Susan's Place Transgender Resources

What do you do for all your past employers, say, if I new prospective employer requires a confirmation of past employment?

This would mean you would have to phone the corporate HR of each company and ask them to change their records. If you are pre-op, you are out of luck, more or less, as they require documentation.

Is it worth going back and changing such info if you aren't going to use them as a reference??

Chrissi

well I have not contacted past employers, but I did contact some references.  Boy that was fun.  Of course.  I did not really change my name that much so it's not that big a deal.  plus a few of the older companies don't exist anymore either.

beni

I'm in the same situation & the only things I've learned is don't lie unless you have to & if so, it's one they're not going find out w/o digging/luck, & I leave the gender boxes unmarked. I wish I had more helpful advice, but since I'm in need of guidence in this area as well I'll give this a "bump" & cross my fingers.

I guess if you tell the actualy people you are using as refs what's going on, the actual records don't matter.

Is it usually better to tell the truth, especially when applying for jobs and interviews and stuff??

I failed to mention that I changed my name while working at my last job & all job apps(here) ask if you've worked under another name which you have to provide if for no other reason, than for them to verify your past emplorment. Also I've been fired from my last two jobs for trying to transition. Most lies will usually come out sooner or later, but if you don't plan on using your past employers any way, then maybe there's some wiggle room.

Most of my past employers have gone out of buisness and I have no references...

But I'll still have to explain the gaps in my employment record. Including the one where I was on "Child-Birth-leave" as it's called in icelandic.

Quote from: Bellaon7 on September 28, 2009, 01:32:42 PM
I failed to mention that I changed my name while working at my last job & all job apps(here) ask if you've worked under another name which you have to provide if for no other reason, than for them to verify your past emplorment. Also I've been fired from my last two jobs for trying to transition. Most lies will usually come out sooner or later, but if you don't plan on using your past employers any way, then maybe there's some wiggle room.

You've been fired twice for coming out at work? That's rough. Don't you have a local human rights commission/board in your area?

Rights?!?! 4 us? A very few # of states have rights 4 us, but not mine & not on the fed level.

It's really too bad that us TGs will not have the same opportunities that the rest of the population has in terms of careers just because of who we are.

Quote from: Miniar on September 28, 2009, 01:42:39 PM
But I'll still have to explain the gaps in my employment record. Including the one where I was on "Child-Birth-leave" as it's called in icelandic.

ROFL, yeah, that one is a doozy to explain...

I'm actually currently having trouble finding work...but a question related to this. On  resume, if your name change isn't final, should you still put your birth name, even if you don't plan on using any past employers? This would be the optimal time for me to start going as Chris instead of my birth name as none of my past jobs have anything to do wiith my desired career track, but name changes take time.

It's amazing the stuff past employers don't care about. As an example, I was with a large point of sale terminal company from when they were small. After a few years with them, I did a prank involving some of their equipment. I think I kinda wanted to be fired, frankly. So, I was fired, got a nice severence package and some paid free time, etc. Years later I have my own company and need some repair parts for some of their terminals. Lo and behold, they remember me all right, in glowing terms! I ended up having an account with them to order parts with.

My past employeer changed my name and gender for me, so I have over 10 years of verifiable job history as a woman.

I would think that it would be best to submit what you can to your employers in your new name but in your cover letter state that you are also known by another name, as you may have some credentials in your old name that are not easy to change.

Chrissi