I'm early in my transition, just one week on hormones, and I need to look for a new job. My current employer is too oppressive and is causing me a lot of stress.

My question is, is it smart to go right into the interview process telling people I'm trans? All my documents and history still says female and I still don't know what my new name is going to be. Obviously, I would at the least have to tell a new employer that I use he/him pronouns. And I want to make sure that a new employer would be supportive of upcoming surgeries etc..

Anyone have experience in my situation?

Just my opinion. I've applied for, interviewed, and been hired as male at varying points in my transition and have never brought it up.

I personally don't think it's wise to say in an interview that you're transgender if you really need/want the job you're applying for. Yes - if they wouldn't hire you because you're trans it's not a place you'd probably want to work anyway - but still. A slightly better job can be a stepping stone to other things while also making your life moderately better.

I would not disclose. I would put your preferred name on your resume and interview as yourself. If you haven't come up with a name yet, I'd maybe dumb it down to just your initials. When you get hired, you'll have to sit down with a manager or HR person to fill out tax paperwork. I would explain then that your name is a preferred name, and that it will not match up with the documents you are using for tax purposes. If they have any questions then, you can answer them. If they seem confused, I would explain at that point to ensure that they understand your situation.

You can do a bit of company research on sites like Glassdoor or Indeed. If you are planning to have surgery in the near future, I would ask in the interview about the benefits package - is there health insurance, is there vacation time or sick leave, and are there conditions that you need to meet to access these things? In the past, I've seen some jobs whose health insurance does not kick in until after the first 90 days. I've seen restrictive vacation policies, where you accumulate leave from your first day on, but can't take it until you've been there for a year.

The problem is that I don't pass as male yet at all. I think in another couple months I will as soon as my voice starts to drop but right now I think I would have to clarify that I'm actually male. Did you ever interview as male pre-T or just barely on T? Thanks!

I would totally wait to tell them.  You're just starting going though everything and will be trying to figure things out.  There will come a point in time where you feel that it is time to tell your employer and then you can discuss a way to transition in the work place.  Ultimately in an interview they would not need to know that you are going to transition, and this would just open the door for discrimination.  Now if there is going to be discrimination later you might think "well why didn't i just say everything in the first place."  In my opinion until u are ready to go full time and it also allows you to show your value to the company.  Then you come from a place of power, so to say, you will have shown that you are able to do the job, and can continue to do the job in a way that would make you more comfortable.

I tried to transition in a company i was told to hold off for a few months.  Then had the company basically push me out and i ended up quitting because i felt under appreciated.  i was in one of the top 3 positions, in charge of daily operations with the company.  with the stress of transition and then trying to work that into my job did not end up working very well.  Once i left this job i was still in early stages of transition and got another job still as a guy.  and actually did manage to transition after a few months.  Although this job didn't last long once i did transition as i was in the hospital for almost a month, but that's another story.

From that point upon my recovery i was living full time as who i am today.  I was able to attain jobs as Female and i was respected.  i never had a bad experience or people harassing me about being trans, although i didn't openly disclose that with company's; although they only knew me only as Female.  I had all my legal documents changed right down to my birth certificate.  Everything worked out in the end.  There is no right or wrong answer to this and i think it should all come down to you being comfortable.  i stand by not saying so in a interview but if you feel that this will help you, or at least alleviate the anxiety of not saying anything. 

Anyway i hope this helps, or at least provides a little incite.  Feel free to message me if you wish have questions, or want me to elaborate further.

Thank you Nayuki. I can see why disclosing my trans status in an interview can be uncomfortable for the interviewer and open the door to discrimination. So maybe it's not a smart move.

The frustrating part is that I am living full time in the sense that I fully present as male (wear mens business clothing to work etc) and everyone in my life knows I'm trans except my current employer. They are just too conservative and have shown their intolerance that I'm not comfortable disclosing. But no matter what I do one week on T I don't pass. I feel like there is a chance in the interview process that I would have to correct someone's pronouns and ask them to not call me m'am or something like that.

I'm going to start the process of legal name change etc as soon as possible and I like the idea of just using initials on my resume for now. Of course, Linkedin makes things complicated too thinking about people who have left me recommendations using my female name and all that..

If I were in this position my thoughts would be not disclose the fact of being transgender. Seems prudent to if possible test the waters first in regards to being accepted for a position and review human resource documents to see if there is anything mentioned about LGBT and no matter what is written hold off until you have passed your trial period (many companies have them and can range from weeks to several months) then if comfortable, disclose the fact you are moving forward with your transition. When disclosing, have a well thought out speech prepared and rehearsed. There are many factors that will play in acceptance or not being accepted and that is why it's good to wait. I believe that many companies will look pass an employee transitioning if they are a good employee while other companies will not care if you are a good employee and make it difficult for you or outright dismiss you.

In some states such as my home state of Oregon there are laws in place to protect LGBT yet that does not mean one is safe e.g. a company may make it difficult for you and force you to leave. When I came out it was with twenty years of service and had planned well e.g. did research, talked to my immediate supervisor, talked to HR, disclosed to my team then to my section. Before leaving for surgery presented my supervisor with an email to send to the entire agency (1,000+). My point here is that planning or lack of planning and hindsight plays an important role in how you are seen by others coupled with how you preform but nothing is written in stone.

Best wishes,
Karen