Hi, I have a job interview next week and not sure if I should reveal that I am a transsexual woman or not. Is it best to inform my potential employer up front in the interview, or wait until after I am hired or not say anything at all about it?
Quote from: Angelgrl on August 05, 2017, 10:42:48 AM
Hi, I have a job interview next week and not sure if I should reveal that I am a transsexual woman or not. Is it best to inform my potential employer up front in the interview, or wait until after I am hired or not say anything at all about it?
Depends. Are all of your documents updated to reflect that you're female? Are you passing and attempting to live stealth? Is your employer openly LGBT friendly?
Revealing that you're trans to your hiring manager won't likely improve your odds of being hired. HR will ask you for any previous names so they can conduct a background check, but they are obligated to keep that information to themselves and it need not be revealed to your manager.
Does any of that help?
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Quote from: KristinaM on August 05, 2017, 10:48:07 AM
Depends. Are all of your documents updated to reflect that you're female? Are you passing and attempting to live stealth? Is your employer openly LGBT friendly?
Revealing that you're trans to your hiring manager won't likely improve your odds of being hired. HR will ask you for any previous names so they can conduct a background check, but they are obligated to keep that information to themselves and it need not be revealed to your manager.
Does any of that help?
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+1
If all your documentation says female there is absolutely no need to tell them. Depending on the company policies, or where you live, they can't even ask what your "status" is if they had suspicions. Most places do criminal background checks these days. Legal name changes are generally "Part of the public record". An AKA may pop up in the course of an investigation. Still not a crime. Providing the prior name is a matter of convenience for the criminal background checker.
Now, if everything official is male but you are presenting female, things may get a bit messy with HR IF/When you are hired. Plus the Great God of the Electron will link your serial number to the male persona for both taxes and medical insurance. This will quickly catch up to you. No official name change sure makes payroll checks and insurance ID cards a bit messy to deal with.
You'll need to come clean with HR then and hope for the best. Only then would I say something since I am forced to. If probationary you can be dropped within minutes without cause. Only a Pointy Haired Boss will say "Get the F out of here you ->-bleeped-<-" these days.
Lastly, if like me you live and present mainly as male, and perhaps have plans of transitioning in the (near) future. I still wouldn't say anything. None of their business (mostly).
But of course, you also need to able to live with whatever decision you make. Is total honesty about your status more important then getting a job?
It might make your chances of being hired smaller. If you intend to come out and be at work as a female, I'd bring that topic as soon as I get a job offer (that way - you have a proof that they are ready to hire you and not someone else). If you don't think your changes from HRT would be visible for a while, and you don't insist on dressing as a female at job, then you have an option to establish yourself in the company and come out later... but in that case, you might lose your job soon after and won't have an option to be stealth.
I'd say it depends, I'd either put something about transitioning into my resume (sending it does not take much time - and if invited for the interview you know your transition is not an issue), or wait until job offer is presented. Interviews themselves should be focused on your skills, not problems :)
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if your legal documents are all up to date I wouldn't mention it as it wont impact how you do your job
During your interview you don't need to say a thing unless it's requested information on the application you fill out. After that, it gets a bit more complex. If the information provided to social security doesn't match, the IRS will request that the discrepancy be corrected. If you require a security check, ALWAYS come clean on any paper work you fill out as even after a name change, you are required to provide the old name. While many companies don't do a background check, if you suspect there will be one, references and records need to be consistent or HR needs to be informed of any issues.
Re: Previous names and background checks - Assuming that an employer would have a practical reason to know your old name (e.g. they may need it to check your work history, verify your educational or other credentials, or properly run a credit/criminal history check on you) then what others have said is true (you should disclose it if asked); given your picture (and assumed age) that is probably true in your case (same for most who've transitioned in adulthood). (If you transitioned and legally changed your name as a child or teenager, then for typical background checks - not security clearances like Dena's talking about* - it may not be necessary**.)
*Security clearances not only want every legal name you've had since birth, but also any nicknames, pseudonyms, or aliases you've used or been known by.
**My suggestion if this applies in your case is to ask HR or the investigator if you need or don't need to provide a name changed at age x and that no relevant records would be under beforehand (on an HR manager's blog someone who was adopted as a child posited that question, and the manager said for most jobs - with the aforementioned exceptions - no you don't need to provide a former name changed as a child).
Personally I would never work for someone who does not want me and my skills. If they are that shallow that they can't treat you humanly, you do not need them. When I apply I always submit proof of the prior work I have done whether it's improving a process or writing a program, it all revolves around making/saving money. If they want someone who is going to make a difference in the bottom line your lifestyle is not going to matter. As it should not.
As others have said, if your legal documents/certifications are all up to date with your presented gender then you dont need to disclose. Though you do need to write down past names used on the job application for the background check.
For me, I had a job interview last week and unfortunately my legal docs weren't changed yet, so when the HR person asked for my driver's license she came back and verified with me again. After that, they didnt care about me being trans, since they were more into my qualifications and experience for the job. Needless to say, I was hired.
Good luck.
Thank you girls :-) Yes, all my legal documents are up to date, I have been living full time as female for over ten years now, all documents say female with my correct name. I have another question, but it will need to be posted in a different section. Thank you.
Sue
If you make a big deal out of it, chances are they will too. So don't say anything, just follow the process and if you do get selected and feel you may be outed by background checks or something like that then talk to the HR person. It's very likely it won't be an issue at that point if they already realized you are a fit for the position. I say this out of personal experience working in HR, we hired a trans woman last year and only found out at the last minute.
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