Careers for Cross Dressers

[Kathleen Ann Trees]

Hi, all. As our last child will graduate this May, I've been pondering what to do with the rest of my life. I'm free to move anywhere in the country and set up shop in any way I want to. With an engineering degree, I've been in manufacturing, done field work, and been a road warrior in sales. Currently I'm working a little retail.

What are some of your ideas, dreams, and realistic jobs for cross dressers? Seems like a job in fashion, clothing manufacturing, or even Dress Barn would be perfect, but is it? I would appreciate your input on where and what to do with the hope of occasionally dressing on the job... or not.

BTW, I know in today's efforting to be politically correct, the PC answer is, "just do what you want." While I love that concept, I'm not that brave. Thanks for your help.

[Robertacd]

I would think that the engineering field would be a good fit. I personally know more CD/TG's that are an engineer of some sort than any other field.

All though working in a fashion, makeup, or lingerie store sounds like fun, I don't think the majority of GG customers would be comfortable with you unless you are very convincing looking and sounding.

[Krisi]

I think i would be foolish to settle for a sales job at Dress Barn if you have a degree in engineering and could get a job in that field. Would you turn down $100K for $30K?

Why not take the big money and dress in your spare time?

[Tracii G]

Do something you love and never work another day in your life.
I'm retired from the freight transportation industry that I was in for over 40 years.
My passion is building and repairing stringed musical instruments.
I work when I choose to
I am also a guitar tech and roadie for a rock band so its all what I love to do and it doesn't feel like a job.
If the band goes out on tour its like a mini vacation getting to see new places.

[Teresa]

Kathleen,
First question, do you feel you have GD to deal with the need to dress full time . Maybe come to terms with dealing with that issue before dealing with dressing during your worktime .
I have a plan to run my own art group, I have been married for 43 years now I'm recently separated so I have to come to terms with what full time dressing means before I can move on to comfortably meet people in that context dressed . Is it lack of bravery or deciding if that's what you really want ? How much have you been out and met the general public dressed and if so how comfortable did you feel ? It takes time , doing everday is harder than dressing to the nines .

[Tracii G]

I am assuming you are married as you said our child.
How does your wife like the idea or have you told her?
Occasionally dressing on the job have you actually thought that thru?
Have you actually dressed enfemme in public enough to be comfortable with people knowing you are a man in womens clothes?

[Sami Brown]

I do software engineering from home. It is perfect because I can dress all day. All I need is an internet connection, so I can do it anywhere we move.

Software engineering may not be your niche, but perhaps there is something in your experience that qualifies you to work from home.

You can always do something like that for your "day job", and then work at a place like Dress Barn on a part-time basis to see how you like it.

Sami

[Beverley Sims]

One big problem is looking acceptable to others and then interacting with people in the outside world.

Once you overcome those problems yu can look for a career.

You are off to a good start working from home as an engineer.

Just dress part time to fit in.

[Rachelakld]

Problem at my work, female engineers have the same uniform as the males, so not much point for me.
If you want to wear skirts and dresses, office or retail work is probably best solution

[Robertacd]

Engineers wear uniforms? Does the company supply everyone with uniforms?

At my company, engineers wear "business casual".

[Stacy Darling]

I have spent a great deal of time looking at what others do in the workplace and how they need to interact with others and believe that this is far more complex than fitting a career with or to dressing. I wish it could be easier for us!

I don't have paid employment but make gravy in a soup kitchen and initially wanted to have Stacy do all the work there, She's good like that! BUT, I decided not to present in anyway other than a pretty guy in drab. My reason for only dressing in full drab whilst working there is that people I serve are already not judging me! and I also don't want to mess with any vulnerable minds.

I was actually going to start up as a professional buyer at auction. I already buy regularly not for profit and my 50/50 mode comes with its benefits, removing my intimidating sunglasses to reveal my intimidating eyeliner!

Wish I had a great suggestion!
Stacy!

[Jaylyn]

I've never been accused of being politically correct so to me the PC thing has no binding on me. I'm thinking though you should look into the job that you'd like to spend the rest of your life doing. There's no perfect job and every job has its ups and downs. It's how we take those ups and downs that define who we are inside. I get the feeling from your statement that you might be thinking of retiring and looking for something on the side that will allow you to dress and enjoy your life. This may be incorrect but if it isn't you might want to just keep doing what your doing if you can work from home in retail and then you can dress all you want. I also think you will have to make a decision not any one else on your job although several have suggested some it is ultimately left up to you to decide. Tracii said find what you love and you'll basically enjoy working because you won't think of it as a job.

[Sarasometimes]

I used to do hair in drab (before I had the slightest handle on being a crossdresser), still have my license, and it often times was "A kid in a candy store with no money". Now that I have a better understanding of my needs/wants I might give it another try. If I did I think I would do it with an andro presentation but for now the hours for that type of career conflict too much with the one that pays the bills. If I do give it another try I think doing makeup would be an option, too.

[Lindabrown]

Network engineer, photoshop artist, technical manager,software programmer/engineer like Java, C++,Visual Basic,Swift,Assembly language,....

All these jobs have a six figure $$$$$$$ potential.you can also work from home.

The LGBTQ center in West Hollywood Calif. has her high paying jobs for people who crossdress.

[girlyman1977]

I am in the Audio Visual industry right now (am tired of it)

I am working on my real estate license. It will be a nice change of pace.

In Tina mode I would love to be a flight attendant...

[Angie G]

I like the career I 'm in the this time in me life it's called retirement.:hugs:
Angie

[frax24]

I’ve always wanted a job that embraces this CD side of me without judgement. This foreman job of mine is not very open to this sadly

[kayegirl]

Like Annie, I am now retired, but still do the occasional job. Don't think that you could even remotely consider doing it in a skirt or dress, although I do wear my female to shirts and old sweaters. The job,,, I am currently building a 40 metre stretch of dry stone walling. The UK girls will know what I mean

[Nicole Erin]

Of course TG span about every job from minimum wage to seven figures.
My advice is, if you are going to be working for someone else, might want to "come out" asap so there isn't some weird transition later.

Just remember with about any job, it might be a fun hobby but once something becomes a job and you are doing things on someone else's terms, the fun is typically gone. Unless you can make your own schedule, be your own boss, etc.

[faltenrock]

Why not open a special store for crossdressers?
In Germany, there is a very successful store in Nurenberg, called 'Special Trade'

Link: https://www.special-trade.eu (https://www.special-trade.eu/http://)

[ellbee]

I'm a fan of a certain small-ish company that's mainly known for their awesome made-to-order, "custom-printed" work-out leggings for women.

I found it a bit interesting that somebody with a male name left a few reviews for certain pairs that he bought for himself ("verified buyer"). It wasn't a particularly common first-name, but it wasn't exactly very rare, either.


Anyway, fast-forward a bit, and I had a question about something. I email the customer service there, and the person who replied to me had, you guessed it -- the same first-name as the male reviewer!

Was it him? No idea, but I suppose a decent chance that it was.


Okay, so if it *is* him, then apparently he wears these women's leggings.

Which got me thinking... Does he perhaps wear these things to work? :D


Small-ish company that makes fun, unique clothing for (typically) GG's. I'd imagine that it's not exactly a stuffy, conservative place to work, ya know? Probably more women than men working there... And I wouldn't doubt that a bunch of the GG's there wear these leggings like every day (especially with their employee discount, heh).

Does this male employee join them?


And if it were *you* who worked there, would you wear 'em?

I think I probably would. I mean, why the heck not?? :devil:

[Lindabrown]

I used to do hair in drab (before I had the slightest handle on being a crossdresser), still have my license, and it often times was "A kid in a candy store with no money". Now that I have a better understanding of my needs/wants I might give it another try. If I did I think I would do it with an andro presentation but for now the hours for that type of career conflict too much with the one that pays the bills. If I do give it another try I think doing makeup would be an option, too.

How about doing a small transformation salon/boutique for MTF CD's.


P.S. they teach computer programming /web page development for free online and different universities

[nikkid]

Ellbee, Could you supply the link to the company that you are referring to...."custom-printed" work-out leggings for women. THANKS. NIKKI

[Cherylgyno]

Kathleen. Have you seen the whole country? If not try truck driver. You can dress most days if you want. You get paid to travel. Get a lease option job and you can pick where you want to go and when. You might need 6-12 months experience as a company driver for the latter. You can take your wife with.
Trucking companys need drivers big-time.

[sometimes_miss]

Well, if you've got tons of cash laying around, move yourself to a socially CD/gay/TS friendly neighborhood, and walk around to see what kinds of jobs are available. I once spoke to a man who ran an adult toy/attire/video shop, and he loved his work. He made all his customers feel welcome by standing up and demonstrating the uses of his products whenever he was in the store, reminding us that everyone has sex and everyone likes to have fun. As long as income isn't a priority, do something fun. Oh, be a projectionist at a local theater. Nobody cares how they dress!

[aLEXisREX]

I work at a garden center and do landscape designs and consultations on the side. My job is not the best work for CDs. I work for someone else. Always sweaty, Dirty fingernails, toenails and feet look gross unless you scrape them across a skateboard occasionally and soak them in epsom salts regularly. Also as a gardener, I tend to keep a male physique upstairs and down. Luckily I'm thin and naturally androgynous looking and keep my hair really really long. I dont recommend working for someone else in the green industry. Most business owners and employees in gardening/landscape/nursery industry are homophobic, CD and trans unfriendly. On top of that most are ego-driven meat heads, or they are women who disrespect you if you don't have a beard and aren't constantly filthy and overworked.

[Patricia_Campi]

I am in the Audio Visual industry right now (am tired of it)

I am working on my real estate license. It will be a nice change of pace.

In Tina mode I would love to be a flight attendant...

Well, I live in Brazil, and we are in a economy crisis here, since 2016. I have a real state license and this is what is keeping me with some income. I am an electric engineer but I hated my last job, due to bad management (my last boss left the country because of misappropriation of money, hard stuff). The real state market is also down due to political instability, so I was making some research to open an online women shoes store. That would be a dream. :)

Cheers,

Patricia

[Stephanie47]

I have been retired for a full ten years. I have no desire to return to work. I am assuming your retired (59) or approaching it. If you made your nest egg, then don't seek full time employment with deadlines and goals. I always had the fantasy of being a waitress at an evening dinner theatre. Many years ago in my humble little town there was a restaurant that had drag shows on the weekend. I always thought it would have been terrific to wear a white blouse and black skirt, black hosiery and heels with all the proper undergarments, makeup and wig. Nothing more than getting drinks and short order snacks for customers during a show. I thought a cross dresser would fit in nicely. Maybe there is such a place like that for you.

[Kandi Robbins]

Not sure what area of the country you may settle in, but I know in my neck of the woods, there are occasional transgender job fairs. You may want to Google that. While not looking for a job, I attended one a year or so back and really learned a lot.

[Joyce Swindell]

So Kandi.... where is your neck of the woods?

[5150 Girl]

I sell bathroom remodeling out of a kiosk in the local mall, and I do quite well for myself. That's something considering this is a somewhat conservative aria. I'm not sure if I'm doing a good job passing, or if this community just doesn't care. Either way, the company knew who they were hiring up front. This is how I turned up to my first (the blue) and second interviews.

[Jackiefl]

Joyce, Kandy is in I believe my growing up area Cleveland,Ohio. I just retired and moved from South,FL. to the Orlando area with my beautiful and supporting wife.

[Cynthia T]

I think the dream job would be secretary/personal assistant to a really cool boss. Good luck finding that position, though. Perhaps place an ad in Craigslist, Fetlife or similar?

[sherri]

I think the "dressing occasionally" would be a deal-breaker with many companies who might otherwise wish to be PC and TG supportive. You would need to go all-in or not at all. Some companies, especially small ones, might be more accommodating for positions where your interaction is limited to in-house, thereby avoiding negative customer reactions. Also, how about something not mainstream, like a coffee shop or bartending in a metro lgbt district? I was once offered a week-night bartending gig at an lgbt club I frequented, but the pay would have been so paltry it wouldn't have even paid for the commute, let alone the makeup.

[syome]

I think the "dressing occasionally" would be a deal-breaker with many companies who might otherwise wish to be PC and TG supportive. You would need to go all-in or not at all. Some companies, especially small ones, might be more accommodating for positions where your interaction is limited to in-house, thereby avoiding negative customer reactions. Also, how about something not mainstream, like a coffee shop or bartending in a metro lgbt district? I was once offered a week-night bartending gig at an lgbt club I frequented, but the pay would have been so paltry it wouldn't have even paid for the commute, let alone the makeup.

Honestly this really depends on the company and i would say large companies are probably more accepting of anyone who might want to crossdress to work. I work for a company called Cerner, and they are pretty awesome for anyone who wants to occasionally present female. They have a zero tolerance policy for any kind of harassment from anyone and really push towards being accepting towards everyone, it is very deeply ingrained in the company. Now that being said there is a caveat: If you choose to present female that does mean presenting female, that means no facial hair for example, if you do makeup (and in my opinion you should) it has to be well done and presentable, you should either wear a good wig or have your hair styled in an appropriate style for women.

[Kandi Robbins]

So Kandi.... where is your neck of the woods?

Sorry for the late response, Cleveland.

[JenniferR771]

i think you are on the right track. Self-employment has some important advantages. Consulting engineer should work out.
Architect. Landscape architect. Builder. Home improvement. Uber. Mechanic.

[sherri]

Honestly this really depends on the company and i would say large companies are probably more accepting of anyone who might want to crossdress to work. I work for a company called Cerner, and they are pretty awesome for anyone who wants to occasionally present female.That's nice that your company is so accommodating, but based on what I've heard and read over the years, that's very much the exception rather than the rule. I think large corporations are more likely to have TG-supportive HR policies in place than smaller, privately owned companies, but large or small, policies are geared for the more "serious" TG who wishes to make the gender reassignment transition full-time, and they aren't interested in humoring the hobbyist or occasional dresser. While we CDers know that part-timers' sense of identity can be just as genuine and sincere as a full-timer, but it's a tough sell in the workplace. Let's hope that changes, and maybe it's beginning to, but I don't think we're far enough along to count on it.