By: Cory Frey

A car door slams shut. It’s a crisp and cold five o’clock morning and as this may have been beauty sleep to her before, it’s time to clock in for Katie McArthur. As she signs in she gazes down at her arms and admires her brightly colored tattoo sleeves that range from the top of her shoulders down to her knuckles. Katie works at Dutch Brothers and even though the job of serving coffee to early risers might not seem like a big important job, it has been one of the biggest blessings in her life.

Katie has always been a bit of a self proclaimed wild child and at fifteen she got her first tattoo of a snake on her forearm. This started a bit of an addiction to tattoos. By graduation both arms were covered. Katie started college that fall and was told by her parents that she needed to pay rent. “I was worried to be honest,” Katie said. She went out to apply for jobs and was faced with the issue of her tattoos. During her first interview at California Pizza Kitchen she did well, but was told, by the manager, they weren’t looking to hire someone with her amount of tattoos. This wasn’t the only place she was turned away simply because of her sleeves. Katie applied at other places that claimed they were lenient on tattoos with similar results. Then on her fourth interview she went to Dutch Brothers. During the interview she clicked with the manager when suddenly he brought up her tattoo sleeves. She explained she was nervous about them and he chuckled, she said, as he pulled up his sleeve to reveal he had some as well. The two bonded quickly after that and by the end of the interview he extended his hand saying, “we would love to have you, what do you think?” She accepted and thanked him for the opportunity. “I was so pumped to finally be accepted based on me and how my interview went and not judged on my tattoos!” She also explained that it was great to finally connect with someone through her art and not be turned away by it.

Over a year into her job and things have been going great, Katie explains. “I love working with these people, I’ve been able to be myself and not have to cover my tattoos or who I am.” She continued to say that her manager has been taking an interest in her work and that there’s opportunity for her to help in their marketing department once she receives her degree. Katie says she plans on pursuing her career with Dutch Brothers and that she’s really appreciated the people there and all they’ve done for her.