For the last several years now I've been self-employed, doing whatever comes my way to scrape by. I decided a while ago to really push myself for something stable, and I start tomorrow at $11 an hour (not too bad for around here and having almost no waged work history). Having a regular job is something I couldn't of imagined even just 6 months ago.
A lot of the reason I was self-employed for so long was that my bipolar and gender dypshoria caused me to not be able to sleep, to be rather unstable and have no confidence in myself. I've had a good psychatrist and therapist for a year so that's helped but really I found the main thing was getting on estrogen 3 months ago after years of jumping hoops for it, it was like night and day. I still have issues with sleep from my bipolar but I think I'm a lot better off now.
For a lot of transgender people learning to accept yourself and getting on hormones are the two best things you can ever do for yourself. In my case, it ended up being more-so a biological thing as I had come to terms with myself years ago. Ever since being on hormones I've noticed my attitude, my mindset, and how I feel even when just seeing myself in the mirror is so different. Things feel... right. I don't feel that there is something wrong with me anymore.
Anyways I'm gonna be working at a rather corporate culture type of place but I think I'll like the structure. I guess, having worked for myself for so long I'm not sure what to expect from having a boss again. I know their policies are basically that they don't care who you are, and they do well to protect against discrimination which means I can just focus on doing my job and not worry as my body continues to become more feminine.
I'd say for anyone in a similar situation where they don't have a ton of waged or salaried work history, the most important part is to just act confident and like you know what you are doing and saying. Play up everything. I found I basically got hired by talking up the customer service aspect from a lot of the work I did online. Play up your hobbies, any projects you did where you got paid, anyting that makes you sound more experienced and competent.
But anyways, I wanted to share this as I'm pretty glad to have something stable after so long.
Lastly, I know this can be a "controversial" topic for some... but I please ask you don't be negative. It's my hope that this topic will be inspiring for others, to show that things can change.
A lot of the reason I was self-employed for so long was that my bipolar and gender dypshoria caused me to not be able to sleep, to be rather unstable and have no confidence in myself. I've had a good psychatrist and therapist for a year so that's helped but really I found the main thing was getting on estrogen 3 months ago after years of jumping hoops for it, it was like night and day. I still have issues with sleep from my bipolar but I think I'm a lot better off now.
For a lot of transgender people learning to accept yourself and getting on hormones are the two best things you can ever do for yourself. In my case, it ended up being more-so a biological thing as I had come to terms with myself years ago. Ever since being on hormones I've noticed my attitude, my mindset, and how I feel even when just seeing myself in the mirror is so different. Things feel... right. I don't feel that there is something wrong with me anymore.
Anyways I'm gonna be working at a rather corporate culture type of place but I think I'll like the structure. I guess, having worked for myself for so long I'm not sure what to expect from having a boss again. I know their policies are basically that they don't care who you are, and they do well to protect against discrimination which means I can just focus on doing my job and not worry as my body continues to become more feminine.
I'd say for anyone in a similar situation where they don't have a ton of waged or salaried work history, the most important part is to just act confident and like you know what you are doing and saying. Play up everything. I found I basically got hired by talking up the customer service aspect from a lot of the work I did online. Play up your hobbies, any projects you did where you got paid, anyting that makes you sound more experienced and competent.
But anyways, I wanted to share this as I'm pretty glad to have something stable after so long.
Lastly, I know this can be a "controversial" topic for some... but I please ask you don't be negative. It's my hope that this topic will be inspiring for others, to show that things can change.
