Why aren't you getting that coveted promotion?

You may come in early, leave late and never miss a deadline, so why aren't you getting that coveted promotion for which you have worked so hard? Blame it on the tattoo. Physical appearance can actually hurt your career advancement prospects, according to a CareerBuilder.com survey of hiring and human resource managers across industries and company sizes. A surprising 27 percent of employers said a visible tattoo could nix a promotion -- no matter how much it was warranted. And it's not just a tattoo that can put the kibosh on your ability to climb the corporate ladder. When asked which aspects of a worker's physical appearance would make them less likely to promote that person, employers said:

Provocative attire: 44 percent

Wrinkled clothing or a shabby appearance: 43 percent

Piercings outside of traditional ear piercings: 32 percent

Attire that is too casual for the workplace: 27 percent

Visible tattoos: 27 percent

An unprofessional or ostentatious haircut: 25 percent

Unprofessional or ostentatious facial hair: 24 percent

Bad breath: 23 percent

Heavy perfume or cologne: 21 percent

Too much makeup: 15 percent

"In addition to on-the-job accomplishments, employers also take attitude, behavior and appearance into consideration when deciding who deserves to move up in the ranks," said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder. "While your work performance may be strong, if you're not presenting yourself in a professional manner, it may be preventing your superiors from taking you seriously."