Hi, with my family in bed i've snook on the site lol. Just wondering for those of you who have jobs and have scars you keep under cover at work, do you feel you need to cover up scars etc when you are outside working hours? As examples in case it affects your standing at work or influential people's opinion of you or feel it reflects badly on the company/organisation in some way etc. I have a few interviews coming up, one for a rather straight-laced, well respected organisation. I was wondering how other people felt about how far they themselves represent their employer and have a duty to act in a suitable way outside work as well. That's maybe actually two points but they are kind of related :)
Anyway, thanks
My scars aren't really noticeable enough to count in this respect.
However I do periodically worry in this respect about the mental health stuff, when I'm going through a tough episode. That work will find out what I have been like outside of work, and take action.
I cover up my scars at work, outside work - in my private life i tend not to cover up. But i'm not really self-conscious of my scars too much and the only reason i cover up at work is cos i work in a shop and don't wanna spend my whole shift explaining them away to customers.
*shrugs* it's up to you i guess.
"Has anyone seen my contact lens? It may be stuckto a tree or a rock or something. Oh boy, I am so grounded" Family Guy
if everyone cared and nobody cried, if everyone loved and nobody lied, if everyone shared and swallowed their pride, we'd see the day that nobody died
I work for a company doing classified research work for the military (they cant tell me what the things I am working with will be used for), so i don't think it would go over well if they see my scars. Granted I haven't SI'd for almost 3 years, so if they do find out, i hope it wouldn't be enough to prevent me from continuing to work there.
Outside of work I don't show my scars that can't be explained away as accidental, only my wife sees the rest of my scars.
Good luck with your interviews!
-brian
'in the quiet heart is hidden, sorrow that the eye can't see'
Ive shown one girl at work my arm. she was really understanding. Its really hot at work and i have 3/4 legth sleeves rolled. Many times they roll up higher to my elbow and over the past 6 months ive allowed more and more to be seen. Im not sure who knows or who has seen what but so far no one has said anything at all and they all treat me the same regardless.
~Phoenix~ is my Little Sister of Awesomeness and Self-Delusion :P Bitter Angel is my Mitten Animad is my Top Trump All Im Living For - Is my beautiful and special daughter who isnt called Kim but will moan if i dont add her :P
I work in a day nursery and I always worry that I will bump into a parent outside of work when I'm not covered up.
I do think that my scars would reflect badly on my job in general because I'm responsible for a lot of peoples children. However, my private life is my private life. I guess it would be just the same if someone were to see another member of staff stumble out of a club at 2am. That would reflect just as badly I think, but no one thinks twice about knocking back the vodkas at the weekend, kwim?
It might be less of an issue for me because I am actually one of three at my work who has self harmed and has visible scars. It's my past and there is nothing I can do about it now. I am stuck with these scars and I'm not going to spend my life hiding 'just in case' someone frowns on me for it.
I think the point to remember is that if you are suitable for the role and work well during work hours, what you do/wear/look like in your personal life is nothing to do with anyone else.
My scars are very visable and very ugly, and it is obvious what they are. I keep them covered at all times - I don't own any short-sleeved clothes. I am lucky enough that there is a long-sleeved option I can wear for work. I would quit my job rather than have my scars on display.
Thanks for answering :) I worked in a school for 9 months and didn't actually go out and get drunk because I wouldn't have felt comfortable if any of the students saw me but I take the point that some people do and think nothing of it. It's interesting reading how other people feel about this.
Personally I think for interviews it would be advisable to cover up bad scarring. I'm not saying it is right/wrong thing to do, just simply looking smart is always a step in the right direction! You want them to focus on YOU not your scars afterall....
I always cover up at work because I feel it is appropriate and I'm not at the point where I feel confident or strong enough to discuss anything personal with my colleagues. I very much keep my private and professional life seperate and prefer it that way.
But, as I said above, how I act/dress outside work is totally my perogative. I don't think i'd ever do anything that bad for this to be an issue though! If I am meeting someone from work outside work I will return back to the similar dress code as for work but my job does not involve charming clients or bosses etc so this doesn't happen all that often thankfully!
At a job interview I'd cover up, but that's just in case of discrimination.
I think it's a matter of strength to me that I feel like my scars don't make any difference to what I'm wearing or doing, but that's a very personal thing. My choice is that I try to pretend they don't exist as much as possible and wear whatever I'd wear whether they have them or not... on the other hand I am very lucky in that they are not really really glaring if it's not cold weather or the like. I think try and come up with your own perspective on it (I don't know whether you're asking, but that's my opinion anyway). :) x
I cover up until I feel comfortable in my place of employment. I work with teens and pre-teens and of course there are those that are going through the same thing so, they may notice. Until I establish myself as an authority I cover up. But as time goes on I don't worry about it.
However, there are scars on my legs that I am very self conscious about. They are the worst of the scars. I feel too vulnerable to show them except at home. The rest of them are obvious to the trained eye but not to the general population so I don't worry. But honestly in my job bathing suits are not work attire so its not a problem
listen and learn
the universe speaks
as we crawl and crave
as we love and weep
there is no fate
there is only what we make
I work in a bar/restuarant and one of the chefs has scars which are far worse than mine but I think Im lucky enough to work in a place which is so close knit that no one is really bothered. Our chef is comfortable enough to walk around in short sleeve tops despite her scars which i think is really great. I think its just a personal choice. I havent covered mine for years because its my personal belief that they are part of me and people should accept that. I know its hard when they dont and ive had alot of snide comments from supposed friends and boyfriends but if they want to be that ignorant then fair be it.
I guess the point im trying to make is that its a personal choice. I always wear longer sleeved shirts for interviews but then if you decide to wear short ones and the manager has an issue, its up to him/her to quietly discuss that with you :)
I don't cover up in my private or work life. No-one's ever asked about my scars at work but I don't think I'd mind if they asked sensitively. I've not told anyone I suffer from depression either, although I'm sure they've guessed.
As far as I'm concerned, they're just a sign of my illness. If someone had chicken pox scars you wouldn't expect them to be ashamed and cover them up. That said, I wouldn't want anyone to see recent marks because it's a little too obvious and real.
i dont cover up in work anymore, although my scars aren't that noticeable so covering up is more a habit and to make me feel better than anything else.
socially, it depends who im with. if its family i keep covered, if its not i dont. i dont worry about work as they know ih ave a history of depression and as a lot of people i work with have had problems of one kind or another everyone is fine with it. if they ever asked, id be honest about it. anyway they've seen much worse in the people we work with so i dont think theyd be freaked out by it.
for delicate were the moths and badly wanted
here in a world by mammoth figures haunted!
I don't cover scars up outside of work but for interviews and the first few weeks / months in a new job then I cover up.
Like it or not people make judgements (with sh they'll probably be negative!) & that could affect your chances. I can't be bothered to wear make up 99% of the time but I'll wear it for an interview - covering scars is the same thing for me. I'm not gonna risk my sh preventing me getting a job I'm perfectly capable of doing.
Once I'm in the job I wait until I've got to know people, feel comfortable with what kind of people they are, and more importantly i wait until I feel they've got to know me and judged me initially on my personality and work performance. Then i'm ok with uncovering my arms. Each job where I've done this, no one has ever mentioned them and nothing has changed at all.
People can't help making judgements so I prefer holding off in the hope that someone that may initially think 'oh god she used to sh, what a mess up / scary / unstable / attention seeking person, i don't know how to handle this, etc.' instead thinks 'oh, but she's so normal - opinion changed, move on' - that kind of idea anyway.
I will point out that I'm talking about old scars here, so i hide behind the idea they will assume 'it was all in the past, when i was younger, and had 'issues' and its all ok now' etc. Any new slip ups are hidden until completely healed/faded!
I'm an executive in the hospitality field. I wear a suit all the time, but even if I did not I would never reveal my scars at work. I have a few on my face but I don't get many questions about them. An easy lie dismisses most questions. As far as the corporate world goes I am a normal well adjusted person. And nobody at work will ever know. But also consider this. I have no pictures or anything personal on my desk. Nobody at work knows my wife's name, where I live, or what I do when not here. I keep everything very personal and very private. So my cutting I protect with a body guard that would scare MI-6
B
I cover up pretty much all the time. Saying that my scars are still in the red and raised phase so they're pretty noticeable. The only times i have uncovered my arm is twice in therapy, once in my friends car but i told her not to look, whist away visiting someone from here (but only in her house) and on holiday when we were on the beach but the worst ones were still covered. I do leave them uncovered at home though if no one except my husband is home.
I'd just rather not have the questions from friends and with work i work in a pretty professional office and teach 14-16 year olds so dont really want questions.
Saying that though my scars are pretty easily covered as they're not on my lower arms.
'in the quiet heart is hidden, sorrow that the eye can't see'
