Ask a trans person!

[Dylan]

Originally Posted by The Oopster

I know for me, I am speaking from my experience not from what I "think."

My strategy has changed over time.

Again I've gotten to this point by trial and errror and what works best for me.

Yeah, my approach has changed greatly over time. I finally ended up starting my own business

I've learned (again, in my own experience) that many 'diversity' policies (including Austin's city 'diversity' policy) are merely lip service to make the company look good. ALL of the interviewers I've had since researching companies' diversity policies have been wonderful about gay issues, but completely ignorant and fearful of trans issues.

I also agree with Thinker that ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do, and I MORE than agree that I (personally) wouldn't interview for jobs during transition unless I absolutely had to.

My thoughts on this today are COMPLETELY, 100% different than they were years ago


Dylan

[TenderKnight]

I guess I was pretty lucky to get a job at where I work now.. At the interview, I told them my prefered pronouns, the name I would be changing to legally, and that I would be starting hormones.. I am lucky to live and work in a very diverse and queer friendly area with managers that may not *get* it, but have been exposed to trans people and were cool with taking me for who I was and on my work history and not my gender..

Not everyone is that lucky or CAN be that open with an employer. If I were still living in the South, I doubt very much if I could have gotten the job I have now and transitioned while working.. Thankfully, I was and am that lucky.. The customers have seen me transition and have asked questions, some are just confused and think they pegged me as female by mistake. I get to educate others on transgender issues and I have tried to invite a more open and welcoming attitude to those along the gender spectrum..

This is just my experience, like I said, I kinda lucked out in some ways. I would never suggest that anyone put themselves in danger by transtioning on the job, but it can work out. Just my .2 on the subject

-Tony

[The Oopster]

One thing you can do is practice.

Apply for jobs that you are qualified for but not necessarily interested in and try out different approaches to find out what is comfortable for you. Even with that said I may go into an interview with one intention and after in there for a few minutes totally change my game plan.

If i'm really interested in one particular company, unless there is a immediate urgency like the job posting is going to be closed tomorrow I won't apply for it first, i'll warm up with other options. If I can get an interview with someone else first bonus, practice time.

I use to especially do this with temp agencies. A lot of the tests they have are the same. I'd go to the temp agencies I was least interested in first take the tests a few times then go to the ones I was really interested in and score 100's. Sometimes fate would throw me a surprise and the one i wasn't interested in would be the one that ended up being the gold mine

[Thinker]

Originally Posted by The Oopster

One thing you can do is practice.

Apply for jobs that you are qualified for but not necessarily interested in and try out different approaches to find out what is comfortable for you. Even with that said I may go into an interview with one intention and after in there for a few minutes totally change my game plan.

Outstanding advice.

[Jet]

I wouldn't come out at an interview.

[The Oopster]

Originally Posted by Jet

I'm typing from my blackberry
Until I get my computer back.

Question...

I am a contract designer looking to go full time. Since
I.M starting T now I want apply at And be accepted at companies with diversity policies. I'm thinking of submitting

My resume
Portfolio
Summary of experience
And....
A letter to HR addressing my transition under the company
Diversity policy.

Should I include the letter at the. onset of applying?

What bathroom do I use?

Etc.

Originally Posted by Jet

I wouldn't come out at an interview.

I guess the confusion lies on what you meant by onset of applying? For me the that means at the interview or even in a cover letter.

From your last comment i wonder if you mean at the beginning of employment or onset of a job offer. Which to me is different. I think most jobs at some matter of time it does have to be addressed and when and if I get a new job if the issue needs to be addressed it will be at the beginning.

I say "need be" because i'm further along in the transition process. Currently my name and sex aren't changed so I would need to address it and would want to address it right away because it's easier for people to learn of me one way then to learn one thing and have to change it. Some of it also depends on type of job. I've transitioned in jobs where I'm not in an office setting and i'm not around the same people all the time. When i'm in the office the bathroom is unisex and in my previous job I had to use the bathroom before or after picking up clients so the bathroom wasn't an issue. In these jobs i really haven't addressed the issue, although the one employer did for me. Yet i still had customers that read me as female and again it wasn't worth it to correct not atleast at that time.

I also say "need be" because once everything matches up I don't see a reason to address it unless again it has to be for some odd reason.