Working Trans-women & Resumes & Past Work History

[Traci Elizabeth]

I am semi-retired and am thinking about entering the work force again but as a pre-op (maybe never op based on my age & risk factors - I don't know yet) Trans-woman.

My question is how have you dealt with Resume's and work history? Obviously any potential employer is going to make some reference calls and all my past work experience has been as a male.

How have you gals handled the whole NEW employment issue?

[Teri Jean]

No but I am transitioning on the job. My employer sees me as an experianced employee that gets the job done with good customer relations. Your work history is what they are looking for not your gender unless it is a male dancer, LOL. Seriously what have you to lose but time.

Best wishes and hugs Teri.

[CharleneT]

Darned good question! I am about to embark on that very path .... my plan at the moment is to contact my previous employers and get them to change their records. As long as they will, should be easy to go forward with a resume that only mentions Charlene.

[Karan49]

In this day and age we are lucky that employers are forbidden from asking certain questions such as do you have children, or do you have parents you need to take care of and such. I used this to my advantage and said I took some time off to take care of my family. Nothing further was asked. I then went to several former co-workers and asked if he or she would be comfortable giving me a reference and discussing my work history with a future interviewer. Those who had no problem I used and presented them as references. I focused my resume on the particular job I wanted to do, not filling in dates, rather pointing out skills, some accomplishments, but most of all pointing out how I could help a particular company take care of a problem for them or come up with some ideas to make them more money--they like that sort of thing. You could also say you've recently came out of retirement, want a part or full time job that will keep you busy and allow you to meet new people and learn some new things. Minimize your past and concentrate on the future. Have lots of fun with this. Make your own luck. Karan

[Rachel_Red]

I've noticed that the question about an applicants sex is now "optional" all the time. I'm looking for work right now and all the applications and such that I've put in have not been asking me about my sex... those that do have it set as optional. I think they're doing this because they don't want race/sex/religious backround/political backround effecting the outcome of employment. For all they know if they reject your app you could sue them under the context of discrimination. So in their opinion less personal info and more work related info is in their best intrest. I think most companies have a "don't ask, don't tell" policy, at least here in Cali.

[Kaitlyn Michele]

i am wondering about this too.

I have a long career as a man, and I have really good references that are all aware of my past.

Currently I am legally Kaitlyn.

So my resume says Kaitlyn and I have included all of previous experience, my degrees, etc... This is all the truth and I beleive its the only sensible thing to do.

So far, in my limited interviewing, I've known all the people I've talked too...all gawk at my appearance, tell me how good i look, and then we get down to the interview...so far, everything has gone well but there arent exactly any jobs out there...

I've also posted my resume with a headhunter. He knows my background as well. That interview was my first one and it went ok..but i knew i needed some practice!!

If i go to a company that has no idea about my past, I don't plan on bringing it up. If there is a question about it, I beleive i have to be honest. It would be easy to find out anyway..

I know 2 situations where the ts nature was not disclosed and within 2! days the person was let go..."its not working out"..."we don't think you fit in the way we anticipated"...gender was never brought up...so you see the company has the hammer...its impossible to prove discrimination unless someone in the company does something really stupid (and they probably won't)

I didnt see your picture, but whether we like it or not, a majority of us will not be able to pull off long relationships with employers without our gender situation being revealed.

My statements should all have question marks...this is a real time issue for me and I don't have the playbook!!!!

BTW...one thing i AM sure of.....
don't blather about it to anybody in the work world...it is suicide....your prospective employer wants competence, predictability, stability etc...your confidence in yourself will go a million miles to giving a prospective employer a reason to hire you

if it comes up...just say yes...i'm a transsexual...is that a problem? or even better, why do you ask? you might get that stupid answer

[pamela_a]

Having recently legally changed my name to Pamela I contacted several previous employers and requested they change my on their records also.

I was informed by 1 HR person I spoke with that companies don't keep records for more than 7 years and very limited information can be given out. That was enough for me since I've been at my current employer for over 11 years now and all of their records now show me as Pamela.

One thing I did make sure of was to contact my schools and have them change the records for my transcripts.

[Stephenie S]

Just change your resume to female, dear. Insert your new name. Employers are forbidden to give a out any info about previous employees except: did she work here? Yes or no, that's all. Contact each employer in your resume that you care about and inform them of your gender change and name change if appropriate. If you have any documents concerning the name change include a copy.

After a number of years, it becomes a moot point anyway as no one will remember you. New people will work in HR.

This is a non-issue, really. I know it sounds scary, but in reality it's not. Just do it.

Stephie

[luvSophia]

I've noticed that the question about an applicants sex is now "optional" all the time.
Not supplying a gender will also help you avoid having your new employer get a "No Match" notice from Social Security. Reporting gender to the SSA is also voluntary, but if the employer does and it does not match your social security account then the SSA will send a letter to your employer informing them of that fact.

[Ze]

I'm in somewhat of the same situation myself. I've been applying for graduate assistantships and they're pretty much like applying for a new job. The references concept has me quite on edge, since all of these schools already know me as the transman "Milo." Yet I'm not out to almost all of my references...including the place I'm currently employed. o.O I'm waiting for the horrific call when they contact my current manager (who's known me for four years, yet not about me) and says "So, I want to ask about Milo [last name]'s work performance..." and she goes, "Uh...excuse me?"

Gender identity is not a protected class where I am, and many of my co-workers (most especially the owner) would not be very welcoming of this information. I'm actually really worried as to what could happen to me. It's a real can of worms and I'll be in the hot spot for the next few months until I'm safely out of this area and living full-time at my new university. And all over something so unimportant...

It all sucks terribly. Thanks for letting me vent a moment in your thread, Traci. :hugs:

[Kaitlyn Michele]

Just change your resume to female, dear. Insert your new name. Employers are forbidden to give a out any info about previous employees except: did she work here? Yes or no, that's all. Contact each employer in your resume that you care about and inform them of your gender change and name change if appropriate. If you have any documents concerning the name change include a copy.

After a number of years, it becomes a moot point anyway as no one will remember you. New people will work in HR.

This is a non-issue, really. I know it sounds scary, but in reality it's not. Just do it.

Stephie

:)

thats what i've done...i've already changed my name at my old employer (its great seeing it on my 401k statement!), and i need to follow up with the schools right away

[CharleneT]

Schools and transcripts ... now there is where i ran into a brick wall. My undergrad school refused, flat out, to change my name at all on the transcript. Regardless of court orders etc...

I'm working on 'em, there has to be a way !

[carolinoakland]

Well, I applied for a job three months into RLE and hadn't changed my name and gender on my docs. As far as the resume and work experience, it's hard but... what I did was to call alll my listed employer's and reference's and well.... came out and explained the situation. All were very accomodating AND supportive. Oh, and I GOT the job! Caro

[Traci Elizabeth]

I guess the easiest way to deal with this is to start one's own business!

I have seriously thought about that as I am really getting bored with being retired and working on our property day in and day out. Even though I love flowers, landscaping, the birds, and other wildlife, there has to be more to life in retirement.

[Karan49]

At first I had a difficult time with the registrar at my university. I presented my legal name change documents and I was told nothing could be done. Then I went down to registrars office and showed the legal paperwork and the publication in the newspaper. The woman then changed my name on my transcript and showed it to me. It had my previous masculine name crossed out and my new feminine name typed in. I then asked her if she were an employer looking over my transcript if she would consider me for employment. I told her I didn't want to be on welfare, I didn't want to be homeless or careerless, that I wanted to support myself and not have her supporting me through her tax dollars. Would she please help me to help myself get a job. She relented, whitened out my former male name and put in Karan. If I hadn't taken the time to go in person, presenting as a normal woman and explaining what I needed I would never have accomplished my goal.
As for driver's license and social security documents with the name change and doctor's explanations of Hormone Replacement Therapy and Real Live Experience these documents were an easy and comfortable experience to take care of.
As I mentioned previously, talking with people who will be giving you a reference is the way to go. It amazed me how helpful people were when I asked them to do this. They all seemed understanding and compassionate. I did take a precaution by having a friend call my references to see what would be said. Only one person turned out to be two-faced, that is, giving me a poor reference and this had nothing to do with mentioning I was transgendered; he just didn't think much of my abilities. So, be sure to check that all of your references will be good ones. Karan

[Stephenie S]

Schools and transcripts ... now there is where i ran into a brick wall. My undergrad school refused, flat out, to change my name at all on the transcript. Regardless of court orders etc...

Interesting. I guess every school is different. Perhaps you caught a worker on a bad day. My college changed my entire gender history with them with just a phone call. I now get alumni mail and am listed as a grad with my proper name.

[Traci Elizabeth]

I applied for a job with state government last year. During the initial call, I told the gentleman that I was transitioning and my employment history was under my male name. He told me that was not a problem, asked if the time was OK and did I need directions to their location. I showed up on schedule and was interviewed by a five person panel. Interview lasted an hour and I told them to use my male name if and/or when contacting listed employers for references.

I got the job. My boss was a panel member and told me I was the unanimous first choice for the position, administrative officer for a state regulatory board. She said beside my qualifications and experience, panel members were impressed with my candor.

That is one great story. Congrats! If only it was that easy for all of us. I commend you for your forthrightness. That is inspirational.