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How Do I Get a Piercing Apprenticeship?

Lori Kilchermann
Lori Kilchermann

Securing a piercing apprenticeship is often a difficult task to do. There are often a number of would-be piercers who are all competing with you for a single apprentice position, so it is best to stand out among the competition. You can often grab the attention of the piercing apprenticeship provider by being presentable, respectful and by showing knowledge of the piercing industry. Other things you can do to aid in gaining a piercing apprenticeship are being sincere when you speak to the professional and building a good rapport with the would-be instructor.

One of the most common mistakes a person can do when searching for a piercing apprenticeship is to dress unprofessionally. Even though the piecing business might be located within a tattoo parlor, you should always wear business attire when inquiring about a piercing apprenticeship. You will appear professional and serious about wanting to choose this type of career path. Speaking professionally and without street garb or slang will also aid you in your search for a piercing apprenticeship. The bottom line is, the owner of the tattoo shop is a businessperson first and foremost; she didn't open the shop just because she wanted to tattoo people for free or because it looks cool.

A woman with two earlobe piercings.
A woman with two earlobe piercings.

You will have a better chance in securing an apprenticeship if you are knowledgeable about piercing. You should go to a library or online and read everything you can on the history, safety and methods of piercing. This will allow you to speak intelligently on the subject if you manage to get the opportunity to speak with the person doing the hiring. You should focus a lot of your research time on the dangers of piercing, such as infections, blood-borne diseases and other potential obstacles to a smooth and event-free piercing. Showing that you already have knowledge on sterilization requirements and other aspects of the trade will show your dedication and professionalism.

Students have a better chance of securing an apprenticeship if they are already fairly knowledgeable about piercing.
Students have a better chance of securing an apprenticeship if they are already fairly knowledgeable about piercing.

Making an appointment with a business owner is typically better than simply dropping by and hoping they have time to speak with you. A good way of really getting a would-be trainer to hear you out is to explain what revenue adding a quality body piercer could bring to an existing business. Once you gain knowledge and become a service provider that the shop owner will want to keep on staff, your chances for securing long-term employment increase. Similar to a job search, patience, resolve and research are all key to obtaining a successful piercing apprenticeship.

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    • A woman with two earlobe piercings.
      A woman with two earlobe piercings.
    • Students have a better chance of securing an apprenticeship if they are already fairly knowledgeable about piercing.
      By: Fly_dragonfly
      Students have a better chance of securing an apprenticeship if they are already fairly knowledgeable about piercing.