Trying To Find Employment

[Nygeel]

Sooo as many of you know a bit of my backstory. I've been out for years, still seen as female, on T for 9 months, no name or gender marker change, etc.

I've been unemployed for a little over a year and a half. Now I'm really pressing on the job search but I'm having difficulty negotiating finding a job that can satisfy what I need as a trans person. This for me means working as male, having the right name tag, and well...not having that be an issue.

Since I don't have my name changed and as far as I know I'm usually seen as female, I use my birth/legal name on documents like applications. When background checks are run I want that to go smoothly. Right now I have two job offers, but I never asked at the interview about transgender people. I wasn't sure if this was a good move or a bad move. But now I have two offers and I don't know how they will react, when to speak up, or even what to say!

So...has anybody else been in a similar position? What did you do and how did it go?

[Ratchet]

Well, I do know that without a legal name change all of your work documents must be in your real name. Because you need to show both your ID and SSN card and they MUST match to be hired. That's the biggest catch. Another thing is, at my work, schedules are posted with your name as it is listed in the computer. It has people's full names even if they don't actually use that name in the work setting. My work was okay with nicknames and such. (I however was not "out" at work, but stealth). I had this problem when I was first getting a job while waiting for my name change to go through. I got the job but during Orientation when they wanted me to give them my ID and SSN card I tried to explain why it was different than my application and they told me it was impossible to do my paperwork as the name change that was going through. It had to be what it was now, then changed later. After that decision, I left the Orientation, they said they'd call back with my schedule and let me know when I worked. But they never called. So... It didn't end so well.

[Wes]

I'm going thru the same situation right now. Unfortunately...I don't have a job yet either and I can't help but wonder if it's because I -am- out and tell them up front or they just don't want me for the job's I've applied for. One of the places I applied for, I knew a few people that worked there already and I was told later when I didn't get the job that they were worried about legal actions if anything ever happened to me while on the job. So..I dunno. I have actually been thinking of breaking down, buying some makeup and female clothing to see if I get a better reception while trying to get a job. It's frustrating as hell. But then..I also know it's hard getting a job right now. I walked up and down Boystown (A popular LGBT community here) just yesterday and walked into EVERY store to ask if they were hiring and all but one said they weren't...maybe it's just a bad time of the year or something..=/

[Robert Scott]

My suggestion is to be open and honest .... my son got hired by the YMCA this summer ... he hasn't done the offical name change -- he told them in the job interview and they were fine with it.  It was in Iowa even.  Do you really want to work at a place that if they found out you were trans would give you a hard time? 

[Joelene9]

  I went to two places today I done business in the past and the owners are my friends.  One was assembling product in one room with his brother with the other rooms closed with the lights off.  The other business is up for sale.  This was my last place of employment.  I was the last hired and the first to let go just before 9-11.  He had to let go another person last week because his employees were only working 30 hours per week.  Nobody's buying products that's considered luxuries.   Both companies make high-end astronomical products for both amateurs and professionals. 
  Joelene

[regan]

Employers are hesitant to hire people they feel may be a liability at some point in their employment with the company.  As it relates to what we're talking about, employers are resistant to hire people they may feel later will threaten legal action for percieved discrimination.  Further, as it relates to retail, while they may have no issues with you, they're hesitant to hire people they fear may make their customers feel uncomfortable.

[Nygeel]

I mean...I have a degree in photography and have been trying to get gigs doing editing or something. I've also been shooting lower for retail type stuff. One job that I applied for was a position at a clothing store stocking shelves and stuff. When I called asking if the position was still available I was told it was filled and that they never received my application. A friend of mine that's supportive of me works there and told me about the position and told the hiring manager about me. I can't tell if they really mean that or if it's something else (because I did come out to those people before the interview).

One place that wanted to hire me was a retail clothing store that wanted me to do all of the set up for the store's layout (mannequins, where the clothes go in the store, etc) and doing basic stuff like sales. I still haven't told them but I did accept their offer. Do I call their HR? Do I just tell the management?

The other position I said okay to is as a children's photographer where I go from school to school taking pictures for the schools. They're being somewhat annoying and not giving me info about when training will be, what I'll be making, etc.

What the heck do I do?!

[regan]

Every employer has a probationary period of some sort where they're free to tell you "its just not working out" without any further explaination.

If there's any doubt, tough out the probationary period and then sort out what you need to do from there.

[Nygeel]

Every employer has a probationary period of some sort where they're free to tell you "its just not working out" without any further explaination.

If there's any doubt, tough out the probationary period and then sort out what you need to do from there.

But I've been myself for like...7 years. It's not that easy to go backwards with my transition, ya know?

[regan]

But I've been myself for like...7 years. It's not that easy to go backwards with my transition, ya know?

Fair enough...

It sounds like the problem is that your legal documents don't match who you are.  I'd do what I could to get that sorted out...

[Nygeel]

Regan, I can't get any of that sorted. In order to get a gender change on ID I think I need some sort of surgery and I don't want surgery. The name change...well...I'm in debt and sort of promised myself I would clear my debts before getting my name changed so creditors can't say my name change is a part of fraud.

Even if my legal documents did match there probably would be problems because as I had said before...I'm read as female the majority of the time.

[Epi]

can't say my name change is a part of fraud.

It's not fraud if you have it printed in a newspaper (or other public print) as stipulated by law.  It's fraud if you get a name change, don't have it published or submit proof to the courts and then live under that name.

[Nygeel]

It's not fraud if you have it printed in a newspaper (or other public print) as stipulated by law.  It's fraud if you get a name change, don't have it published or submit proof to the courts and then live under that name.

I thought that but it's still something I told myself I would do.

[Epi]

I thought that but it's still something I told myself I would do.

Name changes are probably the EASIEST thing to do.

Fraud is basically intentional deception for personal gain.  If you followed the guidelines for name changes, you're not committing fraud.  However, if you were applying for a name change to cover up fraudulent behavior on your part or to commit fraudulent acts, then yes, that's illegal.

Also, if you're unemployed, you can apply for a waiver, which would cover the costs of all your court filings.  It's not difficult and you usually only have to file 1 waiver per case/docket number.

[Nygeel]

Name changes are probably the EASIEST thing to do.

Fraud is basically intentional deception for personal gain.  If you followed the guidelines for name changes, you're not committing fraud.  However, if you were applying for a name change to cover up fraudulent behavior on your part or to commit fraudulent acts, then yes, that's illegal.

Also, if you're unemployed, you can apply for a waiver, which would cover the costs of all your court filings.  It's not difficult and you usually only have to file 1 waiver per case/docket number.

This doesn't solve my debt problem.

[Epi]

This doesn't solve my debt problem.

Normally I recommend people don't go into debt....

Move your debt over to fixed low rate card to save money, and move it when the low rate period expires.  (Some credit card companies charge $10-$50 to transfer balances.)

Enroll full-time in a community college and apply for FASFA.

Collect aluminum cans, plastic and glass bottles for money.

Pawn/sell your unnecessary assets.

If you're concerned about your name preventing you from employment, get a name change while unemployed using a financial aide waiver.  When you become employed you will not longer qualify for that waiver and will have to pay the full amount for filing.  (You will have to pay for the paper to publish your name change though, shop around and find the cheapest one.)

[Nygeel]

Normally I recommend people don't go into debt....

Move your debt over to fixed low rate card to save money, and move it when the low rate period expires.  (Some credit card companies charge $10-$50 to transfer balances.)

Enroll full-time in a community college and apply for FASFA.

Collect aluminum cans, plastic and glass bottles for money.

Pawn/sell your unnecessary assets.

If you're concerned about your name preventing you from employment, get a name change while unemployed using a financial aide waiver.  When you become employed you will not longer qualify for that waiver and will have to pay the full amount for filing.  (You will have to pay for the paper to publish your name change though, shop around and find the cheapest one.)

I'm out of college and don't qualify for FASFA. I don't have much that I own that's unnecessary (heck, I don't have a dresser or bedframe). I'm not sure what the low rate card is about. Are you saying I should get a credit card to pay off my debts then pay off that bill? Currently I can't get any more credit and have a card that's maxed out.

[wheat thins are delicious]

The name change...well...I'm in debt and sort of promised myself I would clear my debts before getting my name changed so creditors can't say my name change is a part of fraud.

as long as you notify them of the change, they can't say it's fraud

Even if my legal documents did match there probably would be problems because as I had said before...I'm read as female the majority of the time.

those who read you as female would probably just figure you have "hippy" parents

[Epi]

I'm out of college and don't qualify for FASFA. I don't have much that I own that's unnecessary (heck, I don't have a dresser or bedframe). I'm not sure what the low rate card is about. Are you saying I should get a credit card to pay off my debts then pay off that bill? Currently I can't get any more credit and have a card that's maxed out.

No, you're not paying your debt off with more credit cards.  You're transferring your credit card balance to a lower interest rate credit card, that way you can pay down your debt easier.

While debt scares the crap out of me, it's rather necessary to maintain a good credit score ... so I maintain debt, sigh.

What I do is when a new credit card offer comes in the mail I read the small print.  Once in awhile they offer me 0.0% APR for the first 6 months, so I'll take the offer, transfer the balance from my previous card to that one and close my old card out.  That way I'm paying the principal and not the interest.  (You really should check your credit cards interest rate and see if you can at least get it lowered.)  When 6 months comes I've usually got another good offer in the mail or what the rate went to after 6 months is tolerable (something under 3.9% APR, otherwise you're not really taking a dent out of your principal debt.)

[Nygeel]

Epi, I don't get any offers for credit cards in the mail but awhile back I went to the bank and applied for a card which was denied because I don't have any income. I think my APR is 3.something%.

Then again all of this doesn't answer the original question posed by my situation of speaking up to an employer, and what to say. I'm considering telling the manager of the retail store where I would be dressing the mannequins before signing paperwork and maybe calling HR? I just don't know what a person would ordinarily do in a situation like this. Is speaking to HR more important than speaking to a manager? Can it stay between myself, HR, and the manager only?