I'm preparing to contact my old employers and references about my transition. That way they'll get things right (hopefully) when potential employers contact them. What ended up working best for you? E-mail, phoning them or in person? I'm not really sure how some of them would handle the news so I want to do what I can to make it work the best. They don't have to agree with it or support it, I just want to make sure they know and get the info right. Any tips?

In person and bring your name change papers. You can talk about it all you want but nothing will change  the paperwork until they see legal documents changing your name/gender.  Even then it is no guarantee that they will but they should make the changes.

Do I really need to bring things in for a name change? Usually people checking references contact the company, ask if the person did work there and ask about their performance.

I've never heard or seen of anyone wanting to see paperwork as proof that the person worked there. Usually a verbal affirmation that the person did work there is good enough. At least, this is what I've always seen done and have done myself.

Also, I've never heard of someone who changed their surname due to marriage ever doing this.

ask if the person did work there and ask about their performance

Unless you put the person down as a personal reference no past employer is going to comment on your performance.  Huge legal can of worms.  All they are going to do is confirm employment dates and salary range.

I emailed two former employees about my transition and they responded positively. Then when I went to apply for jobs I used them as references. They were called to verify I did work where I said I did. Like mentioned above they are not suppose to ask about your performance. They will usually ask if you were employed the dates you said you were what your title/s were and sometimes they ask if you are eligible for rehire.
Myles

Thanks for the replies everyone. So... I'm at a bit of a loss on what to tell them. I want it to be professional and get the point across without spewing out a long story. There are also some past employers who's reactions could be questionable.

I'm also figuring out how to tell some of my references. I'll be glad when this is all done.

If you don't want a current potential employer to know of your former name and/or sex, then your references will have to be told to change their records.

They have no reason to change those records if you don't show the paper work to prove it.  Pretty simple to figure that.

If I call about Joe Blow but you worked under Sam Sham, Why would they admit you worked there? especially if Joe is male and Sam is female.

What legal grounds would you have to make them change what are historical records to them?

Luckily I have close friends who have worked at almost everywhere I have.  I put them down as my references.

Quote from: tekla on December 29, 2010, 03:21:47 AM
What legal grounds would you have to make them change what are historical records to them?

make them change - maybe none, they may do it with court ordered name change tho.