Q. A student is beginning
a job search and is seeking information regarding LBGT friendly
places to work and/or LBGT-related career assistance. Do you have
suggestions of resources, books, or websites that I can suggest
this student check out?
A. The job search can
be a stressful time for anyone but there are some special issues
that confront LGBT students -- including whether to be out
on the search, how to find companies or locations where discrimination
based on sexual orientation is prohibited, etc. This page will offer
some reading suggestions, some ideas from members of the Consortium,
and websites for further exploration of the topic.
There are several books on career issues for LGBT
people. Here are some that you might find of use in advising your
student or adding to your office's lending library:
Baker, Daniel, Strub, S. O. and Henning,
B. (1995). Cracking the Corporate Closet: The 200 Best (and Worst)
Companies to Work for, Buy from, and Invest in if You're Gay or
Lesbian - and Even if You Aren't. New York: HarperBusiness.
Dunne, G.A. (1996). Lesbian Lifestyles: Women's
Work and the Politics of Sexuality. University of Toronto
Press.
Ellis, A.L. & Riggle, E. D. B. (Eds.) (1996).
Sexual Identity on the Job: Issues and Services. New York:
Harrington
Park Press.
Friskopp, A. and Silverstein, S. (1995). Straight
Companies, Gay Lives: Gay and Lesbian Professionals, the Harvard
Business Schooll, and the American Workplace. New York: Simon
and Schuster.
McNaught, B. (1994). Gay Issues in the WorkPlace.
St. Martin's Press.
Mickens, Ed (1994). The 100 Best Companies for
Gay Men and Lesbians. New York: Pocket Books.
Miriam, F. (1990) Pride at Work: Organizing
for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Unions. New York: Lesbian and
Gay Labor Network.
Powers, B. and Ellis, A. (1995). A Manager's
Guide to Sexual Orientation in the Workplace. New York: Routledge.
Rasi, R.A. (Editor) (1995). Pleasures and Perils
of Coming Out on the Job. Alyson Publications.
Rasi, R. A & Rodriguez-Nogues, D.M.L. (Eds.)
(1995). Out in the workplace. Los Angeles: Alyson.
Vargo, M.E. (1998). Acts of Disclosure: The
Coming Out Process of Contemporary Gay Men. Haworth Press,
Inc. 1998.
Winfeld, L. and Spielman, S. (1995). Straight
Talk about Gays in the Workplace. New York: Amacom,.
Woods, J. D. (1993) The Corporate Closet: The
Professional Lives of Gay Men in America. New York: Free Press.
Stephen Collingsworth, Coordinator for LGBT Issues
at Williams College, has offered resume writing/interviewing workshops
for Queer students. How to ask the questions we need to ask, what
those questions are, how to take Queer Organization college experience
and translate it into useable, closeted material in resumes. He
notes that latter choice can be difficult for him to endorse --
coming to terms with students who were out on campus and wanting
to go back into the closet for their career.
Jonnie Owens, coordinator Cal Poly Pomona Pride Center,
called a colleague in her campus' Career Center who is a vocal ally.
At Jonnie's request, she put together a career workshop with handouts,
etc. and does the workshop at least once a year for students who
use the Pride Center.
For online resources, check out:
Lawrence
University Career Center's page of GLBT resources
University
of Pennsylvania's LGBT Career Resources (this site includes
an extensive "Career
Planning and Job Search Guide for LGBT Students and Alumni")
Gay
Business and Professional Organizations
Gaywork.com
- A fairly new web site that includes information on "family"
friendly employers. You can post your resume and search job openings
with companies who are GLBT friendly.
Gay
Financial Network- This site offers a wealth of information
on companies, financial planning, careers, and more, including
their gfn.com 500 (the top GLBT-friendly companies).
HRC
WorkNet: This portion of the HRC site includes Which
employers have LGBT-friendly policies, What you should do if you've
been discriminated against at workm and an extensive workplace
bibliography.
PlanetOut.com
(click on "Money and Careers"): The site includes Queer
Careers, Career expert, Career links, Find the right job, and
How queer is your company?
ProGayJobs.Com
- this is a recruiment site aimed at assisting gay and lesbian
people find jobs in gay-friendly companies.
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund:
Check out the "Issues" section for current information about laws,
legislation, and court cases related to employment as well as
information on non-discrimination policies. The ACLU's listing
of State
and Local Laws Protecting Lesbians and Gay Men Against Workplace
Discrimination and Larry
Stratton's list of educational
Institutions and employers that include sexual orientation in
their non-discrimination clauses can also be useful tools
in helping to identify LGB-affirmative institutions/employers.
You might want to read Ron Hayden's 1993 column
about being out
on the job search. Although dated, many of his thoughts still
reflect today's workplace. The Queer
Resources Directory offers a 1994 column by John J. Kinyon
on "Out
on a Job Interview?"
This answer was compiled by David Barnett and
supplemented by contributions of members of the Consortium. Dr.
Barnett may be reached at davidcbarnett@earthlink.net.
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