Quote from: Angélique LaCava on April 22, 2014, 07:59:39 PM
well let me add that the 2 places I applied at were burger king and dollar general. I highly doubt anyone who works at those 2 places need much experience lol

You'd be surprised.  It's a nasty economy out there, and I'm sure that both Burger King and Dollar General are receiving many, many applications for those positions (even entry-level), with plenty of applicants greatly exceeding the minimum qualifications.  There's a reason unemployment is so high right now - there's not enough jobs to go around, and just bringing the minimum to the qualification table doesn't cut it anymore.

Keep applying.  I'd suggest ramping up the job search to a minimum of five job applications per day, each and every day, and I'd also suggest leaving out any hint that you're trans when you apply.  If the application doesn't bring it up (which it shouldn't in the US), then bringing it up yourself might suggest to some employers that you're likely to make a big deal of your trans status if they give you the job.  They probably don't care that you're trans, but they might care if you decide to make it public.

Good luck - it's hard, and I sympathize.  Been there, done that, never want to do it again, and I can't express how much it bothers me that the younger generation can't get a decent foothold in the job market because of how badly the older generations have screwed things up.

You do have the new strip mall opening up, on I 10.  They will have several stores opening real soon if they havent allready.
Put in applications at ALL of them.

Even before my name change was legal, I used my preferred name on applications - apart from those that called for a security clearance check.. Having my clearance did complicate it a little. But I certainly made no mention of being trans on an application.

I wouldn't assume you didn't get an interview or the job because you are trans. The job market is tough all over.. Even people with skills and a previous work history are finding it hard. I'm a qualified chef, amongst other things, and I can't get any work..

Applying for jobs is a numbers game...especially with your first job.  For every job opening you apply for, there are always a lot of others competing for the same position.  So don't take it personal, and don't get discouraged after putting in just two applications.  Keep going.

And as a father, I can understand your dad's position.  I don't know how supportive he has been otherwise, or what your relationship is like.  But this may just be pragmatism, and concern for your well-being -- even if it's misguided concern.

I managed to get a new professional job about two weeks ago after resigning a little bit ago. It was the first one I applied for ( and had other interviews lined up ).

But I certainly didn't mention my trans status at any point, and I pass well enough. So they don't know, or rather didn't know, until the police check where former names are needed. The air did get a little crisp after that. I hope it doesn't come back to haunt me.

You should try Hyatt hotel(if there is one in your area). The granddaughter who's currently on of the CEO's is a transgender woman. So you being transgender there wouldn't be a problem if you're just starting out. Also ROSS, ULTA and CVS are three trans friendly companies.

Quote from: kate on April 23, 2014, 09:32:28 AM
Next time you apply for a job like at Burger Kings, put your gender as Female. My first job when i was 16, i'm pretty sure they didn't do a background check or references. Entry level jobs usually can't give a sh*t.

That's a good point.  Every job I worked for did have intensive background checks, with the exception of when I was a photo tech in some pharamcy chain.  I kind of just got the job and that was it.  So, honesty may not be the best policy here, lol. 

Quote from: kate on April 23, 2014, 09:32:28 AM
Next time you apply for a job like at Burger Kings, put your gender as Female. My first job when i was 16, i'm pretty sure they didn't do a background check or references. Entry level jobs usually can't give a sh*t.

+1

There is just no need to list anything else.

Getting the first job is hard enough even if you're applying as cis... Just mark yourself as female and your chosen name and keep trying. You'll eventually find a place. Seriously, the first job is always the hardest to get!

Work for a place that you know supports and embraces diversity. I work for a college that does everything they can in making all walks of life feel comfortable and welcome here. When I came out to my work, management and HR were more than willing to ensure that I felt welcome and secure and my coworkers were very supportive as well.

Like others have said NEVER put on a app that you're trans. Your a young woman and that's it so check female and keep moving.

I would suggest you try to apply to as many places as you can. Even if you have to go to the mall and apply to every store or restaurant in the food court. When you get an interview sell yourself and let them know that even though you don't have prior job experiences that your a fast learner and a team player. Someone is going to give you a chance. Also try volunteering somewhere. That's a great way to gain experience and gain references. It shows that your serious about working.

Also, I'm not sure if you're into the medical field but they are very accepting of trans people. Try looking into medical assistance or nursing assistance. A lot of cities offer free nursing assistance training and it's good money.

If there's one mistake that I've made over and over again in transition, and that I'm only now learning from, it's basically NEVER make a big deal out of something or ask special permission unless someone else makes it a problem. People have VERY wrong notions of what MtF transgender people are. Most people equate "transgender" with "cross-dresser," and they automatically see what they'd consider to be "icky" images of someone with a 5 o'clock shadow wearing a pink dress. So you're selling yourself short by mentioning that, and making people WAY more afraid of you than you need to be.

Apply, don't talk about your trans status on the application, show up at the interview, and don't even mention your gender identity unless they themselves ask you about it. Basically, don't make a big deal out of something that probably wouldn't be a big deal if they'd just see you and talk to you without the stigma of knowing that you're trans.

Be yourself, be unashamed of who you are, and have an attitude of "why the hell would you think that there's anything wrong with me? This is who I am, I'm just living my life, and if someone has a problem with it, that's not my problem, it's theirs." Basically, don't create problems that might not be there in the first place. I got fired from two jobs in a row because of this exact tendency to ask for special permission, constantly apologizing for myself.

If that is you in your avatar, just put F on the applications. Chances are if you are going for a job like burger king, they aren't even gonna check references or anything else. This gender crap gets rediculous either you can do the job or can't do the job. Now if you are forty and have no other jobe references it may seem a little fishy but if you are in your late teens or early twenties with no references it's not that uncommon.

if you visually pass telling them your transgender is a bad idea.

Quote from: Angélique LaCava on April 22, 2014, 06:05:53 PM
I included that I was a MTF transgender in the online application.

I don't see why it's necessary or appropriate to highlight that, "you're a MTF transgender" on your application. If you were gay or straight would you indicate that you're either gay or straight on your application for a job?

"Transgender" is not a gender. It's a term to describe those who are transitioning medically through hormone replacement and surgery from one gender to the other. You're either male or female.

Quote from: SammyRose on April 23, 2014, 03:36:46 AMSo they don't know, or rather didn't know, until the police check where former names are needed. The air did get a little crisp after that. I hope it doesn't come back to haunt me.

What you could've done there is put something down like "Will disclose to the bureau/agency doing the check" and see if you can give the sensitive info straight to the criminal records bureau and/or the agency doing the background check (it may delay the process a bit, but it would save you from being outed to whoever's making the hiring decision); a fellow MTF on here once did that successfully when applying for a security clearance (and is similar to the official procedure in places like the UK for criminal checks involving transpeople). If you had no criminal history (including no arrests ever) of any kind before your name change (or under any other aliases, which you'd need to mention too) you may have even been able to get away with saying something like "None that applicable records would be under*" (assuming it's not for something like a security clearance where they WILL want to know your full history, even from when you were a juvenile) and if they didn't inquire further you'd be in the clear.

*This also applies if they want to know what other names your work history/school records/references/other credentials are under, and is a good way to respond in a case where your employer doesn't need to know about your past to check those records (either because you transitioned and changed your name early enough, or you contacted EVERY applicable person/institution and they updated your records).

Depending on your country maybe you could try drugstores. Here in quebec(canada) all pharmacist had to attend a formation about transgenders. Most of them are open about it. If your never had a job and passed 20 yes it's harder to find a job as you don't have any experience to prove yourself. Always try to give your application on hands and not online if possible, this way even transgender the manager may want to give you your chance as he may see what you look like. For most peoples the word transgender mean a freak with many problems, by meeting the manager in person you may prove him/her who you really are.

Hold on!

I am having a huge problem finding a job as well, I am being discriminated against.

I live in CT in the US.

We have the strictest laws against discrimination of transgender individuals in the whole entire country, even for our healthcare look up CT.

It has not helped me one bit, I have been looking for almost 2 years now. From everywhere from sex shops to mcdonalds.

I know I am being discriminated against, you most likely will be too.

I had an interview at walmart, I signed a seasonal worker contract and everything. One of my friends did the same thing within the same week. She received a schedule when she was leaving the interview, I was told to wait for a call after the computer "processed" my paperwork.

I called every day for almost 4 weeks straight. I literally missed calling one day when I was sick.

This was in december.

I never got a call back. When I went to the store the hiring manager was "busy". The 2nd time I went she "was on vacation for the rest of the week out of state". About an hour later I saw her walking from the customer service desk dressed in work attire. I walked up to her and she pretended she did not see me and she almost ran in the opposite direction back to her office in the back.

My friend has been given a permanent position since being hired in December and has told me they have hired and fired several people since then.

Tell me I am not being discriminated against for being transgender, I clearly am.

I have decided to turn to other ways to make money. Things that make me my own boss. I suggest you do the same.

You most likely at best are going to have a VERY hard time finding a job being trans, with no work history it is going to be near impossible. Unless you have a family member who is willing to help.

Maybe there are some trans groups in your area that you could go to? They may have some trans friendly employers.

Good luck, you will need it.

By the way in case you were wondering, even without electrolysis or makeup I usually pass 80% of the time. When I try 99%. It is not a passing issue.

Quote from: Janae on April 23, 2014, 02:15:54 PM
Like others have said NEVER put on a app that you're trans. Your a young woman and that's it so check female and keep moving.

I would suggest you try to apply to as many places as you can. Even if you have to go to the mall and apply to every store or restaurant in the food court. When you get an interview sell yourself and let them know that even though you don't have prior job experiences that your a fast learner and a team player. Someone is going to give you a chance. Also try volunteering somewhere. That's a great way to gain experience and gain references. It shows that your serious about working.

Also, I'm not sure if you're into the medical field but they are very accepting of trans people. Try looking into medical assistance or nursing assistance. A lot of cities offer free nursing assistance training and it's good money.

I strongly agree with all of this. If you're read as female, mark it female and it shouldn't be an issue. 

BIG +1 on VOLUNTEERING, especially if you have no work experience, it will give you something to put on your resume.

I also would second the looking into the medical field.  I started socially transitioning on the job while working as an EMT (in the South, no less), and it was an absolute non-issue.