Can't find a job/LGBT career counselers?

[Aiesha]

My first post here. I'm in a very complicated situation. This post is a bit long.

In a nutshell I'm m to f trans. I've lived full time for something over 3 years. I've been on hormones on and off for about 4 years. I've had enormous trouble finding satisfying employment.I have an MA degree and a background as a school teacher.Teaching of course is not a job for transpeople. Anyway I worked at a call center for over 3 years. I hated the job but the company was very LGBT friendly and I transitioned there.My hope was to somehow accumulate enough money to look as good as I wanted than go on to something else.I legally changed my name but this was probably very premature.

At times, depending on how I looked I would get harassed a lot. To be blunt at times I looked like a guy in a wig.My estimate is that it would take around 10 G to look passable or at least presentable,money I didn't have.I was in a Catch 22 situation.

Anyway this job ended, the firm fired most of their employees and then folded.I moved back in w/the parental units. They more or less accepted my transition but I felt more awkward then they did. I gradually de-transitioned.After a year I went over seas to teach ESL. I went in girl mode.Long story but this was not one of my better decisions in life. It ended in disaster and I went back home.

I am now living with my Mom and sister in a small, isolated rural town in an area I dislike. I'm in guy mode most of the time.

I am substitute teaching, part time at a local school system, of course as a male.

I have documents in both genders-I have a "female" social security card and a male identified drivers license.In the US one needs 2 IDs to get a job-for the substitute teaching job I used my driver's license and a Xerox of part of my soc security card.They accepted this.

Other then the substitute teaching, I literally cannot get a job.I don't know how to get out of the situation I'm in. I've been sending out hundreds of resumes, in both genders, in any field I can think of.The field of education, or anything connected to working with kids, is pretty much blocked for transpeople. With online databases and search apps its easy to tell I've worked in different genders.There is not much one can do with an MA in liberal arts.My life would be easier if I were a technical person, IT or software engineer-I've made a few attempts to break into this industry but at heart I'm not a technical person.

I've been semi-employed and my life's been on hold for almost 3 years now.It seems I am really and truly screwed.

If anyone had any suggestions or could point me in a different direction it would be much appreciated.Also are there any LGBT or specifically trans oriented career counselors in either NYC or the New England area?

[Danielle Emmalee]

Teaching of course is not a job for transpeople

Says who?  There are several teachers on Susan's.  At least one who came out in the middle of a career who is having a relatively positive response.

[Danielle Emmalee]

Sorry, welcome to Susan's btw!

[Aiesha]

Thanks for the welcome. If there are transgender teachers who are out  I would love to be able to network with them. All I know is that its been impossible for me to find a job. I'm doing something wrong but I don't know what it is.

[Danielle Emmalee]

Here is one topic on it

[Ltl89]

I can't talk about primary education, but I know there are plenty of transgender college professors.  That's my future career goal, and I won't anything get in my way.  It just may take many years,lol.  However, I know how hard it is.  I've been unemployed for a while and was recently turned down for a teaching assistant position I was being considered for.   All of my other interviews have been dead ends or remain to be seen.  I suppose my political background isn't the most attractive quality to employers. So, you are certainly not alone.

Have you thought about teaching at a community college?  That way you won't have to worry about children or their parents.  If you are in the New York area, there are a lot of Suny/Cuny schools that could employ you. 

[Aiesha]

Teaching at a community college would be my ideal job and I have sent my resume to quite a few but so far I haven't gotten a job. I am somewhat familiar with CUNY, I've vaguely thought of doing some sort of graduate work there but I've heard it may take 6-8 years and jobs in academia are very difficult to get.

[Natkat]

In general alot of people find it hard to get jobs in these times specially transgender.

I also been without job or education for along time but currently I got into a school. I still struggle with the thought on how big my chance are to get hired for my work experience periods in my studing. I get very depressed wellknowed how difficult it is for transgenders in general, But I guess it important to keep positive and just try your best and not give up.

my personally advice is to keep yourself motivated and active to work forward your goal, even when I did not have a job or went to school I still did something. I got on course for highing my change on getting a job, I also went one one focusing on turism, besides doing activism. I do belive its better for your mind and im also sure it help your chance on getting a job, alot of people do not get a job by writting aplications from home, they often get a job because they have some experience or know someone who know someone and been there and gave a good impresion.

Remember its not only your tecnically skills or background it also your personal skills as I say, if you cant win with your grades you must win with the charm. 

if the trans thing seams as a bother for you to get job maybe you could also try to turn it into something positive more of a qualety rather than a issue. 

[Ltl89]

Teaching at a community college would be my ideal job and I have sent my resume to quite a few but so far I haven't gotten a job. I am somewhat familiar with CUNY, I've vaguely thought of doing some sort of graduate work there but I've heard it may take 6-8 years and jobs in academia are very difficult to get.

There are many different colleges in the SUNY system.  Some are community colleges and others are not.  I have noticed a major increase in adjunct professors in the SUNY system.  I think it's worth trying.  You shouldn't have a problem teaching with a Masters in a community college. 

[E-Brennan]

Don't give up.  And make sure you keep yourself occupied, even if as a male substitute, because unemployment seems to be the double whammy - too much time, and not enough money.  Depression and the downward spiral ensues.

For what it's worth, I would love it if my kids experienced a trans teacher.  They would too.

I can't offer you career advice, especially in the education world where despite the constant cry of "we need more teachers", those qualified can't get jobs.  But I'll offer what I can, which is merely that you should not stop looking, especially in those wonderful liberal states.

And while I hate to offer what follows, take it in a practical sense: if you still are passable as your birth gender, could you obtain the job first and then deal with the gender issues afterwards?  (That said, education is a strange world, and parents, even in liberal states, are often not as liberal as they seem when it comes to their own kids.)

My thoughts are with you.  We need great educators, not just from what they can teach, but from who they are.