do I really have to get a haircut (and cover my tatts and remove my piercings) to get a real job?

With decades of experience in corporate environments both as a grunt and as a decision maker, I have witnessed the results of all sorts of interesting decisions about personal branding.

When I say branding, I mean in the overall sense, not just in the burning or scarification sense, although the latter is often a component of the former.

Most people I know who include piercing, tattoos and other body mods in their personal brand, have done so in a way that does not affect perceptions at work. 

It's still a fact that many large corporates are very conservative. Even though tattoos are pretty mainstream, the old manager who is not far from retirement, and has worked her way up from bank teller or cashier, will not wish her boss, who is older and even more conservative, to see that she hired someone with visible tatts on their wrist, arm or neck, no matter how artistic or tasteful it is. 

There are airlines that, if you're lucky enough to be hired with a visible tattoo, you will be required to cover it with a bandage.