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Career Fair approaching...

Started by fatalerror, February 05, 2012, 08:34:35 AM

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fatalerror

My college is holding a career fair in less than a month and I'm really excited to try to get in some interviews with companies in my industry.

Thing is, I've been presenting as male, and I pass pretty well, considering I'm not on T or anything yet. I get called "sir" nearly everywhere and my close friends have begun to call me by the male name I've chosen. One of them admitted she always thought I looked like I was crossdressing when I did wear typical women's clothing.

But all my business materials have my legal name on them, and it's clearly female. My web site, flatbook, business cards, resume, you name it. I feel so uncomfortable about all of that now but I can't change them in the short time we have (it's too costly) and it wouldn't be my legal name if I did change it.

I'm not sure what to do. I feel HUGELY uncomfortable presenting as female, I feel like I'm lying to myself and to them. At the same time I'm not sure I have any other choice? I certainly don't want to go into anything personal in an interview, so maybe just dressing in women's attire and trying to be a girl for the interviews is the best thing I can do? The only formal clothing I have is women's in the first place.
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geek

Just a random thought though, let's say you do go as female, what happens if something comes of it? You're probably best off being yourself, there's lots of butch ladies around and they will likely file you under that  but that's just my 2c

One day this sort of stuff won't be a problem at all <waits>




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nickm1492

There really is no right answer to this dilemma. I see it this way though. Present as the person YOU are. Not the person you think they want. Why? Because if they wouldn't hire you for who you are, chances are when you do start your transition with T and what not, you will not be very happy working there.
I'm not sure what part of the country you live at. I know it can be especially hard when living in the south though and that's not something I'm looking forward to in a couple of years. I'm a Junior at this point but because of money issues, I can only take 12 creds at a time so I shall be finishing up in two years. I"m still scared because of the career I am going into. I know that the people aren't the most accepting but things will work out. You will see. And you should get yourself clothes you are comfortable with. Though I understand if money is an issue. Be yourself. Because at the end of the day, that's the person they should be getting to work with. And just knock those interviews out of the park. Best of luck with everything
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bradlee2100

I would suggest going however you feel comfortable, if it be presenting as male or not.
I know it is extremely stressful in these types of situations, and if your legal name does not match how you look and identify, it doesn't necessarily mean that the people giving the interviews will think anything of it or bring up anything from it.  I have come across people who obviously are familiar with transgender people, as they would ask what name I go by when I show them my id for something.
I always feel embarrassed when I have to use my legal name (I pass 102% of the time) but I always keep my head up and remember that some day I won't have to be in such positions again.
I hope I can be to some assistance, I don't have any experience with interviews though.
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fatalerror

Thanks for the help guys - yeah I live in the south currently, Savannah, Georgia, to be precise. Fortunately I'm going into the art & film industry so I do hope that it will be somewhat tolerant.

Since money is a bit of an issue I think I'll probably just give in and wear more neutral but still female attire. You're all right though, regardless of what I'm wearing and what I look like, I need to just be who I am. That's who they're hiring, not a man or a woman, but the right person for the job, right?

I feel embarrassed by my legal name too, which makes me feel bad because it the name my family gave me, after all. But hey, it's just a name. Wish all names were just unisex, lol.
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Bahzi

Well hey dude!  Don't think I've officially said hi on the forums, although I knew you post here.  HI!!!!


Really, in your field, 90% of finding a job is talent and skill.  If you've got what they're looking for, they're not going to be too concerned about you looking masculine or feminine.  If you're more comfortable presenting masculine or androgynous, I think your interviews will probably go better for it, honestly.   You'll need to sell yourself and you abilities to them, and you'll probably feel more confident doing so presenting less feminine, right?

As for your name, I feel you there.  My name outed me plenty of times when I passed perfectly otherwise.   I would often dissociate whenever my old name was used, try to frame it as 'they're talking about someone else'.  Probably not the healthiest method, but whatever gets you through it, I guess.  Things are just awkward early in transition, you just have to try to laugh it off sometimes.  The more true you are to yourself now though in the interviews, the easier it should be later on if you get hired with one of these companies though! 

Too, it's really hard to do, but if there is awkwardness with your name or presentation, it's best to fake confidence and treat it like it doesn't bother you at all rather than draw attention to an incident and act embarrassed or ashamed.  Fake it 'till you make it, as they say.  I find people tend to let you set the tone on these issues, if you act like it's no big deal, others often will too.
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fatalerror

Hahah hey! Yeah I feel really fortunate that the field I'm going into will likely make this less difficult than it is for most. I'm getting my haircut this weekend and I'm getting it the way I want it, last time I had a hairdresser who insisted on feminizing it and I'm not going through that again. I feel way more comfortable presenting as male or at least androgynous, and I think forcing myself to present otherwise will only make me nervous and less confident, since I'm forcing myself to fake something. I know I can't do anything about my clothing but I can still be me, in any attire.

I tend to disassociate with mine too, and always have - it never sat right with me. Hahah it'd be so nice to not have to be in that in-between zone, but there's no escaping it.

Yeah I try really hard not to let it get to me too much. Thanks for the advice, I don't want to draw attention to it any more than I have to in any situation, let alone in the career world, guess I'll do what I can to be myself and still walk that center line.
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