Job interview

smile_jma · May 05, 2014, 04:58:30 PM

I'm not sure what to wear. I'm told I have to dress professionally, but I don't really have anything "professional". I have 0 professional female clothing, and I got rid of my male professional clothing except for a dress suit. I can still pass as a guy with looks if I try (totally with my voice), so I'm thinking of just being a guy for the interview? My mom says to try to be a gay male (which is fine) but I don't have the gay "speak" (sound like a completely straight male). My only concern is clothing...

The job is for a customer service rep with LOTs of face to face interaction with customers, so I feel I shouldn't make the first impression that I am trans for this job until I know the job is secure and the managers have become familiar with me and like me/my work.

Ryan55 · May 05, 2014, 05:03:12 PM

when I go on interviews, i kinda go into "girl mode", i don't pass 100 percent as male, and my legal name is still feminine (blah), so i usually wear dress pants and a button down shirt, i figure once they hire me, there kinda stuck with me and training me and then i'll slowly ease them into the transition thing

@Diana · May 05, 2014, 06:02:28 PM

if you are not sure , I would say go in gay guy mode (maybe a bit of foundation base & powder + nude lip gloss)... look neat , if you have long hair , tie it in pony tail ... wear long sleeves shirt (white is the best) with or without suit , nice clean tie, black pants and belt with shiny buckle (lol)

and if the interview goes well & you get the job .. after you pass probation , i think you can come out more .. thats what I did years ago when i first started HRT

good luck !

smile_jma · May 05, 2014, 09:29:51 PM

Thank you~ Yes, my hair is quite long. I may cut it about 3-4" to make it more acceptable (and eve then, it's still long). I just remembered I already gave away my shoes that go with the suit, so I'm going to be guy shoe shopping...again. Haven't done that in a while. Ha.. Luckily I still have the suit and that it's already clean (and FITS!!). Interview is in 36hrs!!

Debussy · May 06, 2014, 03:25:37 AM

act gay then come out as trans? I don't know why I find the concept of this hilarious, it's almost like you'd have to come out twice! We're on the next tier!

Alainaluvsu · May 06, 2014, 03:42:19 AM

Not to be ugly, but why wouldn't you have planned for this kind of thing before transitioning to full time?

Cindy · May 06, 2014, 03:57:32 AM

I interview a lot of people for jobs. Be clean and well presented. The job is for a customer face to face; focus on that. Who will the company want to represent THEM. They are interested in the face of their product, not in yours. If you are going to be a distraction to the customer, they will not want you. So target what the customer will see and accept.

Know the business and the customers they will be selling too or interact with. And dress and present for the customer.

You are a product - sell yourself as a representative of the product they are dealing with to the customer they are dealing with.

I have no prejudices at all - but my job is to get the best person to do the job. I will not employ an over sexualised presenting woman or an effeminate Gay guy, if they cannot sell my product to the customer base.

It isn't discrimination - well maybe it is- but get in their head for what they need; then you will get the job.

ShawnaB · May 06, 2014, 04:54:30 AM

My first post transition interview I wore black pants, knee-high boots, and nice black women's blouse. My MD (CEO for non-europeans) didn't care. There was one point in our chat when a thought/question obviously crossed his mind and he didn't say/ask whatever it was. That was 18 months ago. I didn't get the job, he offered me a better on instead.

I was completely freaked out, misgendered twice on the way in (there's a good confidence killer) but acted as if, owned my identity and it was fine.

smile_jma · May 06, 2014, 08:58:20 AM

Quote from: Alainaluvsu on May 06, 2014, 03:42:19 AM
Not to be ugly, but why wouldn't you have planned for this kind of thing before transitioning to full time?

I wasn't expecting that I would have to apply for a new job so soon. I had a job and was hiding myself quite well, but the managers and I had a work- related disagreement along with the fact that the company is going down the drain (which I wouldn't have known when I applied).

Quote from: Cindy on May 06, 2014, 03:57:32 AM
I interview a lot of people for jobs. Be clean and well presented. The job is for a customer face to face; focus on that. Who will the company want to represent THEM. They are interested in the face of their product, not in yours. If you are going to be a distraction to the customer, they will not want you. So target what the customer will see and accept.

Know the business and the customers they will be selling too or interact with. And dress and present for the customer.

You are a product - sell yourself as a representative of the product they are dealing with to the customer they are dealing with.

I have no prejudices at all - but my job is to get the best person to do the job. I will not employ an over sexualised presenting woman or an effeminate Gay guy, if they cannot sell my product to the customer base.

It isn't discrimination - well maybe it is- but get in their head for what they need; then you will get the job.

I understand I may be representing them and I think I can do that quite well, just a little self conscious about what the packaging of "the product " looks like. Me. I am not an effeminate gay guy nor can I act like one, but that's what my mom suggested because of the long hair. Because they do have an anti discrimination policy which includes "gender identity or expression " I think I should be Ok on the hair as long as it's neat and pulled back.

Alainaluvsu · May 06, 2014, 11:16:18 AM

Quote from: smile_jma on May 06, 2014, 08:58:20 AM
I wasn't expecting that I would have to apply for a new job so soon. I had a job and was hiding myself quite well, but the managers and I had a work- related disagreement along with the fact that the company is going down the drain (which I wouldn't have known when I applied).

And you didn't plan on transitioning at that job?

JennX · May 06, 2014, 11:54:34 AM

I would dress in accordance with your legal name and identification documents. Unless you plan on going in to the whole "Hey...I'm trans" discussion on your first interview... which I do not advise. The job market is still pretty tight right now, and employers do not want drama from a new hire. Most employers equate trans issues = drama and problems.

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