I have applied to almost 20 jobs in my area. I live in Asheville, NC which is considered "liberal" and "accepting" compared to the rest of NC. However, I am beginning to think the use of my preferred name is making it harder for me to find a new job. I have applied to almost all of the accepting businesses in my area, but I have not heard back. I have had an interview with ONE out of the 20 places I have applied to, but before I could show up to the interview "they had found someone else". I am not sure whether I believe it is because I am trans or not..I really don't know what to think. I rather not think of it as all. I have tried talking to some people about it..but they've generally said they "didn't think it was because I'm trans" and Asheville is liberal blah blah...Has anyone else experienced similarities? I feel a little sick when I look at the statistics...

Anyways, Sorry for the ranting. Much love. 

How would they know you were trans from a name?

Discrimination does exist even if they claim it doesn't. Pretty sure I was passed over for a job I was qualified for a couple years back for it. The person giving the interview was bothering to interview me (then not yet transitioned) for what they considered a male-dominated job and if I had any issues with that and I said none whatsoever and dropped a very subtle hint about why. Considering how few people in the area there are, and how few of those would have had microbiology experience like me, and how they invited me there in the first place to this "male-dominated" environment and were very cagey about feedback, I'm fairly sure it was because they were more worried about employing a trans man than a woman.

I would not hint at it at all in your applications, if you have been.

But considering how bad the job market is just about everywhere right now it could also be because employers are super picky in general.

No responses from 20 applications is typical. I expect to hear back from less than 3 out of 100 when I'm applying for things, unless I know someone at the company where I'm applying.

It's not so much about what you know but who you know in the current job market. What kinds of jobs are you applying for? If it's the kind of place you can stop into, go in there. Talk to people. Be a customer if it's that kind of environment. Then mention that you applied a week/month/however long ago and hadn't heard back. If you've been nice to people, they may be willing to go to bat for you or at least get you a manager to speak to.

If it's not the kind of place you can just stop into, go to LinkedIn. Find a person at that company that you have some kind of connection to and send them a message. I usually look for alumni from one of my schools and then chat with them for a bit. Tell them I am thinking of applying for XYZ position and was wondering if they could tell me a little bit about the culture there from an insider's perspective. Message back and forth for a bit, then see if they can connect you to someone in HR that can put your resume near the top of the stack. Simple.

I also echo Kylo's question - how would they know you are trans just from your name? My resume has always just had the name I go by on it, whether or not it was my legal name at the time. I also put my preferred name on applications prior to changing it. I only bring up that it was not my legal name/that I have previously changed my name if and when they do a credit/background check.

Welcome to job hunting, whether or not your trans weighing in as a factor is a little difficult to tell. I dont know how much you pass or if you have a girl name, but as a safe sake me and a friend of mine usually just use our old names and wear neutral attire to an interview.Just avoid the potential discrimination off the bat, then once youre hired you can discuss with employees and boss your preferred name and the like, they cant usually discriminate once hired, especially when you prove useful to the team.

That said though job hunting is fairly hard in general even if you are not trans, you just have to sell yourself the best you can, know the job and know the place, and what I like to call "fake it 'til you make it". Job interviews arent easy so you have to know your stuff and if you dont then you have to exude a sense of confidence that you will know it. Having previous experience under your belt does help

These may seem like silly questions but:
1. Are you qualified for the jobs you're applying for? Many times an employer will have the minimum qualifications and the preferred. They always go with the preferred.

2. Have you had your resume and cover letter looked at by others? I sit on tons of search committees in my profession and I cannot tell you how important the CV and resume are. I'd say most of the folks we turn down have poor entries.

3. The job market is tough these days. I get sometimes 400+ applications for a given job. It's so important to make sure you stand out from the crowd. Job experience, education if applicable, skills, outside activities, those are what make you a strong candidate. Beef up in those areas maybe?

I honestly don't think it's discrimination. Is your name consistent on all of your documents?

I am an HR professional and one technique I have learned both when looking for candidates and jobs, when submitting an application, take the job description and pull the requirements out into a document.  Then, beside each one, describe how you stack up against THEIR requirements. For those where you don't have an exact match, do not lie to say that you are a match for it.  Rather simply say something like, while I do not have this specific skill, I do have or have done X.  Basically what you are doing is screening yourself for the recruiter who is looking at possibly hundreds of applications.   Most of the time, if you can match at least 75 to 80%, then you will stand a chance of making it past the initial screening. 
Good luck with your search!!
Paula

Noah,

Welcome to the site.

The job market is tough. I still cannot really answer your question. I hope it evens out for you and you catch a break.

I also want to share some links with you. They are mostly welcome information and the rules that govern the site. If you have not had a chance to look through them, please take a moment:

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Once again, welcome to Susan's. Look around, ask questions and join in.

With warmth,

Joanna