Anyone who has ever been rejected from a job has probably wondered what made them unqualified for the position. Was it a lack of skills, your presentation style, or something else?
Ash Putnam, 23, was recently rejected a job at TJ Maxx and vented her displeasure on TikTok, where her video went viral.
Her video has since received over 7 million views and tens of thousands of comments. As the 20-something with tattoos asked how young people might find entry-level jobs, everyone in the comments appeared to agree on one point.
Putnam revealed on her viral TikTok video how she applied for a job at TJ Maxx, only to receive an automated email “a few weeks” later denying her application.
“They couldn’t even call me, they just sent me some automated email.”
Unsatisfied with the response, Putnam went to the store where she applied and challenged the personnel.
“I went in today and was like, ‘So what was the reason why I didn’t get hired?’ She was like, ‘Oh you just don’t have enough experience there was candidates that had more experience than you’.”
“I asked her if it was about my tattoos obviously because I know a lot of places don’t like tattoos. She said that wasn’t the reason, I don’t feel like that’s true but whatever I will leave it at that.”
“Just because I have tattoos does not imply I won’t be a good employee. That makes no sense to me. Some of the most educated people I’ve ever met have tattoos and piercings,” she said.
Although the Californian, who works for Uber Eats, never get a straight answer from TJ Maxx, people on TikTok seemed to agree on the reason she was denied the job.
“tattooer here, it’s probably the tattoos”
“HR supervisor here. There is no way any company would put you in front of customers like TJ maxx.”
“I worked at TJ Maxx and they will hire just about anyone that comes off the street it’s definitely the tattoos and piercings”
“I don’t think it’s because you have tattoos…I think it’s WHERE you have tattoos 🤷🏾♂️”
Putnam appears to think it’s her tattoos as well.
“I absolutely do think it’s about my tattoos because apparently my tattoos are demonic and scary to a lot of people,” she said in an interview with the Daily Star.
“TJ Maxx did not say anything to me; those are just some of the responses I’ve received on my video. People are being incredibly rude on my TikTok, claiming I should work at a circus or a Halloween store.”
Even if her body art was the reason she was rejected a position at the retailer, she feels businesses should reconsider their hiring practices.