How would you go about finding a job in my situation?

[Venus]

Soo, update! I called that place I worked when I was 16 and got the exact dates that I worked there and how much I earned. I called the first place that I went to see about my condition but their records don't go back that far... I called a social security disability lawyer and since I was denied because I haven't worked enough they told me that there's nothing that they could do. I called up several local jewelers to see if they had goldsmiths and if they're willing to take an apprentice... I've gotta call a few of them back tomorrow, the people I needed to talk to weren't around.

I saw my therapist for the first time today too and not only did it go amazingly well, but he even said he'd write me a letter so I could start my HRT. Literally all I need is a job and I can start!

He recommended a few places that he said covers everything too: Starbucks and Capital One. Starbucks isn't hiring in my area and I couldn't do all of that standing around with my condition anyways... but Capital One is. I've just kinda gotten hung up on their application process when it wants me to do a questionnaire because it doesn't list the job I'm applying for... the page and their FAQ says to log out, wait a few minutes, then click the link in your email but they haven't sent me any emails (I've checked my Spam folder) and waiting/logging in/out doesn't seem to help. I emailed their support email about it anyhow, and it says I'll get an answer in 1-2 business days. Hopefully I get hired there... that'd be ideal. I could start working there through the start of my transition and then move to Washington and I'd still have a job without worrying about finding one and not lose any benefits from changing jobs since it's the same company. It's customer service, but I'll deal. I really hope I get hired though.

I'll talk to those jewelers in the meantime and if nothing happens with them or Capital One I'll give my state employment agency a call and see what they can do. I'll check the papers this Sunday too and see if there's anything.

The side effects of my medication might not be too bad soon, if everything works out. She wants me to start taking Prilosec once a day with breakfast to see if that helps with my Otezla upsetting my stomach. Sounds weird, but she's the doctor.

What do you girls think of my resume a few posts above? It feels like it needs something but there's not really all that much else I could add. I had an OBJECTIVE section at one point but I read that nobody even reads that so it shouldn't be included.

Also... interview tips? And if I'm still presenting as a male, should I tell my employer during the interview that I'm going to be transitioning, or wait until after stuff like hair removal + hormones are to the point that I'm ready to actually change my name legally and get more major stuff done like breasts/butt?

Update: Oh and he told me there's a support group I could go to once a week with other trans in the area locally but it's downtown (nobody as far south as I live goes downtown)... it's sort of like ghetto-ish and scary in that area. Even the street view on google maps looks like a good place to get mugged or your radio stolen, lol. I probably won't go there... it's late at night too and I'm horrible with directions even at the best of times, well alone in unfamiliar territory in pitch black night.

Update: I managed to finish the Capital One application process. So, we'll see how that goes.

Update: lol wow, I just got an automated mail right away... "Based on your results, we are unable to move you forward in the process for this position." >_<

[stephaniec]

I still think talking to a social worker will help get some ideas.

[Venus]

I still think talking to a social worker will help get some ideas.

I don't know how it was for you but the one in my state seems worthless. The elderly lady on the phone seemed like she had no idea what she was talking about and wanted me to come down in person to sign up for some website to be able to see all their job listings... after a bit more probing it turns out the website is just the one I'd already found which you don't even need to register to use! https://okjobmatch.com/ada/

Anyways, I've applied to several more places at this point. It's starting to look like I'm going to have to send out dozens or even hundreds of applications before I get any bites. Job hunting is pretty demoralizing lol, especially when it's all that is holding me back.

[FTMax]

Anyways, I've applied to several more places at this point. It's starting to look like I'm going to have to send out dozens or even hundreds of applications before I get any bites. Job hunting is pretty demoralizing lol, especially when it's all that is holding me back.

It's a numbers game. Even for very well qualified people with experience and education, it often takes sending out hundreds of applications in order to get one interview, or having an inside connection who can make sure your application gets to the right people. Coupled with the weird job market in general, people often have to accept lower pay or work in a field/position that they aren't truly interested in but get hired for.

If you are seriously looking, apply for everything that you are qualified for, even if it isn't something that interests you. Interests do not matter when you are building experience and need money.

[Laura_7]

It's a numbers game. Even for very well qualified people with experience and education, it often takes sending out hundreds of applications in order to get one interview, or having an inside connection who can make sure your application gets to the right people. Coupled with the weird job market in general, people often have to accept lower pay or work in a field/position that they aren't truly interested in but get hired for.

If you are seriously looking, apply for everything that you are qualified for, even if it isn't something that interests you. Interests do not matter when you are building experience and need money.

Well another point could be to be really interested... and show it...
like making remarks... and being educated a bit about the subject.
If its something of interest some kind of passion for the subject should shine through.

[stephaniec]

I don't know how it was for you but the one in my state seems worthless. The elderly lady on the phone seemed like she had no idea what she was talking about and wanted me to come down in person to sign up for some website to be able to see all their job listings... after a bit more probing it turns out the website is just the one I'd already found which you don't even need to register to use! https://okjobmatch.com/ada/

Anyways, I've applied to several more places at this point. It's starting to look like I'm going to have to send out dozens or even hundreds of applications before I get any bites. Job hunting is pretty demoralizing lol, especially when it's all that is holding me back.

I had an appointment today with my social worker and I ask her about your situation and she said you should talk to a case worker, they specialize in helping people. My therapist is a psychology social worker. She said you should try for Medicaid , they don't have the work requirement.

[FTMax]

Well another point could be to be really interested... and show it...
like making remarks... and being educated a bit about the subject.
If its something of interest some kind of passion for the subject should shine through.

Hehe, I thought that went without saying - if you get invited to an interview do your research about the organization, the position, and the field. If it's not something that interests you but it is your only interview, fake interest and excitement about it. At the least, be excited about the prospect of getting a job.

Have a good idea about what you're getting into. Think of skills that position requires (which are often listed in the job description), and times in the past when you have used those skills. Find something the organization does that you can get behind (activism, sustainability, etc.) and be able to talk about why that's important to you.

The best people I have interviewed know what my company does, what services we offer, and what the position they're applying for entails before they're sitting in front of me.

[Venus]

Alright so I've applied for literally everything within a 25 mile radius that I qualify for through two different temp agencies and that website linked on my state's employment website (which is the only assistance in job hunting that my state appears to offer). I've applied to a handful not listed on those sites by going to their websites directly as well. I really hate the ones that waste your time with 2 hours of test scenarios and questions and then instantly reject you. Anyways, I've added some volunteer work to my resume now as well so it doesn't look all that bad.

And... at this point I don't know what else I can do except maybe wait a week and check for any new listings. That, and the listings in the Sunday paper. Just sitting around waiting seems like a total waste of time though...

I'd like to move out of here (Oklahoma) and to Washington before I'm 30 which means I have until 2017, because just on principal I wouldn't want to be living with my mom at 30. And well, Oklahoma isn't a great place for transgenders and neither is my home (since my mother is pretty against it). So, I really need to put these ~27 months to good use. I don't have to pay for much of anything here so all the money I make I'll be able to save and/or use towards my transition.

[Laura_7]

Well as you said you might look up some smaller places and call there... like people making jewelry etc...

[Venus]

Well as you said you might look up some smaller places and call there... like people making jewelry etc...

Yeah, I did that. It turns out those people aren't even in charge of whether or not they can take an apprentice, they have to go through some big corporation called Sterling Jewelers and apply on that site but the application doesn't actually work. I hit "Next" and nothing happens. I called their support and left a message but they haven't gotten back to me about it.

The problem is that most of the small local places that I know I could probably get hired on, I just physically couldn't do the job because of my conditions. It really sucks in that regard as those are the easiest jobs to get, especially for unskilled or untrained workers. I know my telephone company has receptionists and tech support. Hmm... nope, checked their site, no job openings.

*shrug* I'll keep looking.

[sweetbriar9]

I really wish that you were over here by silicon valley. Many of the small (and large) internet companies seem to be extremely liberal and accommodating when a person needs special working conditions. Some of the hiring practices are very "outside the box" as well. A woman that I know applied to one company and they interviewed her and then had her take a test. She described some of the questions to me and they were just classic IQ test questions. They didn't even need her to know much about computers (huh?). In many parts of the country there are small local internet providers who hire receptionists. It's not an ideal position but it's a foot in the door of a possibly well paid career. Most of the techies that I know also couldn't care less about a person's gender or race or whatever, there's more important stuff to think about. Anyways, Best of luck to you.