so i have moved from virginia to florida and so far its been hard trying to find a job, i have put in at least 5 applications a day....has anyone found it hard to get employed because of there transition?

I don't know how old you are but I know for people around my age it's hard to find a job regardless of trans or cis status. I've had friends apply to 25+ jobs and not even hear back. What types of jobs are you talking about?

anything. im 23 btw.....


mainly im looking at automotive jobs since thats what my job history has been

I'm currently looking for another job - I never put anything in my application about being trans as its not relevant to my ability to do do the work. I think many companies are inundated with applications and generally only contact the applicants they want to interview. Where I was working recently advertised a position which got over 200 applications and that was for a job that required a degree of experience and expertise. I think they interviewed five people.

I am transitioning on the job, with plans to relocate and find a new job once I'm legally male and done with surgeries (having top surgery this year, would like a hysto by the end of this year or early next year and then I'm done). I think it'll be an easier experience not having to disclose that I'm trans and not having to put in any advanced time off requests for medical reasons. As has been said, it's a tough job climate in general so it may not be transition related.

What stage are you at in your transition? If you feel like the issue is primarily related to your transition, I'd go ahead and get your name changed if you haven't already done so, and then apply for entry level jobs. I know it's not something you'd want to do as someone with specific job history and experience, but if your name is male and you're not offering any references who would identify you as female, any potential employer is going to see you as a dude.

Again, not something that we should need to do, but it may help at least get you into something.

Each and every single time, for nearly eight years to date. I get interviews, but they never go anywhere. I was seasonally hired by UPS the first time in 2008; I was then offered a legitimate, permanent PT position (driver showed up half an hour early on my last day to recommend me for permanent hire; something I was then told by this manager he'd never had happen in his 30 years - usually its just a note on a piece of paper, not in person)... it never happened... worked for them in 2009, 2010 – was supposed to finally get that real opportunity (in the hub seasonally) then, again never happened. Tried to get hired for the same seasonal position in 2011 and 2012, but it didn't happen. I showed up for the interview that I managed to get for 2013, they refused to proceed to orientation the first time. I rescheduled for another interview (went in unshaven that time), and what do you know, I was THEN hired for that peak (I believe only to thwart potential litigation). However, I did not receive a call back for this past peak and nor, for some 'mysterious' reason, was I even able to apply for that position with my user account login for UPS.Careers. Between 2009 to 2014, I applied several times for permanent PT positions outside of peak at that and also two other centers nearby; never was offered those positions (I even once accidentally was forwarded an internal email between management, to the effect of and regarding myself, that "I don't want to hire her with all those new eyes watching"; an exact quote. I of course, and cordially, replied to that email and the only returned response was "you were never supposed to see that"). Discrimination? Absolutely.

Just don't ever bother with UPS. Their 'equal opportunity statement' (specifically including us) is absolutely worthless in reality; it is utterly unenforced. And thanks to Hunter V. United Parcel Service, there is now a legal precedent to the effect of that UPS can do this all that they want, and not be penalized whatsoever for it (precisely why I didn't bother attempting to sue; if nothing else but for the principal of the matter; I knew it would go nowhere, despite my evidence). They're expanding my hub and hiring a ton of people because of it; just not me. And there's not a damn thing I can do about it. Note, I was never formally warned, disciplined or had in any other way, given them any legitimate grounds to blackball me as they did.

Also, Vons is exactly the same (note, both UPS and Vons are Teamsters). My mom was chased down in Vons by management in 2011 (we'd been shopping at that specific store since I was 12 mind you), asking her if I was still looking for work. I, of course, was. So I went to the interview, thinking finally this one's got to be the one... but no, it wasn't. The reason I wasn't hired? She claimed I wasn't dressed professionally enough. What did I wear? Black slacks, button down shirt (earth colors), and black D.C. shoes; the SAME as their employees! During the interview, the statement was made that "we're VERY conservative here" (clearly subtlety wasn't her forte). Discrimination? You betcha. Note, I have no tattoos or piercing either; no off the wall hair dye color etc. etc. etc. And ironically, I happen to be mostly conservative. Whatever.

Finding employment is, in my experience, pretty much insurmountable if you're trans. And I'm in CA, no less. I've applied to each and every single business I could find within a 40 mile radius, many times. Nothing for me. Party City wouldn't even hire me for a TWO WEEK assignment. I don't have anything bad on my records. Nothing at all. And I can't get hired... purely and simply because I'm ****ing trans.

Now I'm 25 and I have absolutely no idea of what to do or even to try to do now. I'm running out of time to make this happen, before I am officially considered "too old" to hire with little experience (apart from the 'trans factor'). I will have no choice at that point, but to do something that I really don't want to do (and I don't think I really need to spell out what that is)... there will be no choice about it or alternative to it at that point.

Unfortunately, college is off of the table. While there are fee waivers for community, grants and FAFSA – it's the books I can't afford; they cost more than the courses do. You need to have a PT, minimum wage position to cover just them (FAFSA does NOT cover them 100%). Literally. And that's the one thing I just can't seem to do.

I'm 100% stuck and I see absolutely no way out of this vicious cycle of going absolutely nowhere fast.

Oh yes, and I also don't have the ballpark $1,000 for my name/gender marker change either (that's the court fee, the newpaper fees, the document reissue fees and so on). I'm fully aware that is most likely my largest obstacle to any employment and has been for quite some time, however I have $400 to my name (four years of saving) and it will get me nowhere I need to be with that aspect of things.

I hope nobody else finds themselves in the same predicament because it absolutely sucks. It might as well be a death sentence. Actually, if anything should happen to my mom, that (or, IMO, even worse) is going to be exactly my position. And every day I resent myself because this is not the way its supposed to be; I'm ashamed to still be 'mooching' off of her. It's not right but there's literally no alternative for me; yet. I now really fear there never will be.

Just hang in there. I wanted to add my two cents so everyone can see that it isn't impossible to be trans and get hired.

For example I got hired by my local county in the juvenile corrections field as an officer. This kind of employment is difficult for anyone to get. And you can bet they know I'm trans because of the background checks required for employment (not to mention I outright told them in my first interview because I was told not to lie or withhold any information, including prior employers who knew me before transitioning, since that can be seen as a bad trait in a potential employee)....and as you can see I live in Texas of all places. I'm out working the units with all the other guys and not stuck in the control room with the women (regulations against cross gender officers having extended supervision over residents) since it is an all male resident facility. Only the high ups know for sure and absolutely no one treats me any differently. Keep trying is all I can say. Fall back on "old school" interview tactics such as wearing a suit and taking a professional notepad with you for notes.

On a side note to give you guys an idea of how "fast" this happened I applied for the job I have back in July and did not get an interview until September! Then I had to do all the psych., background and drug testing for pre-hire....then I didn't get hired until late December.

So in the words of a good friend and colleague of mine...

"Be persistent, don't give up, be professional and most of all be persistent."


PS. Please note that coming out in an interview completely can be situational to the job field, use your best judgement. I'm not saying everyone should or has to to increase chances of employment, it just happens that in my situation it had to be that way.

PS2. Another note might be to try for jobs that are mostly/entirely funded by federal grants/money since they may be more likely to strictly follow ENDA.

I applied to 7 or 8 jobs last week and i'm plenty qualified....I still haven't heard back and these are basic retail jobs Nothing on my application indicates im trans either. It's just a hard time I think.

It's supposed to be a hard time for young people (not necessarily teens) to get jobs.

--Jay

I'm certain that some places are going to discriminate against a trans* person without being overtly forthcoming about that reason - especially in America.  I don't know how it is there, but there are laws against that here in Australia.

I also think that it's easy to read into a rejection that it was because you were trans* that you weren't hired.  Unless you've put that down on your resume or application, I seriously doubt that most places are actively screening against trans* people.  It usually comes down to a lack of qualifications and/or experience, not your gender identity.

Quote from: Sky on February 08, 2015, 09:16:26 AM
I applied to 7 or 8 jobs last week and i'm plenty qualified....I still haven't heard back and these are basic retail jobs Nothing on my application indicates im trans either. It's just a hard time I think.

Retail jobs are harder to get at the beginning of the year. Come October they will be begging for people.

Quote from: Alexthecat on February 08, 2015, 02:14:34 PM
Retail jobs are harder to get at the beginning of the year. Come October they will be begging for people.

Also this! Didn't even think about the time of year it was. The first quarter of the year is traditionally slow for most businesses, and as a result they really don't start hiring until spring or summer at the latest. And as far as postings that you see online for a lot of retail jobs - when places hit a certain staffing level they're required to post an ad. It doesn't necessarily mean that they're actively looking to fill that position.

And for other jobs that get posted, keep in mind that anything government related (and sometimes private sector as well depending on the company) is required to post their positions for everyone to apply to, even if they already have a candidate in mind. There's no way to tell in the ad, but it is probably a big reason why people don't get any kind of positive notifications back about those jobs.

thank you everyone for the feedback....ive had probably about 8 or 9 interviews and have landed 6 jobs.....so im well versed in the interview process....i completely forgot that its the first quarterly......LOL.....hoping that im able to land a job pretty soon as im getting tired of living in an RV that smells like sugar honey ice tea looks like sugar honey ice tea and is down right nasty....im still hopeful that im able to get a job even during the first quarterly lol.....again thanks for the feedback

If you are putting out 5 resumes a day for 2 weeks, you've made a good start. Finding work is a LOT of work in itself. Good luck with your search, and remember, dress just a small step up from the work environment clothing. I wore a decent jacket over slacks and a t-shirt for most interviews at that age. It shows that you are able to dress well, but you also know what's appropriate for the position and are not too "froo-froo" or above the culture. Good luck in your search!

I don't want to derail, but I have a couple of things to say to Magnus and anyone else who is in a similar situation. I was told that in CA, you can do name and gender marker change in the same court filing and for the one fee--somewhere around four hundred bucks nowadays. I was also under the impression that CA no longer requires us to advertise; the law just changed recently. But if you have a low income, apply for a fee waiver for the court costs. My buddy applied when he changed his name, and his request was granted. He had an income but fell below a certain threshold, so he had to pay only for advertising (this was a few years ago).

A lot of young people are struggling to find work. One way to get some experience, if you have time on your hands, is to volunteer and try to pick up some work history--and maybe some skills--that way.

The community college where I teach has campus financial aid specifically for books, but you have to get in and talk to the financial aid people to find out exactly when and where to get in line for the money because it goes quickly--we have tents set up in the first couple of weeks. If you get enough insider information and are careful with your money, you might be able to get by. If money is short, get in line at a local food bank and use your food money for books--heck, my community college has its own food bank that people can use occasionally. Also, look online for college scholarships and aid for LGBTQ people. These scholarships might ask you to demonstrate that you belong to the community--but that's where the volunteer work can help you out in another way. And once you are on campus, maybe shoot for a part-time campus job.

The price of college has exceeded the rate of inflation, so people have to get really creative and ask lots of questions and find out about options that aren't well known. But you gotta do what you gotta do.

Apart from the volunteering idea, I wish I had more advice about jobs. ..

Quote from: Alexthecat on February 08, 2015, 02:14:34 PM
Retail jobs are harder to get at the beginning of the year. Come October they will be begging for people.

sadly I cant last this long without a job and living alone 

I really need a job, too. I've been unemployed since 2012 when I was fired for reasons related to my disabilities. I wasn't able to do anything about that and I'm just barely getting by now. Transitioning is probably only making that more difficult for me, but it's not like that was going to stop me.

*sigh* I really wish I could find work.

Yes, i have lost internships bc once they do my background check i am not legally male yet no surgery so they see that and never call me back, even if they had told me they wanted me prior.. They get "sketched out" by the differences in my id, presentation, and then my social security info and birth certificate, its awful


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk