how did you decide to be out at your job?
Hi, Anon! Being out at work has been a long process for me. Here's a quick time line:
2012
Came out during my master's program (I have a master's in a mental health field). Gave a presentation in my master's diversity class about trans people and mental health.
2012
Did NOT come out at my internship during my master's program; it didn't feel safe.
2015
Started a new job at a college, lower-level worker. Not out yet. Wanted to test the waters.
2017
Came out at that job. Changed my legal name. Got my pronouns on my business card.
[ Image Description: A photo of a business card with all of the personal details redacted. Pronouns show (zie/hir/hirs) after the redacted name. Description Ends ]
2019
Started a new job at at different college, high-level worker. Interviewed as out and told hiring person I'm genderqueer and my pronouns. New boss introduced me to the whole college with my correct pronouns. Pronouns on my business card.
[ Image Description: Another photo of a different business card with all of the personal details redacted. Pronouns show (zie/hir/hirs) under the redacted name. Description Ends ]
2020
Started a new job at a non-profit. NOT out during the hiring process, but apparently one of my references used my correct pronouns (bc I didn't tell them not to), so my new boss was not surprised when I came out and shared my pronouns.
I don't have a pic of that business card, but my pronouns were on that card, too.
2022
Started a new job at a tech company -- this is the job referenced in this post (link). Fully out during the hiring process; pronouns were on my software dev portfolio right under the photo of myself. Hard to miss.
I don't have a business card because I'm completely remote and not customer facing anymore.
So I'm now on 5+ years of being out at work, including out with my neopronouns!
