I got a call for a job interview earlier today and he called my cell # and asked, "is Dominick there?"... should I take that as my voice not passing as male? Or am I reading too much into this? I said this is Dominick and he told me who is was and wanted to set up an interview. If he's calling my cell phone, why wouldn't he just say Dominick instead of asking for Dominick?
But anyways, I put my preferred name down on my resume under my initials, I put, "preferred name: Dominick." So I'll be going into the interview as male, but during the interview I'm gunna have to explain to him I'm trans and I'm really nervous about that. I know he's gunna need to know my real name for background check and references. I'm more nervous telling a guy I'm trans than a female for safety reasons. Anyone else feel this way or is it just me?
I've worked as a hiring manager on many occasions and I always ask to speak with whomever I'm calling just in case. They may not always realize they're calling your cell, plus there may be occasions that someone else picks up for phone. I wouldn't worry too much about that.
In the last chapter of a book called "the nearest exit may be behind you" there is a paragraph on how to explain your situation. I suggest you try and find it at a nearby library or get a copy before you go to the interview. It will help build your confidence and you might be able to paraphrase it for yourself. You really are a better person for having succesfully transitioned as you have.
Huggs
Emily
I'm planning to go to job interviews as male too but not disclose that I'm trans. I'm simply gonna tell them my preferred name, then when hired and it comes to the legal documents, tell them "that" is my legal name but I go by the other one. I will leave the 'trans' part implicit for them to figure out.
So that's a possibility you could try if you don't feel like explaining it... I don't really think gender is relevant at a job interview anyway.
But yeah good luck, bro. Interesting thread too. ;D
Yeah, you're reading too much into his greeting. Even though it's your cell phone number, he doesn't know someone else won't answer it/use it. I've asked someone multiple times to answer my phone for me when I can't. He has no way of knowing it will be you on the other end. Could have been a wrong number as well.
So far I haven't had to explain myself for a job. I'm still nervous about putting my former name down for background checks. At the moment I'm either putting my "(Old First Initial). (Old Last Name)" or simply "Please have HR contact me if necessary."
Good luck on your interview! Hope it works out for you. :)
@blair: Thanks.
@Emily Ray: My interview is early tomorrow morning so I won't be able to pick of a copy, but thank. :)
@Ciarán: Do you put your real name down on job applications? Or are you just doing resumes?
I will leave the 'trans' part implicit for them to figure out
That's a good idea. He'll know I'm trans as soon as I tell him my name. I just don't want to make the interviewer feel uncomfortable once he knows I'm trans, and I really want to get the job too. If it's meant to be I'll get it. I'm not worrying about whether I get it or not. I'm just worry that b/c I'm trans I might not get the job and I worry for safety reasons too and other people who work there finding out I'm trans. I don't want people knowing I'm trans for safety reasons. That's why I need to get my name legally change so I don't have to explain myself to people or have people know I'm trans when I give them my real name for job interviews.
@Adio: Thanks. That's good you haven't had to explain yourself. Are you worried you might have to?
Quote from: Dominick_81 on October 03, 2011, 12:16:28 AM
Do you put your real name down on job applications? Or are you just doing resumes?
I've only done resumes so far but I would do the same for job apps, as they are not legal documents.
Usually you provide legal information on the first day of the job, after being hired, so yeah if you do that it shouldn't effect whether or not they hire you. But then of course there's a chance they'll fire you once they find out... :/
Quote from: Dominick_81 on October 03, 2011, 12:16:28 AMI just don't want to make the interviewer feel uncomfortable once he knows I'm trans
Honestly, I don't think your concern is making the interviewer uncomfortable. I think YOU are uncomfortable.
I was the same way. I wanted to make everything more comfortable for me so at first I put on my resume:
Miscellaneous: Transwoman.
Which was a huge mistake. I never got a call. So, I decided to just deal with it and take it off. Then the calls came in. I just nipped it in the butt and went in for the interviews and didn't mention a thing about my gender identity. The only difference is that I already had my name changed so I really didn't have to explain. But since I knew I wasn't passable, I was worried they would clock me anyway.
Regardless though, some companies do background checks and will find out about your past that way. The company I work for ran one on me so I'm sure they know. But they hired me anyway. Just go in, present as who you feel to be, and worry more about aceing the questions and proving you're perfet for the job.
I think I may be late but I wish you the best.
Quote from: Dominick_81 on October 03, 2011, 12:16:28 AM
@Adio: Thanks. That's good you haven't had to explain yourself. Are you worried you might have to?
Sort of. I have other documents that I can use for the I-9 form (proof that I'm eligible to work in the US), so I won't have to use my birth certificate. But I'm worried that a background check may show my old name. Even if it does, I don't know that anyone would say anything.
Thanks for the replies.
I went in this morning for the interview and everything went fine. I didn't have to explain anything. The first thing he needed was my license and I had to sign a paper. He saw that my signature didn't match the name I preferred to be called and he's like, "oh that's right, you preferred to be called Dominick." And after the interview was over he said, "Thank you sir" and I was on my way.
Thanks for sharing this. I'm not aiming to go back into the public workforce yet, so it's an aspect of transition I'd forgotten to consider.
@kael: No prob. :)
Congrats, Dominick! Glad everything went smoothly. Hope you get the job! :)
@Farm Boy: Thanks. Unfortunately I didn't get the job. Guess it wasn't meant to be.