Job application questions

[raeoflyte]

Dh is applying for his dream job as a faculty position at the community college he got his associates degree from in the vet tech program that he graduated from.

Couple questions: at least one of the partners at his current job would be a great reference but that obviously means telling management that he's looking. Normally I'd say that's a no, but this is such a great opportunity and I can't imagine they would begrudge him applying for it. It's a small industry, and because of where he currently works there is a good chance that management will hear about it anyway. Thoughts?

2nd: dh has changed his name (and gender!) Since he graduated. Name on his diploma and transcripts were already changed, but does that mean that his entire student record is changed? He graduated from the 2nd class this program was offered in a total class of 7. There is no place on the application that asks for other names you've used. He definitely wants to highlight in his cover letter his history with the program, and assumes his changes will come up. So how/where should he mention it?


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[Bonny]

With respect to letting the boss know, is he actively looking or is this more like a one-time opportunity? I guess I would try treat it as a one time opportunity if possible unless he's regularly going to need the reference.

With respect to the name change, is his current name close to his own? Is the last name the same? I might do something like Fred (Susana) Jones. Since gender doesn't seem to be relevant to the job, I'd probably not bring it up.

 Wasn't there a song about a boy named Sue?

[raeoflyte]

Jan 25, 2014 16:33:40 GMT -5 Bonny said:

With respect to letting the boss know, is he actively looking or is this more like a one-time opportunity? I guess I would try treat it as a one time opportunity if possible unless he's regularly going to need the reference.

With respect to the name change, is his current name close to his own? Is the last name the same? I might do something like Fred (Susana) Jones. Since gender doesn't seem to be relevant to the job, I'd probably not bring it up.

 Wasn't there a song about a boy named Sue?

This is definitely a one time opportunity. Not to say he loves where he is at and isn't looking for other opportunities, just that it has to be really amazing to get him to apply.

I don't think he wants to highlight his old name to the extent of putting it with his name. His last name didn't change, but the only dude in his class had his (current) first name and that guy wasnt too sharp. :/ dh doesn't want to get confused with him-and I'm not sure how likely that is with different last names, but I don't really know.

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[Tennesseer]

raeoflyte-when you husband goes for his interview, he can always ask the interviewer not to contact his current employer unless they view him as serious candidate for the position. At some point though before (and if) a job offer is to be extended, they will have to contact his current employer or noted partner for a reference.

As for the name change, and while I have no experience to base this opinion on, I would think that if his school diploma and transcript name has been legally changed, I believe his whole school record would be changed too.

[Deleted]

your husband used to be a woman?

[raeoflyte]

Jan 25, 2014 17:24:14 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

raeoflyte-when you husband goes for his interview, he can always ask the interviewer not to contact his current employer unless they view him as serious candidate for the position. At some point though before (and if) a job offer is to be extended, they will have to contact his current employer or noted partner for a reference.

As for the name change, and while I have no experience to base this opinion on, I would think that if his school diploma and transcript name has been legally changed, I believe his whole school record would be changed too.

If you were the boss would you mind being asked to be a reference when someone was applying for a job that is completely out of the scope of the current job? He's always said not to contact his job until after the first interview, and might on this one too. But he wants to provide references with various backgrounds and one of the partners seems to me like it would really round out the other references and application.

That was my thought on the computer system too. The faculty isn't the same as when he went either. I think all of his other applications have always given a place for alias' so he just listed it there so that the info was available in case it pulls up somehow.

Arch-yes, dh transitioned just over 10 years ago. I think I "come out" on this board about once a month.

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[Tennesseer]

Rae-if your husband has a good working relationship with his partner, and the partner knows he has other career aspirations, then have your husband ask the partner to be a reference.  Might as well be up front about it.

Part of the application process will be a criminal background check, so your husband's former name probably is required if the application asks  'Have you have been convicted of a crime in the past 10 years'.   Not sure if his former name is required though if the background check only looks at the past 7 years. The employer may also do a credit check too so the former name will probably go back into play.

[Deleted]

Jan 25, 2014 17:41:20 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Jan 25, 2014 17:24:14 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

raeoflyte-when you husband goes for his interview, he can always ask the interviewer not to contact his current employer unless they view him as serious candidate for the position. At some point though before (and if) a job offer is to be extended, they will have to contact his current employer or noted partner for a reference.

As for the name change, and while I have no experience to base this opinion on, I would think that if his school diploma and transcript name has been legally changed, I believe his whole school record would be changed too.

If you were the boss would you mind being asked to be a reference when someone was applying for a job that is completely out of the scope of the current job? He's always said not to contact his job until after the first interview, and might on this one too. But he wants to provide references with various backgrounds and one of the partners seems to me like it would really round out the other references and application.

That was my thought on the computer system too. The faculty isn't the same as when he went either. I think all of his other applications have always given a place for alias' so he just listed it there so that the info was available in case it pulls up somehow.

Arch-yes, dh transitioned just over 10 years ago. I think I "come out" on this board about once a month.

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Dang, that is wild.   Cool.

[JustLurkin]

Jan 25, 2014 17:24:14 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

As for the name change, and while I have no experience to base this opinion on, I would think that if his school diploma and transcript name has been legally changed, I believe his whole school record would be changed too.

He should just have to submit the legal name change documentation, and the school records will be adjusted (no diff than DMV)...I would request a new diploma if he wants it framed or something.

[Deleted]

Are there other people DH could use as a reference? Typically over the course of your career you develop a network of former coworkers, consultants your employers hired, vendors, clients, etc. Not sure which of these apply to your DH's line of work, but nearly everyone has good references outside their current job.

I'd check with the school on what name is on the records.

Not every job requires a criminal or a credit check; if they do, you have to give permission. If I were your DH, I wouldn't volunteer the previous name unless I were asked to sign a consent for a background check, and then would volunteer it to HR only. While there's more acceptance of transgendered people in the workplace now, you don't want to take the chance that it might be a knockout factor for someone. In past job applications I've had to warn HR of nasties they'd find on my credit report because my then-husband had used my credit card without my knowledge and hidden the bills from me. Same thing- tell people on a need-to-know basis.

[Deleted]

Rae, I'd have your husband use his "real name", and write a FABULOUS CL explaining how he knows the system from the inside, because he went through it all himself. 

Hopefully, that will catch somebody's attention, your DH will get an interview, and then he can explain further. 

I applied to my current job 3 times, never even got an answer the first two times. The third time, I wrote that I was very familiar with their English program because my son, a current student, was going through it. 

I got a call from the head of the English dept two days later. He called, but he was VERY cold. He said, you have excellent credentials, and I would have liked to ask you for an interview. Your CL intrigued me, because you say that you have a son at this school (ie a PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH THE SCHOOL). But I looked up the list of our current students, and there is no student with your last name. Can you explain?

(To my embarrassment, I actually said, "Oh that's easy, I can answer that!") Then I said, my son's father and I are no longer married, I remarried, so we don't have the last name. He said, so tell me, what's your son's name? I said (unusual first name) and the guy burst out before I could say his last name, OMG, don't tell me YOU are XX YY'S MOM?!

I got an interview, and I was hired. For two years, at every language meeting (3X/year), he quipped, "she is also XY's mom, but of course we didn't know that at the time, otherwise we never would have hired her!" LOL

I think if your DH can write a great CL showing how he went through the program, he stands a great chance. 

Good luck to Mr Rae!!!

ETA: Rae, have you or your DH seen or heard about the documentary film A Self-Made Man? It's about a transgender youth advocate. My best childhood friend (still my best friend though we don't see each other much) made that film. 

[raeoflyte]

Jan 26, 2014 10:26:29 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Are there other people DH could use as a reference? Typically over the course of your career you develop a network of former coworkers, consultants your employers hired, vendors, clients, etc. Not sure which of these apply to your DH's line of work, but nearly everyone has good references outside their current job.

I'd check with the school on what name is on the records.

Not every job requires a criminal or a credit check; if they do, you have to give permission. If I were your DH, I wouldn't volunteer the previous name unless I were asked to sign a consent for a background check, and then would volunteer it to HR only. While there's more acceptance of transgendered people in the workplace now, you don't want to take the chance that it might be a knockout factor for someone. In past job applications I've had to warn HR of nasties they'd find on my credit report because my then-husband had used my credit card without my knowledge and hidden the bills from me. Same thing- tell people on a need-to-know basis.

He has older references from his previous job, but they couldn't comment on his ability to train/teach and he hasn't worked with them for over 8 years... He did just get a fancy certification in his field and he was able to hobnob with the bigwigs for that so I'll ask him if he thinks one of them might be a good alternative.

Maybe they don't do a background check. They've asked for everything else under the sun it seems which made it even odder there was no place to list alias'. That would at least make sense though.

I'm more comfortable now that his school record should be entirely changed since his transcripts and diploma are correct. He graduated so long ago now that no one who started the program is still faculty on it that would remember him.

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[raeoflyte]

Jan 26, 2014 18:17:29 GMT -5 @debthaven2 said:

Rae, I'd have your husband use his "real name", and write a FABULOUS CL explaining how he knows the system from the inside, because he went through it all himself. 

Hopefully, that will catch somebody's attention, your DH will get an interview, and then he can explain further. 

I applied to my current job 3 times, never even got an answer the first two times. The third time, I wrote that I was very familiar with their English program because my son, a current student, was going through it. 

I got a call from the head of the English dept two days later. He called, but he was VERY cold. He said, you have excellent credentials, and I would have liked to ask you for an interview. Your CL intrigued me, because you say that you have a son at this school (ie a PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH THE SCHOOL). But I looked up the list of our current students, and there is no student with your last name. Can you explain?

(To my embarrassment, I actually said, "Oh that's easy, I can answer that!") Then I said, my son's father and I are no longer married, I remarried, so we don't have the last name. He said, so tell me, what's your son's name? I said (unusual first name) and the guy burst out before I could say his last name, OMG, don't tell me YOU are XX YY'S MOM?!

I got an interview, and I was hired. For two years, at every language meeting (3X/year), he quipped, "she is also XY's mom, but of course we didn't know that at the time, otherwise we never would have hired her!" LOL

I think if your DH can write a great CL showing how he went through the program, he stands a great chance. 

Good luck to Mr Rae!!!

ETA: Rae, have you or your DH seen or heard about the documentary film A Self-Made Man? It's about a transgender youth advocate. My best childhood friend (still my best friend though we don't see each other much) made that film. 

Thanks debt! That's his plan, and I so hope he gets an interview. This is the career path he's talked about for years, and it pays a lot more than he.told me it would!

I haven't seen it-but dh may have. I'll have him check it out if he hasn't. I'd like to get more involved in the community again eventually.

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