A woman said her tattoos got her rejected for a job, but experts say personality is far more important

• A tattooed content creator sparked a debate about hiring biases after being rejected by T.J. Maxx.
• Experts say tattoos can impact hiring decisions, especially in customer-facing roles.
• But overall, personality and cultural fit are more important.

TikToker Ash Putnam was frustrated after T.J. Maxx denied her application — and she thinks her tattoos were to blame.

Some of her visible designs include a skull with horns on her neck, solid black patches on her arms, and a pattern on her forehead. Putnam, 23, also has multiple facial piercings, including a large silver ring hanging from her septum.