tips for job hunting?

[Kevin]

Do you guys have any general tips for job hunting during early transition?

I'm out to pretty much everyone and live as a male as much as possible right now, but my name isn't changed legally yet (I have to wait until May due to some state residency stuff, and I have to wait until I have money) and I'm starting T sometime in May (hopefully, if all works out) so I'm going to have to deal with that on the job if I can get a job.

Any tips about this stuff in general would be great.  Specifically how to tell employers/when to tell employers, what to say at interviews, etc. . . . and also is it legal to use a shortened form of your name on a job application?  Not a whole new name, but basically a nickname derived from your legal name?

- Ray

[ConfusedMichelle]

I work at Starbucks Coffee.

They are GREAT because...

A.  They teach their employees to accept all kinds and really, most baristas are down to earth, great people.
B.  CHEAP health insurance.
C.  You can go by any nickname you want.  If you tell the manager when you get hired that you would like to be called something different, he/she will be sure to introduce you as your desired name to everyone.

I would say that where ever you go, your boss will be very likely to understand your situation. What kind of job are you looking for?

[Dennis]

Like Brady said, it really depends on the area of employment. Are you looking retail, marketing, professional or?


Dennis

[Kevin]

Hmm, I'll have to check out Starbucks.

I'm basically just looking for a minimum wage job.  Retail, fast food, really anything that doesn't require a lot of previous experience.  Guess I'm just a little nervous about everything, being in a pretty conservative area.

[Dennis]

As far as telling employers, wait till you're some time on T and it's starting to get obvious, at least that's what I'd do.

And it's perfectly legal to go by any name. All you have to do is say right at the start, I go by Ray. You probably have to put your legal name on an application because they'll need it to do a criminal records check, but you could put it as Lisa Smith ("Ray") on the application and that'll make them aware that you answer to Ray.

Dennis

[ConfusedMichelle]

Im serious, dude. Go for Starbucks.  I live in probably the most conservative town in America, George Bush's home town, and they are the most understanding people you will ever meet.  They love diversity and your customers are usually great too let me know if ya decide to apply, I can give you all the tips ya need!

[Jamie-o]

Borders is a good choice as well.  They pride themselves on their diversity standards and actively recruit from the LGBT community.  As I recall they were ranked in the top 10 places to work by The Advocate and some other similar publication. Also, booksellers are a pretty open minded bunch for the most part. 

As of a couple years ago (in suburban Illinois, anyway) wages started at $7.25 an hour, with a fifty cent raise after a few months.  (Can't remember if it was 3 or 6.)  Plus you can wear anything you want as long as it's clean, doesn't have holes, and isn't offensive. (Unless you work in the cafe or become a supervisor.)

[_Kris_]

I've been curious about this, as well, so I'm glad that somebody else asked. I'm just wondering about how to go about things while I still look as feminine as I do. I still wish I could be called by masculine pronouns and such, but that's probably asking for too much since I'm not able to do much of anything to really pass right now. So, I'm a little nervous about how my fellow employees will react to my transitioning during the time that they know me. Should I tell them right off that I plan on doing it? Or should I just keep it to myself and wait till they notice and start asking questions?

[tekla]

As someone once told me, and it turned out to be true... You will work harder at getting the job you really want then you ever will at the job itself.  That might be somewhat overstated, but not by much, at least the job itself will not frustrate you in the same way the job search will.

There are lots and lots of sites on the web dealing with job hunts, how to do your resume, interview questions and how to answer them.

I got 1/2 a million hits on "job hunting tips" and 3 million + on "job interviewing tips" 

[mikke]

I've worked at starbucks for a little over 3 years; pre and post transition. It's been amazing; I've worked for several stores and have had terrific support. I'm not "out" at my current store because I live in stealth now, but I feel if I were to explain my past they would be supportive.

But be sure you go for a corporate store- not a licensed store in a grocery chain or something. I've done that before and it was NOT a good experience.

[ConfusedMichelle]

I agree with Lane.  Don't ever ever go to a fake licensed store Starbucks haha.

But yeah, SB is a great place to work

[Jamie-o]

Don't know if you're still looking for a job, but I just found this list of companies whose corporate policy specifically forbid discrimination based on gender identity.  Thought it might be useful.

http://w3.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Search_the_Database&Template=/CustomSource/WorkNet/srch.cfm&searchtypeid=5&searchSubTypeID=1

[Kevin]

Thanks for the tips.

I've actually been planning to apply to Starbucks since reading this thread, but haven't done it quite yet.  Sounds like a good place to work!

I've applied to 25 different places and still no luck . . .

[ConfusedMichelle]

I just put in my two weeks notice at Starbucks, simply because our new manager is too lazy.

But, when I move in August, I plan to go back.

[Pica Pica]

Borders is a good choice as well.  They pride themselves on their diversity standards and actively recruit from the LGBT community.

That must be why as a seemingly straight up male they completely, utterly and very rudely ignore me.

I've applied to 25 different places and still no luck . . .

I'm getting in the hundred and twenties... really don't know what I'm doing wrong. I put on my bestest smile and everything.

[Dev]

I've worked at starbucks for a little over 3 years; pre and post transition. It's been amazing; I've worked for several stores and have had terrific support. I'm not "out" at my current store because I live in stealth now, but I feel if I were to explain my past they would be supportive.

But be sure you go for a corporate store- not a licensed store in a grocery chain or something. I've done that before and it was NOT a good experience.

How do you know a corporate from a non?   Sorry, but once I retire from my current job I am going to be looking for a job for the first time in 16 years, so it will be a lot like starting over.  I would prefer Borders if I can dress up, but have nothing against Starbucks either since both would be good jobs for me when I go back to college.

[Kevin]

I'm getting in the hundred and twenties... really don't know what I'm doing wrong. I put on my bestest smile and everything.

Oh, wow!     Sorry to hear that, that's a lot of places to have applied to...

[Jamie-o]

Borders is a good choice as well.  They pride themselves on their diversity standards and actively recruit from the LGBT community.

That must be why as a seemingly straight up male they completely, utterly and very rudely ignore me.

And how does that differ from customer service anywhere else in Britain?  >

Just teasing.  In all fairness, it's been 15 years since I've lived in the U.K., so standards may have changed.  But I'll never forget the Time Out restaurant reviewer who complained - in all seriousness - that while a new restaurant had excellent food, the service was "entirely too friendly."  I was ROTFLMAO over that one. 

[Dennis]

I'm getting in the hundred and twenties... really don't know what I'm doing wrong. I put on my bestest smile and everything.

375 job applications after I graduated from law school. Rejected by every one of them. I hung in there and eventually got where I wanted to be. I'd love to say don't let it get you down, but it does. /hugs

Dennis

[mikke]

I've worked at starbucks for a little over 3 years; pre and post transition. It's been amazing; I've worked for several stores and have had terrific support. I'm not "out" at my current store because I live in stealth now, but I feel if I were to explain my past they would be supportive.

But be sure you go for a corporate store- not a licensed store in a grocery chain or something. I've done that before and it was NOT a good experience.

How do you know a corporate from a non?   Sorry, but once I retire from my current job I am going to be looking for a job for the first time in 16 years, so it will be a lot like starting over.  I would prefer Borders if I can dress up, but have nothing against Starbucks either since both would be good jobs for me when I go back to college.

You can just ask. But really, usually a corporate is a stand-alone store, whereas a licensed store tends to be inside of another, like a grocery store or an airport. So you would be hired by that particular company, rather than starbucks themselves.