I'm halfway through a law degree at the moment so I'm not in a position to get full time employment. I've been self employed for years, however I'm realising now that a part time job or even casual would net me more income for less time/effort spent (I literally spend all my non-study time on my business). However it's hard to get out of self-employment due to lack of references, and people being unwilling to acknowledge self-employment. On top of that, it's been so long since I've been employed under someone, and back then I had my female name. So this would be the first time I am applying as trans (not that I want to be out, but I don't pass ALL the time).

How have you guys went in finding jobs, and anyone in a similar situation regarding references/prior experience as female?

I wonder about this myself sometimes. I am still at the same job I had when I started.

I recently got an internship. I didn't inform my references because my female name was my legal name at the time of the interview. My work knows, but luckily I work with a butch lesbian and she was like they are obviously transitioning and got people to use male pronouns. Now some have slipped up a couple of times, but I don't think the other intern has noticed the occasional she. However, the thing that idk if it is just me being paranoid, but the HR guy always talks about women being really great at XXX or them being better than "cowboys." This is similar to the treatment I received as a woman in a primarily male field, so future employers not knowing is better.

My advice is to tell my references I go by a new name. Also don't assume people are smart enough to realize that First Initial (preferred name) Last name means that people are going to realize that your trans because the lady was like, I've been treating you as male base on your appearance, but let me know if its not ok. Unfortunately if you don't have your name changed you should probably do the first initial thing, which may out you.