Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transgender talk => Topic started by: EmilyRyan on July 15, 2016, 03:27:51 AM

Title: Still not sure what to do
Post by: EmilyRyan on July 15, 2016, 03:27:51 AM
So yeah I'm still here struggling to find a job so I can finally get an income and move out of parent's. It's like nobody will give me the time of day and despite how I come across on here I'm positive and outgoing, am young and energetic, have a good work ethic never came in late in my previous jobs and did what I was told and I have a good attitude and never get smart with managers and co-workers but still it all means nothing.

Just about every employer in my area has rejected me I've been turned down by every retail store, fast food place, telemarketer/call center, and just about every other low/entry level/non-skill level jobs not just in my town but in a couple other nearby towns as well they have all rejected me and couldn't tell ya how many rejection e-mails and rejections over the phone I have gotten in these three months alone(and I been job searching for almost a year now).

Overall I just don't know what the heck to do anymore I'm at my wits end here I even tried suggestions from other users on here such as joining job corps but didn't qualify due to my age. I want a job and I want an income and really want to finally start hrt but as long as employers continue to reject me I can't do any of that all I can do is sit here and continue to apply to the same places that have rejected me 20+ times I mean if I'm considered unqualified for retail and fast food then what am I even qualified for then?? 

I'm just totally clueless here what I do I even do if I can't get a job?? Do I starve and die eventually?? cause my parents aren't going to be around to support me forever and heck they'll eventually get fed up and kick me out I'm surprised they haven't already.

Again I ask what do I do now?? I can't keep going like this I seriously need to get an income soon
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: Elis on July 15, 2016, 03:48:25 AM
Sorry you're still going through this. Your only options are again volunteering (I highly recommend this as it'll give you some work experience to put onto your CV), keep trying to apply for jobs or send CVs to shops in your area in case they're looking. I'm looking for a part time job atm so I can relate to the struggle. I wish I can offer more advice. I was in your situation 2 years ago and the only thing that got me through was keep trying even though it was completely hopeless. The one good thing about being trans is it does make you a much more resilient person. You can do this :)
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: Hughie on July 15, 2016, 10:52:04 AM
This sounds really tough, sorry to hear it's been such a struggle. Is unemployment high in your area? Are you in a small or large community? Has anyone helped you with your resume? Is there a government career place or charity that can review your resume and give you tips?

I have different resumes depending on the kinds of jobs that I'm targeting. I'm also looking for p/t work right now. Each industry basically needs its own resume, and tailored to the job. The shorter the resume, the better - max two pages, one is better. For example, I have one targeted to libraries and bookshops, another for food industry, another for customer service. You just need to hook them enough to open the door to get you into an interview...

I agree with Elis above - volunteer experience is great, especially if you don't have a lot of work experience. And volunteer experience in the area you'd like to work, whatever that is. Sometimes even you can volunteer or do stuff online - ie, some people sell handmade or vintage on Etsy or other places. If you can sell stuff that's just a digital download, it saves a lot of hassle, but it's not immediate cash. For example, I have sold knitting patterns I've designed that people download to make themselves, and I am working on selling some of my writing to magazines/posting through Amazon.

Just a couple ideas for you. Hope this helps. :)
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: EmilyRyan on July 15, 2016, 01:03:52 PM
I've realized in the past that career centers don't help one bit to get a job especially when most of the funding is cut.

Is there anything I can do besides resort to volunteer work?? Sorry but I need something that pays.

And yeah my resume had been reviewed and revised many many many times by a professional there's nothing wrong with it I can assure.

Is there any sort of job programs where they actually give you a job??
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: Randy1980 on July 15, 2016, 01:11:42 PM
Maybe think about applying for a grant to go to school sometimes sometimes they may even give you enough to live on.. if you live in the us my suggestion would be join one of the military branches for the shortest term you can get 2 or 3 years they will pay for your housing and food then you can save a bunch of money then get on hormones the last year of your service but hide it then when you get out you will be able to move to a large city were there are more jobs and more trans resources and finish your transition from the sound of it.. that might be your best and fastest option just something to concider
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: EmilyRyan on July 15, 2016, 02:11:10 PM
I do live in the U.S. (Tennessee)

As for the military that's yet another thing I'm disqualified for due to medical reasons (nothing too significant but significant enough to keep from joining).

I would apply for grants to go a four year school (already have an associates) but first I need to move out of my parents so I can claim independent status in order to qualify for grants.
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: Elis on July 15, 2016, 02:11:53 PM
The job centres in the UK are useless too. You could try looking into apprenticeships; although the pay isn't usually great. Or try finding jobs that offer accommodation; like pub work or au pair jobs or domestic work.
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: Randy1980 on July 15, 2016, 03:02:49 PM
Did you already yell them you have medical issues I had a heart murmur when I joined on the health question are just check no on all the health questions and leave it up to them people do it every day I did and had no problem they don't have access to you civilian records so if it ever comes up after you were in act like you didn't know it's not the most honest approach but if you live in a small town with no work the only option really is to leave.. best and safest way to leave when you have no money is the military.. I don't know your medical history but it could be an option.. other than that school is your best option a minimum wage job will never fund your transformation so you need skills either by school or military if you leave your parents house living on minimum wage you may find yourself stuck in that for the next 20 or 15 years barely scraping by
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: FTMax on July 15, 2016, 03:27:13 PM
First, I'd have a new set of eyes look at your resume. Ideally someone who regularly hires people based on resumes, or someone who writes resumes for other people professionally.

Then I would continue applying at all the places nearby that you can get to. Just because they've rejected you in the past doesn't mean they will continue to.

I'd also consider expanding your search to nearby cities. If the area you live in has a very, very low unemployment rate, they may genuinely not be hiring anywhere during the times you're applying. Cities have more jobs, a larger transient population which results in more regular turnover, and are more likely to have something you qualify for. From there it's just a matter of finding roommates and making the arrangements to move.

I think you mentioned in a previous thread what I think is your biggest hurdle with finding work - that you don't drive. In a bigger city, this isn't an issue as you tend to have more reliable public transportation options or shorter distances to commute on foot or by bike. But in a more suburban or rural setting, it's a bit of a red flag. I regularly hire people at an entry level for jobs that don't involve any kind of driving, but I still want to see a license for a lot of reasons, and I want to know that people have the ability to get where I need them to be when I need them to be there.
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: RobinG78 on July 15, 2016, 05:55:07 PM
Try a temp agency. they are always looking for help. i worked at an Office Depot warehouse, after one week the Receiving manger asked me if I was for real. Why Sir? You do as your told and a show up on time. i was surprised when he handed me an app. Long story short I was hired full time and they bought my contract out with the temp service. Worked for a year and left for another job paying better.
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: Emileeeee on July 15, 2016, 06:21:39 PM
I agree with the temp job too. They get you straight to the hiring manager, bypassing HR. Why is that important? Well if you're like me and don't have a degree, hitting HR usually means a resume in the trash can, whether I am qualified or not. If I can speak with the hiring manager directly (through a temp agency), 9 times out of 10 I will be offered the job.
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: EmilyRyan on July 15, 2016, 06:33:45 PM
Are there any other ways to get a job??
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: popa910 on July 15, 2016, 06:40:27 PM
I'm also looking for jobs (I've just graduated from college) so my advice should be taken with a grain of salt, but I think it's reasonably good all the same.

One thing that I'm trying to do to put my time to good use in the mean while is by learning things online.  Sure, since I enjoy programming, resources for that may be easier to come by than for other passions.  However, I think that one of the best ways one can spend one's time is by improving oneself!

Not only do you gain potentially useful skills that, once you find a job, may help you perform well at that job, but you may quite possibly gain some valuable skills or experience that you can put on your resume, which may help you land a job in the first place!  Good luck! :D
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: Emileeeee on July 15, 2016, 06:45:26 PM
Quote from: Randy1980 on July 15, 2016, 03:02:49 PM
Did you already yell them you have medical issues I had a heart murmur when I joined on the health question are just check no on all the health questions and leave it up to them people do it every day I did and had no problem

This too. By the military's criteria for who can and cannot join, about 90% of the people in the military would be disqualified. At Parris Island, they went through a whole bunch of those questions right in the middle of the part that's the most difficult for people to handle. Almost every single person in the platoon stepped forward at least once, sometimes more, hoping to get out of there. To their dismay, it was just marked down an we were all still stuck there.
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: EmilyRyan on July 15, 2016, 06:50:28 PM
Any other way to get a job without having to join the military??
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: EmilyRyan on July 15, 2016, 09:41:55 PM
What happens to people are just unable to get a job no matter what they do and how motivate they are??
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: EmilyRyan on July 15, 2016, 10:35:15 PM
For those on here who own your own business would any of ya be willing to hire me??

I'm a good worker and can contribute positively

Would any of ya please be willing to give me a chance??  I have a lot to offer and contribute
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: popa910 on July 15, 2016, 11:02:02 PM
Quote from: EmilyRyan on July 15, 2016, 09:41:55 PM
What happens to people are just unable to get a job no matter what they do and how motivate they are??
Here are the three main paths I've seen in such people.
Like much of life, the outcome depends more than you'd think on how you react to the uncontrollable circumstances in which you find yourself.  I know it's hard to stay motivated, but sometimes you need to just keep plowing through even when you really have no motivation, because you know that once things finally work out, it'll probably have all been worth it.

Here are a couple quick tips I've come across online:

If you don't quite pass clearly as either male or female, you may want need to make some changes to fit more clearly into one of those claustrophobic and unfriendly boxes, at least until you get hired.  I don't wish to do this myself (I'm hoping to try growing my hair out a bit, and it's currently in the horrible messy bed-head stage), but it may be necessary, and it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.  I'd rather have a job and be able to save up money for a future transition (if that's the route I end up taking) than have no money while stagnating halfway through the transition due to the lack of money.

Also, just a word of advice that may or may not be helpful to you; I find it's something of which I often need to remind myself.  Don't let yourself get stuck in a routine, where you just send out resumes robotically.  Use your brain!  Get creative!  Look at things in a way that you've never done before!

When you look at things from a different perspective, it becomes much easier to differentiate yourself from other potential employees.  This, I imagine, is particularly crucial for the sort of jobs to which you seem to be applying.  I mean no offense when I say this, but for the "low/entry level/non-skill level job" market you say you're looking at, I imagine this is especially important.  I can see a hiring manager poring over dozens of applications, thinking that all the applicants seem like decent, nice people, all of whom would be competent but seeing nothing to bring one or two applicants to the top of the pool.  I could see the hiring manager sort of just doing "eenie meenie minie moe" (or however that's spelled) and randomly selecting one.

However, you can use this to your advantage as well.  If the other applications are unremarkable, it should be possible to distinguish yourself as (one of) the best applicant(s).  This is where your creativity must come in!  I don't know what part of your transition you are in (if you're in one), but you may be able to subtly use this to your advantage (I probably wouldn't mention it explicitly, of course).  For example, if you grew up hanging around mostly with boys, but now you mostly spend time with women, you might be able to say something like "very experienced and/or comfortable interacting with men and women".  (I know that that is very binary and some of you may not like it, but it shouldn't tip off the hiring manager that you're not a cisgender person, which I assume you wish to avoid, at least until after being hired.)

One last tip: if you can, it may be hugely beneficial for you to spend some time at the places where you hope to apply, in order to identify some issue/problem/inefficiency of the workplace.  That way, should you get an interview, you could mention, "I noticed you seem to be having some trouble with X.  Have you thought about doing Y or Z to resolve it?"  Be sure to think this out, though, is it could be a bit awkward if they say, "Yes, we tried that, but to no avail."  Or you could find something that they seem to have no idea could even be improved, and point it out to them.  Of course, you should ideally be able to offer up one or two potential solutions here as well.  Don't just tell them that they're not seeing something wrong without trying to help them.

I hope some of that helps!  And I wish you the best of luck!
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: popa910 on July 15, 2016, 11:04:12 PM
Also, do your best to appear confident, even if you aren't.  You need to convince the hiring people that you're capable of doing the job, so if you don't look like you even think that you can do it, how are they supposed to believe you?
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: EmilyRyan on July 15, 2016, 11:18:00 PM
Why can't the fact I want a job and willing to work be enough to get hired??

Only way it looks like I'm gonna ever make a decent living is if the government finally starts forcing employers to hire.
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: popa910 on July 15, 2016, 11:36:19 PM
Quote from: EmilyRyan on July 15, 2016, 11:18:00 PM
Why can't the fact I want a job and willing to work be enough to get hired??
Pardon my frankness, but because you need to be able to perform the job.

I assume you can in fact do what the job entails, but I just wanted to be clear on that.  Now for actual advice.

If you come across as being obviously transgender, unfortunately that can be a very quick path to a rejection, as sad (and probably illegal, I don't keep up with the specifics of all these laws and the debates surrounding them) as that may be.  The same thing happened to most non-white people only a few decades ago.  I've heard that what they said is that you had to be twice as good as a white person to just get an equal job.  It's disgusting, but that's how much of America currently is (sorry if you're not in America).

That brings me back to my previous advice.  Always try to improve yourself.  If you keep learning new things and developing your skills while you're looking for jobs, you'll eventually find it easier to land a job and you'll perform better as well.  Or you may be able to leapfrog to an entirely new tier of jobs, if you find something you really like or excel at.  Plus, I find that the more I learn, the confident in myself I become, and it sounds like you need some confidence right now.

Particularly useful may be to study psychology.  The job market you're pursuing involves a lot of interpersonal interaction, and so understanding why people behave the way they do may help.  And it could quite possibly help you figure out how to best present yourself to the hiring managers as well.

Also, don't take rejections too much to heart.  Learn from them, if possible, and then look forward to the next opportunity.  Also, depending on the number of people you're competing against for these jobs, you may simply have been getting poor luck in not being chosen.  If you're applying alongside 30 others, and the hiring manager (seeing that all applicants are equally satisfactory) randomly chooses one, it's to be expected that you'll be rejected from ~15 or so until you actually get the job, on average.  So give yourself the benefit of the doubt!  Maybe you're a perfectly decent applicant with poor luck.  You'll probably catch a break soon.
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: EmilyRyan on July 16, 2016, 12:01:44 AM
Yeah I'm not out publicly as transgender and I still have the appearance of a cis male and don't plan to start hrt until I can move out since my parents are very anti-lgbt and some other issues.

And yeah I live in the U.S. (Tennessee)

I have soo much to contribute and I make that clear on my resume I freaking hate the competition just to get a job just so I can live and don't starve. I mean how are we human beings suppose to live if we're required to have an income in order to do so but you have to get a job to do that and there's sooo much gate keeping in order to do that I mean not everyone is capable of the competition involved what happens to those who can't compete are they left to starve and die?? Please I would like someone to answer this without changing the subject.

I'm sorry for the rant here I'm just frustrated at what I have to go though just to work and make a living
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: bumblebreeze on July 16, 2016, 05:13:03 AM
im so so sorry to hear about your job situation. i recently just wrapped up searching for my current job, i just wanted to offer you a hand :) my friends actually get me to look over there resumes sometimes, i could help tweak if youd like <3 <3


(i just made my account idk how to private message)
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: FTMax on July 16, 2016, 09:53:48 AM
Quote from: EmilyRyan on July 16, 2016, 12:01:44 AM
I have soo much to contribute and I make that clear on my resume I freaking hate the competition just to get a job just so I can live and don't starve. I mean how are we human beings suppose to live if we're required to have an income in order to do so but you have to get a job to do that and there's sooo much gate keeping in order to do that I mean not everyone is capable of the competition involved what happens to those who can't compete are they left to starve and die?? Please I would like someone to answer this without changing the subject.

I'm sorry for the rant here I'm just frustrated at what I have to go though just to work and make a living

People who can't compete in the job market typically have a reason for that - usually they have some kind of circumstance that precludes them from working the way most people do, and these circumstances allow them to access government assistance. Since you are presumably still supported to an extent by your parents since you are allowed to live with them, I'm not sure you would be able to access any of those benefits. Not 100% sure, as I'm not an expert in that realm. But anyway, there are programs at every level (local, state, federal) to provide people with the means to feed and house themselves while they stabilize. The only reason I have ever seen anyone starving is because they were either ignorant of the existence of those programs, too proud to access them, or were a child of someone who was either of the aforementioned things.

There are even private programs to assist people with things like food and housing. Most churches in my area that have their own building will allow down on their luck folks to stay there. There are free meals at services and activities. My church also runs a free fresh produce market for people that couldn't otherwise afford it. These places don't care if you're a member or what you believe in. Sure, they'd like you to join in, but most important is getting your basic needs met and they will gladly see to that if you are willing to show up.

Everyone I've met who doesn't excel in typical work environments and isn't looking for government assistance tends to have good luck with start-ups (provided they have the skills), overnight work (think security or hotel staff), or positions that are very solitary like OTR driving or remote customer service.

The best thing you could probably do now while you're looking is figure out what exactly you could see yourself doing long term. Chances are, there are requirements aside from seniority to get there. So you could start by getting back into school if that's a requirement, or building a portfolio.

I have hiring authority at my main job and I run my own business part-time. If you would like to send me your resume, I'd be happy to look at it and critique it. I wouldn't be able to formally interview you or offer you anything unless you were local to the DC area or had the relevant certifications for the kind of work I do, but I could potentially point you towards local resources more effectively having seen your resume and knowing more about what you'd ultimately like to do.
Title: Re: Still not sure what to do
Post by: Dena on July 16, 2016, 10:02:58 AM
Quote from: bumblebreeze on July 16, 2016, 05:13:03 AM
im so so sorry to hear about your job situation. i recently just wrapped up searching for my current job, i just wanted to offer you a hand :) my friends actually get me to look over there resumes sometimes, i could help tweak if youd like <3 <3


(i just made my account idk how to private message)
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