Sometimes, when you apply for a job and don’t get it, you might wonder why. Was it your skills, how you presented yourself, or something else?
Ash Putnam, who is 23 years old and covered in tattoos, recently shared her frustration on TikTok after being turned down for a job at TJ Maxx.
Her video became really popular, with over seven million views and tens of thousands of comments. Many people agreed with her about how hard it can be for young people to find entry-level jobs.
Putnam explained on TikTok that she applied for a job at TJ Maxx and later got an email saying she didn’t get the job. She felt disappointed that they didn’t even call her personally, just sent an automatic email.
Not satisfied with the response, she went to the store and asked the employees why she didn’t get hired.
“I went in today and asked, ‘Why didn’t I get hired?’ The employee said, ‘You don’t have enough experience. There were other candidates with more experience.’”
Putnam also asked if her tattoos were the reason she didn’t get the job. Many places don’t like employees with visible tattoos. The employee said that wasn’t the reason, but Putnam wasn’t sure she believed that.
“Just because I have tattoos doesn’t mean I won’t be a good worker. I don’t understand that at all,” she said. “Some of the smartest people I know have tattoos and piercings.”
Her story sparked a lot of discussion about job hunting and how people are judged based on their appearance.
Even though the woman from California, who also works for Uber Eats, didn’t get a clear reason from TJ Maxx, many people on TikTok think they know why she was turned down.
One person said, “I’m a tattoo artist, it’s probably because of the tattoos.”
Another person, who works in human resources, commented, “No company would want someone with visible tattoos dealing with customers, like TJ Maxx.”
A former TJ Maxx employee added, “I used to work there, and they hire almost anyone off the street. It’s definitely because of the tattoos and piercings.”
Someone else suggested, “It might not be that you have tattoos, but maybe where the tattoos are located.”
These comments show that many think her tattoos could be the reason TJ Maxx didn’t hire her.
“I really think it’s because of my tattoos, as many comments say my tattoos are scary and demonic to some people,” she shared with the Daily Star.
She added, “TJ Maxx didn’t tell me this directly, but many comments on my TikTok are really mean. People say I should work at a circus or Halloween store.”
Even if her tattoos are why TJ Maxx didn’t hire her, she thinks companies should change how they hire people.
“If they think tattoos decide how good you are at a job, they need to think again. Tattoos, piercings, and colored hair aren’t unprofessional. They show creativity and being different. It’s 2024, people need to stop disliking tattoos.”
Do you think tattoos should decide if you get a job? Tell us on Facebook what you think.
I got on the bus and met someone who shocked me
The rain was coming down in sheets, mirroring the storm brewing inside Elara. Her phone buzzed with another rejection email, and the cafe, usually a haven of warmth and quiet, felt suffocating. She huddled deeper into her coat, the bitter taste of failure lingering on her tongue.
Across the table, an elderly woman sat alone, sipping tea and watching the rain. Her face, etched with the lines of a life well-lived, was illuminated by the soft glow of the cafe lights. Elara, lost in her own despair, barely registered her presence.
Suddenly, the old woman’s hand reached across the table, placing a delicate porcelain figurine on the table beside Elara’s coffee cup. It was a small bird, its wings outstretched as if in flight. “He always loved birds,” the woman whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Elara looked up, surprised. The woman, noticing her gaze, smiled sadly. “My son, he was an artist. He used to spend hours sketching birds, capturing their flight, their freedom.”
Elara, captivated by the figurine and the woman’s gentle voice, found herself drawn into the conversation. She learned about the woman’s son, a talented musician who had passed away far too soon. She listened as the woman reminisced about his laughter, his passion for life, his love for music.
As the rain continued to fall, a strange sense of peace settled over Elara. The weight of her own disappointment seemed to lessen, replaced by a newfound empathy. The woman, a stranger, had opened her heart to Elara, sharing her grief and her memories.
When it was time to leave, Elara hesitated. “Thank you,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “Thank you for sharing your story with me.”
The old woman smiled, her eyes twinkling. “It’s a gift, my dear. A gift to remember.”
Elara left the cafe, the rain washing away the remnants of her despair. She carried the small bird figurine with her, a reminder of the unexpected kindness and the power of human connection. She realized that even in the darkest of moments, there is always beauty to be found, and that sometimes, the greatest gifts come from the most unexpected places.
**The bus lurched forward, throwing me against the seat in front of me. Groaning, I rubbed my shoulder and glared at the rush-hour traffic. Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the storm brewing inside me. Another rejection email, this one particularly brutal, had just landed in my inbox, and the taste of failure was bitter in my mouth. The cafe, my usual refuge, felt suffocating, the cheerful chatter of other patrons a jarring counterpoint to the gloom inside me.
Then, I noticed him. An elderly gentleman, his face a roadmap of wrinkles, sat across from me, his eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that made my skin prickle. It wasn’t a casual glance; it was a stare, unwavering and unsettling. My irritation, already simmering, boiled over. “What’s your problem?” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended.
He didn’t flinch. His gaze, unwavering, seemed to search for something deep within me. My anger flared. “Seriously, why are you staring?” I demanded, my voice laced with venom. He finally lowered his eyes, a shadow of sadness crossing his face.
When his stop arrived, he rose, his movements slow and deliberate. As he passed me, he placed a small, folded piece of paper in my hand before stepping off the bus. Curiosity piqued, I unfolded it.
The words, written in a shaky hand, hit me like a physical blow. “I’m so sorry. I’m deaf and I couldn’t hear what you said. I didn’t mean to upset you. You just look exactly like my late son. I haven’t seen his face in so long and I miss him so much.”
Shame washed over me, hotter than the midday sun. My anger, my impatience, my own petty frustrations, had blinded me to the depth of this man’s grief. I had lashed out at him, a stranger, in a moment of self-absorption, inflicting pain upon someone already carrying the weight of a profound loss.
The rest of the ride was a blur of remorse. Each jolt of the bus, each drop of rain on the window, seemed to amplify the echo of my own cruelty. I replayed the encounter in my mind, each harsh word a fresh wound. I imagined his face, the sadness in his eyes, the loneliness he must have felt in that crowded bus.
That day, I learned a lesson that would forever stay with me. Kindness, even in the face of frustration, is always the better path. For you never truly know the burdens others carry, the stories etched on their faces, the echoes of a love lost. I carried the weight of my own regret, a heavy cloak draped over my shoulders.
But amidst the remorse, a small seed of change was planted. I began to observe the world with a newfound empathy. I listened more intently to the stories of others, sought to understand their perspectives, and offered a helping hand whenever possible.
The memory of the elderly man and his poignant message remained with me, a constant reminder of the importance of compassion and the fragility of the human spirit. It was a lesson learned the hard way, a lesson etched into my soul, a reminder that kindness, like a gentle rain, can wash away the bitterness and nourish the soul.
Leave a Reply