Mobile Tattoo Removal Clinic Sees more Losing Ink for Job Search
By: Kristin Anderson
Updated: July 1, 2012
"Okay, here we go," said tattoo removal specialist Mike Whitehurst.
It's tattoo removal on wheels. And now, it's become popular in Abilene as more people are getting their ink removed.
"Nowadays you've got J-Lo, everybody else and their dog is getting visible tattoos and it's just becoming more prevalent that everybody wants a tattoo. They want to be an individual and think it's cool," said Whitehurst.
But as they grow older, those who get inked realize it may not be what they wanted, or want for their kids.
"The kids get tattoos from 18, or should be from 18 until their old," Whitehurst said. "But they're realizing that they outgrow them, they don't want their children or their grandchildren to have them."
As finding a job gets harder and harder, more people from Abilene are showing up to this mobile clinic to get their tattoos removed to help them find a job.
"Right now with the economy like it is we're having a lot more people coming in because a lot of employees and the military are using tattoos as a way to weed people out," Whitehurst explained.
And with so many fighting for the same job, Whitehurst said many are telling him that they can't compete because of their tattoos.
"There are so many applicants now a days with so many jobs, they use just about anything that they can to weed them out and get the best applicant," he said.
Whitehurst said people get their tattoos removed mainly because those hiring don't think it reflects well on the applicants.
"If I want someone representing my company, i want them to look sharp, neat and know what they're doing," said Whitehurst. "And with tattoos all over you just seem like you don't really care about your body. What most employees say, 'If you don't take care of your body, how are you going to take care of my business.'"
The mobile tattoo removal bus comes to Abilene once a month, and will be back at the end of August at the Boys and Girls Club.
It's tattoo removal on wheels. And now, it's become popular in Abilene as more people are getting their ink removed.
"Nowadays you've got J-Lo, everybody else and their dog is getting visible tattoos and it's just becoming more prevalent that everybody wants a tattoo. They want to be an individual and think it's cool," said Whitehurst.
But as they grow older, those who get inked realize it may not be what they wanted, or want for their kids.
"The kids get tattoos from 18, or should be from 18 until their old," Whitehurst said. "But they're realizing that they outgrow them, they don't want their children or their grandchildren to have them."
As finding a job gets harder and harder, more people from Abilene are showing up to this mobile clinic to get their tattoos removed to help them find a job.
"Right now with the economy like it is we're having a lot more people coming in because a lot of employees and the military are using tattoos as a way to weed people out," Whitehurst explained.
And with so many fighting for the same job, Whitehurst said many are telling him that they can't compete because of their tattoos.
"There are so many applicants now a days with so many jobs, they use just about anything that they can to weed them out and get the best applicant," he said.
Whitehurst said people get their tattoos removed mainly because those hiring don't think it reflects well on the applicants.
"If I want someone representing my company, i want them to look sharp, neat and know what they're doing," said Whitehurst. "And with tattoos all over you just seem like you don't really care about your body. What most employees say, 'If you don't take care of your body, how are you going to take care of my business.'"
The mobile tattoo removal bus comes to Abilene once a month, and will be back at the end of August at the Boys and Girls Club.
