Susan's Place Transgender Resources

"While" trans. That makes it sound like I'm talking about being drunk or high.

Hi everybody. I was gone for a while. I was actually homeless. It sucked. Then I broke my wrist skating a bowl, which landed me back at my parents' house. No fun, but homelessness sucks a thousand times harder.

So here I am, trying to get back on my feet. My legal name is still my boy name. I'm not in a rush to change it. I have way more important ->-bleeped-<- to deal with.

How do I juggle with a resumé and job interviews, having a male name and being visibly and openly trans? Should I put on my resumé my preferred name, too?

because a resume is not a legal document, you can use your preferred name. however what i did was put the initial of my first name, my preferred name then my last name. so an example would be like B. Robert Smith kind of thing. i really don't know how to go about when to tell them in interviews or even being visibly trans and going to a job interview because they could use it as an excuse not to hire you, etc. but play it off as something as you not being "qualified" enough. i mean idk how often this happens or w/e but it very well could be a reason it does. i think some things, especially some places, i would look up their stance on the LGBT+ community and from there you could probably roll with it and figure out when to tell them or w/e else. that is just what i would do though.

hi
i have the same problem and also i never know what to expect when going to an interview, i find if i am being interviewed by a female its a very good starter for a conversation and puts me on the front foot and really boosts my confidence but i have some serious issues with men i feel very unsafe so an interview with i guy i know i wont get the job

My trans friend Drew says that when he was applying for jobs before his legal documents were changed, he did the following:

He put his legal name first, and then his chosen name in quotes after it. So in his case he put "Angela ("Drew") [last name]"

Whatever you do, don't make a big deal out of it. Don't ask for special permission for everything, don't volunteer any information about being trans that they themselves don't ask you. If you don't make a big deal out of being trans, there's a much better chance that neither will they.

I learned this lesson the hard way. I made a big deal out of being trans when I started at my last job, asking special permission from the manager to be allowed to have my hair longer and keep my earrings in because I'm trans, and planning on transitioning, and 90 days later once my probationary period ended I found myself thrown out the door for no adequately-explained reason and with no warning whatsoever.

Just roll with it. If they ask, be honest. If they don't ask, don't tell them.

Hey, I was thinking about you and how you were doing. I had not seen you post in a while and I was hoping you were ok.

I can only offer you good luck on the resume, hugs.