Looking for a job. Should I be worried?

[Dora]

A little over a year ago my computer job of 11 years was outsourced to India. I decided to take advantage of the situation and take the year off to transition. I am now ready to look for work.

My birth name is legally Dora and my birth certificate, driver's license and social security all have my name on them (w/ gender marker "M"). I am looking for a computer related job but I will work anywhere if nothing pans out. I am living FT/RLE but I do not have a problem if they know about me. I would prefer to be under the radar but I believe SS will out me anyway. The state I am now living in (Colorado) has transgender rights laws in place.

I would be very much interested in reading experiences from people who are in transition who have gone looking for a job and how you dealt with the interviews, past recommendations etc.

I worried I would run into problems getting a place to live, but I got an apartment on the first day. Hopefully, I am worried about nothing once again.

Thanks, Dora

[soldierjane]

As long as the outing is only to HR and management, you'll be ok. There's absolutely no need for anyone else to know as you come to them already transitioned.

[tekla]

I would think that in today's economic climate being TG is far less of a problem than being IT.

[Dora]

As long as the outing is only to HR and management, you'll be ok. There's absolutely no need for anyone else to know as you come to them already transitioned.

I agree. However, I am concerned about getting the job, not so much of what to do once I have the job.

[soldierjane]

I would think that in today's economic climate being TG is far less of a problem than being IT.

Ouch... lol

[Dora]

I would think that in today's economic climate being TG is far less of a problem than being IT.

I understand that. And if it doesn't work out, I will work at Walmart McDonalds. But first I have to get the job...

[tekla]

A close friend of mine, with years of training in the Navy, and over a decade and a half in IT recently went for a job.  They got five people in a room, and for a job that only a few years ago paid $80K a year, they began to offer it at a lower and lower salary.  My friend dropped out once they were down to 60K, with the job going to someone who took like $45K, or almost half of what they were paying the person who had it before them.

Hardball.

[Ms.Behavin]

Well I start a new job on Jan 5th.  But I've been outfull time for 2 years at the old company.  I contacted one reference who did not know of my change, but everyone else were people, contractors, etc that knew me after I went full time.  I changed jobs because the old firm was struggling and also because my boss was acting weird.

I'm looking forward to the new job were everyone knows me only as she.  Pay for me is about the same too, but I'm in consulting engineering.

Beni

[HelenW]

I was laid off last January, 4 months after going full time.  I was able to find a temp job in April that became permanent after 5 weeks.  The lessons I learned was, don't out yourself to the HR, etc, until after you are hired; assume that the SSA will send a no match letter if the employer tells them they have you listed as female (it happened to me a couple of weeks ago  >.<) and don't assume people will hate you if your past comes to light.

I came out to HR while they were processing me in.  My DL has a F on it (NY State will change the DL gender with a doctor's letter but still doesn't have any legal trans protection laws) so that didn't trigger any questions but my brand new SS card did.  That gave me the opportunity to come out to the HR person.  Talk about stress!  She just stopped for a half second, looked me in the eye and said, "OK, no problem!" and continued the in-processing.  Talk about relief!!  I hardly felt my feet when I walked out that door!

I hope your experience will be the same, or better, Dora.  Good luck!

hugs & smiles
Emelye

[KarenLyn]

I was looking for work shortly after I transitioned and there were no problems. HR & the management had my former name for my background check. Everything went smooth.

[Dora]

Now that I am in Colorado I can get my license changed to F with a doctor's statement so getting that done will move to the top of my ToDo list. Thank you for the tip. I am also contacting my former employer so my name will match my resume.

Thank you KarenLyn, Emelye and Beni. Once again I am my own worst enemy. I think that I just need to relax, trust my gut and just do it.  Besides, if they do have a problem with me do I really want to work there?

My friend dropped out once they were down to 60K, with the job going to someone who took like $45K, or almost half of what they were paying the person who had it before them.

In spite of the current job market, I would be foolish to not go for the computer job. I'm flexible. When looking at the possibility (probability?) of working at Walmart, $45K doesn't sound quite so bad.

Dora

[mickie88]

I would think that in today's economic climate being TG is far less of a problem than being IT.

I understand that. And if it doesn't work out, I will work at Walmart McDonalds. But first I have to get the job...

SERIOUSLY whatever you do DON'T work at walmart, you have NO PROTECTION WHATSOEVER. if somebody outs you there, they will screw you with their policies. STAY AWAY FROM WALMART. i beg of you. it really is for your own good. most everybody else will tell you the same thing too.

[Dora]

I would think that in today's economic climate being TG is far less of a problem than being IT.

I understand that. And if it doesn't work out, I will work at Walmart McDonalds. But first I have to get the job...

SERIOUSLY whatever you do DON'T work at walmart, you have NO PROTECTION WHATSOEVER. if somebody outs you there, they will screw you with their policies. STAY AWAY FROM WALMART. i beg of you. it really is for your own good. most everybody else will tell you the same thing too.

LOL, I thought about you when I wrote that. 

I am actually thinking about one of the book chains. The larger chains are on the HRC list. Janet_Lynn is at Home Depot and doesn't seem to be having any problems.

Thanks for the tip though... Walmart is definitely at the bottom of my list.

[mickie88]

I would think that in today's economic climate being TG is far less of a problem than being IT.

I understand that. And if it doesn't work out, I will work at Walmart McDonalds. But first I have to get the job...

SERIOUSLY whatever you do DON'T work at walmart, you have NO PROTECTION WHATSOEVER. if somebody outs you there, they will screw you with their policies. STAY AWAY FROM WALMART. i beg of you. it really is for your own good. most everybody else will tell you the same thing too.

LOL, I thought about you when I wrote that. 

I am actually thinking about one of the book chains. The larger chains are on the HRC list. Janet_Lynn is at Home Depot and doesn't seem to be having any problems.

Thanks for the tip though... Walmart is definitely at the bottom of my list.

i would only have it on my list as a place NOT to work. and Janet Lynn is at Lowes not home depot, not to mention home depot left my area due to there's and menards competition.

[Janet_Girl]

Actually Dora.  I work for Lowe's, not Depot.  I have not heard of any Transperson at Depot.  And Lowe's is very trans and GLB friendly.  We are protected from abuse in the policies of the company.  But your point is I am Having NO problems.

Unlike our Mickie who is harassed by the management at Wally World.  My managers were told that any harassment directed at me, would not be tolerated, period.

Janet

[Dora]

...Lowe's is very trans and GLB friendly.  We are protected from abuse in the policies of the company.  But your point is I am Having NO problems. My managers were told that any harassment directed at me, would not be tolerated, period.

Janet.
How fortunate you are to have such people supporting you at work. I sometimes wonder if that is the TG friendly polices published by the companies is just smoke and mirrors. But your work experience along with the others I have read here on Susan's gives me hope in that I too will find a place to work where I will be accepted for who I am.

I'm waiting on a couple of legal loose ends to tie up and to get my name change at my former employer and then I am out the door to find out for myself. Should be interesting...

Dora

[Janet_Girl]

Hi Dora,

There are listings of GLBT friendly companies.  I think that you can maybe Google it.  And the Wiki might even have a listing.

Good luck in getting things set up and in the job search.

Janet

[lisagurl]

A close friend of mine, with years of training in the Navy, and over a decade and a half in IT recently went for a job.  They got five people in a room, and for a job that only a few years ago paid $80K a year, they began to offer it at a lower and lower salary.  My friend dropped out once they were down to 60K, with the job going to someone who took like $45K, or almost half of what they were paying the person who had it before them.

Hardball

Big box stores like Walmart are the cause of reduced wages. They play hardball with suppliers till no one can afford to pay a union wage to provide people with a decent living. Now the automakers want to do the same thing reduce wages and benefits. All because we let companies pay lower wages overseas and they do not have to provide benefits or comply with pollution standards. The only way to reverse the cycle is not to buy things made by slave labor.

[tekla]

Agreed, which is why WallMart does not get my money.