Milo’s story

Careers support helped Milo take the first step towards becoming a tattoo artist.

Milo, 19 and from Caerphilly, knew from a young age that he loved drawing. But he found it difficult to picture a career that truly excited him.

He said, "I struggled a lot with finding something that I was really passionate about. I knew I liked drawing and doing artistic stuff, but I couldn’t think of any career for myself.

“And when I got my first tattoo, I realised I could have this as my job. Ever since then, I’ve just always wanted to do tattooing."

However, Milo did have one reservation which was his anxiety. At the time, the idea of walking into a tattoo studio and asking about training felt overwhelming.

Reaching out for support

Milo heard about Working Wales through his mum. He booked a video appointment with careers adviser, Kris.

Milo said, "I was really anxious at first because I’m not very good with video calls or talking. But he went at my pace. He just knew what to say and how to get through to me."

That first conversation made a huge difference.

Milo continued, "Kris was great. The first time we talked, I thought ‘this guy is nice’. He really helped me and I'm getting a lot better with that kind of stuff."

Making introductions

Kris suggested contacting Chelsea, a Working Wales stakeholder engagement adviser, to see whether any tattoo studios would invite him in to observe and learn. Chelsea contacted several studios and arranged work shadowing with a local studio in Cwmbran.

Knowing someone made that first introduction on Milo’s behalf helped ease the pressure.

He said, "I think it was just knowing they would talk to someone for me. When I went to meet them, they already knew what I was after. It made the whole experience a lot more comfortable."

Gaining experience

Milo attended the studio to observe and learn. He watched artists at work, learned about infection prevention and saw how equipment is cleaned and prepared.

Milo said, "It was a lot more educational than just reading about it. I could actually see what to look out for."

The experience boosted his confidence. He is now building his portfolio and developing his skills.

Next steps

Milo is currently looking for part-time work while continuing to search for a tattoo studio that can offer him an internship.

He knows it may take time, but he feels more confident about moving forward. Kris’s guidance has had a lasting impact.

Milo explained, "Kris has helped me to realise that my anxious thoughts aren’t necessarily true. He has helped me to see more positivity in people and opened me up to doing small talk and then making friends. He’s done a lot for me, even if that doesn’t seem obvious."

If you’re aged 16 or over and would like to explore your opportunities with a careers adviser, please contact the Working Wales team by calling free on 0800 028 4844, emailing workingwales@careerswales.gov.wales or through our live chat.

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