Navigating Gender Identity and Expression During a Job Search
Recently, one of my former students posted responses to a Facebook trans support group they belong to asking about how to and when to post pronouns on a resume. The responses were mixed and not entirely helpful, according to them. I found something I thought useful and shared it with them and thought it a good idea to share with others.
Having worked in diversity and equity education for two decades, I have had to learn how to work around the nuance of identity on a resume or other job-search documents my students would craft.
For instance, will a zipcode tell a recruiter or hiring manager about someone’s class background? Will your name sound gender or race-neutral? Should you use a legal name or a chosen name on application documents?
It is critical for hiring managers to become aware of how their actions impact transgender and non-binary candidates. According to the website HiBob, a comprehensive survey of trans and non-binary Americans conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality “found that nearly 30% of those employed over the previous year had been fired, passed over for a promotion, or were not hired because of their gender identity or expression. Approximately a quarter of those surveyed experienced discrimination or coercion in the workplace, including being outed…
