So kinda panicking/confused

[MT22TG]

Hey Everybody!
So latest news. I went full timesies. YAYYYYY!
Anywho on the more scary side of things, stuff kinda ended abruptly in the work department. It got to the point where I couldn't handle it anymore, and the job i was at was not worth the hassle an special enough to me to feel obligated to come out at work. So I did the unthinkable. I gave my two weeks, and once finished relocated to the part of my state I wanted to live in.
I had been job searching for quite some time and had several leads however companies seemed to not take me seriously because I was 350-500 miles away from where I wanted to relocate to so all the more local people would get interviews before me. So I finally was like fine I'm moving an two weeks ago I did exactly that an told all prospective employers I could be available for interviews the second to third week of July.
Three interviews in so far and I'm starting to get very confused as to whats going on. I feel my interviews go great and the prospective employers seem very interested, however after sending a Thank you letter and then following up a week later all hell seems to have broken loose and I get a response similar to this...

Calli,

It was nice meeting you. Thank you for driving up and seeing us.
We are going back to the drawing board, so to speak, and re-evaluating exactly what we need.  It looks like we may not hire a_______ anytime soon.  (still undecided).
I will keep your information on file, and consider you as a candidate.
Best of luck on your move and job search.

Sincerely,
    HR Person

Just one example. The other two said they had to reevaluate there finances to make sure they could afford hiring another person...
Is there something I missing? I mean WTF how can you go from posting a job ad saying you need someone, to UMM we're not sure we are going need someone now but were going to keep your stuff on file an let you know as soon as we figure out what we're doing... I haven't said anything about being trans and I pass fairly well. (or atleast I feel I do here's some pictures for you all to decide).


Is this a common thing? I really truly don't understand whats going on, and any insight would be really helpful. Because now I'm starting to panic that I'm not going to get a job and feel really self conscious that I have TRANS* stamped on my forehead. Am I overreacting? What do you all think?

[Yenneffer]

Aww cuddles you really shouldn't worry your beautiful I just don't understand that one day you got worried And up and left why did you think you were caving in I don't understand. The job interview thing is weird though

[jaztay]

Gratz on full time, you look amazing and I can't understand the job interview either , I doubt it has anything to do with your pass ability and trans being read on your forehead.

[suzifrommd]

Job interviewing is a soul destroying activity, especially in a weak economy. Employers turn you down for any reason or no reason at all. Most of the time they don't even tell you.

The only way to survive is to have a good sense of how valuable you are as a human being. Potential employers may not recognize it in an interview, but you know you have lots of wonderful qualities that would make you a great worker and a great person.

Keep at it. We're here cheering you on. The right job is out there.

[Lynne]

Congrats on going full time. Based on the pictures I think you look great and if I saw you on the street I wouldn't think for a second that you are trans but there are so many other factors in passing like voice and mannerisms which cannot be judged from pictures alone.

It seems employers are the same around the world. When I was looking for a job I had the same or even worse experience with potential employers. A lot of times they don't even send you an email that they received your CV and if they have an interview with you they sometimes just "forget" to get back to you afterwards or send some letters like you described.

I'm not sure how the regulations look like over there but sometimes the only reason a job ad is posted to the make the hiring process look fair but in the end they will hire someone who is a relative or a friend anyway.

Keep trying, if you have the skills I'm sure you'll get a job.

[Laura_7]

You might simply call one or two persons and ask them.
Like if they could get you pointers what in their opinion could have been made better.
Please be aware this is highly individual, people will give a response from their point of view.
For example they might say that an application would not be (whatever) when it succeded a few days later with another person.

But it might give you some pointers anyways. I'd say stick with your feeling... keep what feels right to you, think about the rest...


hugs

[iKate]

I've been on both sides of hiring. I got a rejection letter months after I interviewed (and had already gotten another job) saying thanks but we found someone. We've had to reject people for seemingly minor things like not returning phone calls. If you're not reliable you probably won't have a good work ethic... Plus in 2007-2009 or so we were flooded with resumes. One job posting I had to fill I had to weed through 600 resumes or so. Other departments ended up just setting the required education level so high and ridiculous - masters in computer science for a help desk position. But they had to do it since they we're getting resumes by the thousands.

As for the budget concerns? That does have some merit. At my job adding headcount is a complicated process that involves endless justification and meetings upon meetings. When I was hired they took a whole month to get my position approved. I almost didn't get it.

Or it could be that they just don't like you for whatever reason and are making a lame excuse. Yes, that really does happen.

In some cases they have an internal candidate they are considering but have to look for external candidates as well to make it at least appear that they are being fair. However internal candidates who are qualified generally have preference.

As for being trans, I'm kind of open with prospective employers about it but not really. People who have a working relationship with me do know, those who don't, don't. I'm not job hunting now anyway but may be in the future.

[Cindy]

I interview a lot of people for jobs in Pathology and science. I routinely get 50 applicants or more for each position. I rarely interview more than 5. All of them are ideal, I need to select one. It is hard. Often it will be the wording of an answer, nervousness, or bravado.

I have rejected people on how they dressed, tattoos, manners etc. I have never rejected anyone on sexuality or gender (unless there was an issue on gender for the job). Then market for jobs is extremely hard. The fact that you got to interview means you are doing a lot right, that they are giving you lame excuses for not employing, I suggest, is there was a very difficult decision. It may be something a referee said. It may be that out of 5 great possibles one was slightly better than the rest.

I did employ someone recently, she was outstanding but had missed out on four other jobs. I did call a few of the other employers, it is a closed market! The comment was that she was outstanding and they would have loved to employ her but there was only one position, and another applicant was slightly better.

Keep trying Hon, practice your interview technique. Make sure your resume is perfect. And keep trying!

[Amy1988]

Hey Everybody!
So latest news. I went full timesies. YAYYYYY!
Anywho on the more scary side of things, stuff kinda ended abruptly in the work department. It got to the point where I couldn't handle it anymore, and the job i was at was not worth the hassle an special enough to me to feel obligated to come out at work. So I did the unthinkable. I gave my two weeks, and once finished relocated to the part of my state I wanted to live in.
I had been job searching for quite some time and had several leads however companies seemed to not take me seriously because I was 350-500 miles away from where I wanted to relocate to so all the more local people would get interviews before me. So I finally was like fine I'm moving an two weeks ago I did exactly that an told all prospective employers I could be available for interviews the second to third week of July.
Three interviews in so far and I'm starting to get very confused as to whats going on. I feel my interviews go great and the prospective employers seem very interested, however after sending a Thank you letter and then following up a week later all hell seems to have broken loose and I get a response similar to this...

Calli,

It was nice meeting you. Thank you for driving up and seeing us.
We are going back to the drawing board, so to speak, and re-evaluating exactly what we need.  It looks like we may not hire a_______ anytime soon.  (still undecided).
I will keep your information on file, and consider you as a candidate.
Best of luck on your move and job search.

Sincerely,
    HR Person

Just one example. The other two said they had to reevaluate there finances to make sure they could afford hiring another person...
Is there something I missing? I mean WTF how can you go from posting a job ad saying you need someone, to UMM we're not sure we are going need someone now but were going to keep your stuff on file an let you know as soon as we figure out what we're doing... I haven't said anything about being trans and I pass fairly well. (or atleast I feel I do here's some pictures for you all to decide).


Is this a common thing? I really truly don't understand whats going on, and any insight would be really helpful. Because now I'm starting to panic that I'm not going to get a job and feel really self conscious that I have TRANS* stamped on my forehead. Am I overreacting? What do you all think?

Yes you are most definitely passable

[Emileeeee]

Just one example. The other two said they had to reevaluate there finances to make sure they could afford hiring another person...
Is there something I missing? I mean WTF how can you go from posting a job ad saying you need someone, to UMM we're not sure we are going need someone now but were going to keep your stuff on file an let you know as soon as we figure out what we're doing... I haven't said anything about being trans and I pass fairly well.

I've had this happen and it had nothing to do with being trans. The company had put out job ads in anticipation of a new project. After my first interview, they had a massive downsizing, laying off 80% of the company. Six months later, I had my second interview with them and was hired. I didn't know about the downsizing until after I started working there.

It also happens in contracting companies. I don't mean consulting companies. I mean companies that only work on contracts that they bid on. They're required to have a certain number of warm bodies available to do the work, but since the contract they don't have yet is what will pay those salaries, you end up getting a tentative offer. They win the contract, you have a job. They don't, you keep looking.

[stephaniec]

it's not your looks

[CrysC]

First off, you are beautiful. 
Second, many companies end their fiscal year on June 30.  When they have surplus budget they try to hire folks before the end of that time.  When July 1 comes around though, many of those spots can't be filled as they fiddle around with determining what their staffing budgets are for the coming fiscal year.
I think it is just bad timing.  Don't give up though.  I have no doubt you'll land something. 

[Dena]

You are looking at the queen of job hunting here. I always seemed to lose my job in tight economic times and have spent as much as 5 years accumulated time job hunting. I knew I was up against competition for a single job, my schooling was weak and i wasn't an EXACT fit for the job I was applying for. I applied because I knew I would be a valuable asset to them if they could look past any weaknesses. Thankfully I have found employers who did and I gave them their moneys worth. I never did it because I had so few interviews but a follow up call with your interviewer if carefully done could provide that information you are after. A follow up call might even keep you in the queue for an upcoming position.

[KittyKat]

I've been trying to find a job off and on since January with no success and I always think the interview is going well, but I will get a call or email later on that I didn't match what they were looking for. I'm really hoping after I have my name changed at the end of the month the cycle will break. I even tried going on interviews as a male fearing they were being trans-phobic and haven't had luck. I wish you luck in finding a job and hope you are financially set to last while searching.

[Valwen]

its not always a issue, but most jobs which require a resume will run a back round check and those almost always include a criminal record check which will bring up all past names and aliases which will be a dead giveaway to being transgender, even a casual web search for your name likely brings up something.

Its a sad fact that many companies will not hire a transgender individual even if qualified. sometimes the interview or hiring manager might be transphobic but just as often someone makes the call simply because as a company they want to minimize there potential legal risks and just the fact someone might find out and harass you leading to possible need for managerial or legal intervention may seem like too much of a risk to the company.

Now let me be clear many companies don't care and wont hold it against you dependent on the state most won't but especially if there is customer interaction its always a concern. I told both my bosses before I started presenting and told the one of them who is a friend that I would understand it if it becomes a issue I will leave. It never did gamers at least in person tend to be decent people who mostly don't care how I present myself as long as i pull there freaking 68 card EDH deck....(Grumble grumble freaking magic players)

Back on track so ya take all the various reasons here there is a lot of reasons they may have rejected you just keep at it, it will work out.

Serena

P.S. If I looked half as good as you I would be so happy, i have to loose 100lbs before I can even think about bathing suits, you rock it.

[Ashey]

I'd give you a job.

[kelly_aus]

I have rejected people on how they dressed, tattoos, manners etc.

Not hiring someone because they have tattoos could be considered narrow minded.. I have 2 and no interviewer has ever seen, nor will they.. Now, if they facial tattoos that are not culturally-acceptable (eg Maori) then yeah, maybe find someone else.

[MT22TG]

Thank you everyone so much for your support. I appreciate everyone's input and thoughts. Let me add a few things I've forgotten. None of the prospective employers have checking into my references or previous employers which makes it even more befuddling so I have no idea how they'd know about me being Trans.
Also my education background is well diversified and I graduated at the top of my class. My work background is just as well diversified, and the jobs I have applied for I am usually over qualified for as I can usual do 2 or 3 jobs a company may be hiring for. Depending on how you want to cut the cake. I can be a mechanic, multi process welder/fabricator, or my main passion and what I do mainly for a job(what my degree is in) is Computer Aided Manufacturing. I write CNC programs (By hand or via computer software) run Auto Cad software and design components, and also run machine setup and make parts on both CNC and manual lathes and mills. So qualification is not a problem either. Just at a complete loss.     

[Cindy]

I have rejected people on how they dressed, tattoos, manners etc.

Not hiring someone because they have tattoos could be considered narrow minded.. I have 2 and no interviewer has ever seen, nor will they.. Now, if they facial tattoos that are not culturally-acceptable (eg Maori) then yeah, maybe find someone else.

Not to derail. He had a swastika tattooed on his face, among other images on his hands that were visible and not acceptable to me.

[Dena]

Thank you everyone so much for your support. I appreciate everyone's input and thoughts. Let me add a few things I've forgotten. None of the prospective employers have checking into my references or previous employers which makes it even more befuddling so I have no idea how they'd know about me being Trans.
Also my education background is well diversified and I graduated at the top of my class. My work background is just as well diversified, and the jobs I have applied for I am usually over qualified for as I can usual do 2 or 3 jobs a company may be hiring for. Depending on how you want to cut the cake. I can be a mechanic, multi process welder/fabricator, or my main passion and what I do mainly for a job(what my degree is in) is Computer Aided Manufacturing. I write CNC programs (By hand or via computer software) run Auto Cad software and design components, and also run machine setup and make parts on both CNC and manual lathes and mills. So qualification is not a problem either. Just at a complete loss.   

You may have just hit on it. Over qualification can be a real killer. They figure you will hit them up for more pay in the future or will be unhappy with the job, moving on to another shortly after being hired. The last job I took in 1986 which I still hold I started as phone support for their product. Note that i am a highly skilled computer programmer but the company hired me because they knew I could do the job and nobody else able to do the job applied. In my time there I have become deeply involved in the hardware and software design of the product and the boss decided I would be the last person working for the company and I would shut down operations.

You might alter your interview tactics to include the fact money isn't critical and you are looking for a long term stable position. Indicate you moved because you like the area and you want a new future here and you see this company as a part of it.