The debate surrounding Putnam’s experience raises an interesting question: should visible tattoos and piercings affect someone’s employability? While some argue that personal expression should not impact job prospects, others maintain that businesses have the right to enforce appearance standards, especially in customer service roles. If you were in charge of hiring, would you consider someone with extensive facial tattoos and piercings? Share your thoughts and join the conversation on whether businesses should modernize their hiring practices to accommodate evolving societal norms.
