How do people handle names with job applications? In the past I’ve just used my legal/dead name but now I’m using my chosen name on top and adding a note on my resume of my legal name and that I’m trans. It’s a little awkward and I’m worried about discrimination, but idk how best to approach it.
For context I’ve mostly been working blue coller in warehouses or doing data entry or light technical repair type stuff, and I’m applying in blue areas in the US.
i personally wouldn’t disclose my legal name until I was like, hired and had to do so for payroll or whatever. your choice but I felt more comfortable just only going by my chosen name immediately when it came to that stuff and wouldn’t bother disclosing I was trans at such an early stage of the process either. certainly not something I’d put right on the CV.
I don’t live in the US so I’m not really familiar with the specific hiring climate you’re in though, but I would think that would be an unusual thing to do
I guess that makes sense. Part of it is just trying to avoid uncomfortable situations and defaulting to being upfront when I don’t know how to handle things.
it’s an understandable worry, I don’t want to come across as prescriptive or presumptuous but if you’re out I would encourage you to use your chosen name and work on confidence in putting forward your actual identity in situations like that rather than leaning on your deadname, feeling like you have to say you’re trans upfront etc. I don’t know you and don’t want to make assumptions but I’ve seen people who do this stuff in early transition and it often seems to me like a way of undermining themselves. I think the best thing you can do is just roll with putting forward your true self and not make those kinds of concessions preemptively. sure it may lead to awkward situations down the line (believe me I’ve been there with employers) but I think it’s worth the boon in self confidence that comes with fully putting forward your true self and not undercutting.
sorry if it comes across prescriptive or if I made any undue assumptions about you. I just wanna see my trans comrades gaining confidence and to be brutally frank I guess I think putting your deadname and the fact you’re trans on a resume isn’t really a step in that direction.
Oh no that’s fine and I think you’re giving good advice.
I’m coming at this from a perspective where I’ve always been closeted at work. Until uhh, two days ago the only people I came out to were people who I either knew would react positively, or who I could cut off if they didn’t. Asserting myself on this (or anything, really) in the context of an involuntary and potentially adversarial relationship is new to me. Including my chosen name at all on a resume is a big step for me, so relegating my deadname to a note at the end instead of at the top of fine with me, emotionally speaking, for now. But it is kind of an awkward addendum.
yeah I’ve never had to use govt name anywhere really I think airline tickets is the one exception. even payment info my bank doesn’t give a shit that it doesn’t match. it feels good to just use your chosen name and you’re entitled to so you should:)
I had a big issue with this recently. It turns out that some companies use a federal program call E-Verify to make sure that you’re authorized to work (a citizen), and that relies on social security records. If your name with the company or your other form of id don’t match the SSN then it causes a big headache. If you can’t get your name changed, I recommend being very upfront with people as soon as you get hired.
How do people handle names with job applications? In the past I’ve just used my legal/dead name but now I’m using my chosen name on top and adding a note on my resume of my legal name and that I’m trans. It’s a little awkward and I’m worried about discrimination, but idk how best to approach it.
For context I’ve mostly been working blue coller in warehouses or doing data entry or light technical repair type stuff, and I’m applying in blue areas in the US.
i personally wouldn’t disclose my legal name until I was like, hired and had to do so for payroll or whatever. your choice but I felt more comfortable just only going by my chosen name immediately when it came to that stuff and wouldn’t bother disclosing I was trans at such an early stage of the process either. certainly not something I’d put right on the CV. I don’t live in the US so I’m not really familiar with the specific hiring climate you’re in though, but I would think that would be an unusual thing to do
I guess that makes sense. Part of it is just trying to avoid uncomfortable situations and defaulting to being upfront when I don’t know how to handle things.
it’s an understandable worry, I don’t want to come across as prescriptive or presumptuous but if you’re out I would encourage you to use your chosen name and work on confidence in putting forward your actual identity in situations like that rather than leaning on your deadname, feeling like you have to say you’re trans upfront etc. I don’t know you and don’t want to make assumptions but I’ve seen people who do this stuff in early transition and it often seems to me like a way of undermining themselves. I think the best thing you can do is just roll with putting forward your true self and not make those kinds of concessions preemptively. sure it may lead to awkward situations down the line (believe me I’ve been there with employers) but I think it’s worth the boon in self confidence that comes with fully putting forward your true self and not undercutting.
sorry if it comes across prescriptive or if I made any undue assumptions about you. I just wanna see my trans comrades gaining confidence and to be brutally frank I guess I think putting your deadname and the fact you’re trans on a resume isn’t really a step in that direction.
Oh no that’s fine and I think you’re giving good advice.
I’m coming at this from a perspective where I’ve always been closeted at work. Until uhh, two days ago the only people I came out to were people who I either knew would react positively, or who I could cut off if they didn’t. Asserting myself on this (or anything, really) in the context of an involuntary and potentially adversarial relationship is new to me. Including my chosen name at all on a resume is a big step for me, so relegating my deadname to a note at the end instead of at the top of fine with me, emotionally speaking, for now. But it is kind of an awkward addendum.
this is good advice imo
Half the time when youre filling out a form you can just brute force your name, i almost never use my government name for anything
(though I’ve also not managed to land a job in two years since i started applying for work)
But i also know people who use their government name everywhere, mate I dont think netflix cares if your account name doesnt match your credit card
yeah I’ve never had to use govt name anywhere really I think airline tickets is the one exception. even payment info my bank doesn’t give a shit that it doesn’t match. it feels good to just use your chosen name and you’re entitled to so you should:)
I had a big issue with this recently. It turns out that some companies use a federal program call E-Verify to make sure that you’re authorized to work (a citizen), and that relies on social security records. If your name with the company or your other form of id don’t match the SSN then it causes a big headache. If you can’t get your name changed, I recommend being very upfront with people as soon as you get hired.