Introduction
| The legislation - your rights | Should
you come out to an employer? | Marketing yourself
positively | Links | Publications
Introduction
Many of the issues surrounding
job hunting as a lesbian, gay or bisexual student or graduate are concerned
with issues of disclosure - how much, if anything, to reveal to an employer,
and at what stage in the selection process. Recent changes in legislation
have made discrimination at work on the basis of sexual orientation illegal,
but the issues you face are still intensely personal ones.
The
legislation - your rights
The Employment Equality
(Sexual Orientation) Regulations came into effect on 1 st December 2003 .
These regulations protect lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the workplace
against both direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation
on the basis of their sexuality. What is more, they cover all stages of employment,
from applying for a job through to getting references when you leave, and
include training, benefits and promotion. Look at the DTI website (www.dti.gov.uk/er/equality/eeregs.htm)
for more information and for a copy of the regulations.
Should
you come out to an employer?
Discrimination at work
on the basis of sexual orientation may now be illegal, but the law won't bring
complete equality or stamp out homophobia overnight. Coming out is a personal
decision, the outcome of which may affect your relationships at work and your
attitudes towards an employer as well as your career prospects. Think hard
about if and when you would come out at work - this is a personal decision
and there is no legal obligation to do so.
Employers target applicants who have developed employability skills - who have done more than just obtained a degree certificate. If your major extra-curricular activities at university are centred around the LGB society, and you are happy to reveal your sexuality, then include these activities on your CV - employers will be interested in anything that you've done which demonstrates initiative or which has developed skills such as organisation, team building or leadership.
You may put yourself at a disadvantage if your extra-curricular activities centre around the Out Centre, but you are not prepared to reveal your sexuality, as you will find it more difficult to use them as evidence of your transferable skills. You could mention the activities (eg. promotion of an event) without naming the youth project itself, but this weakens what you can say on an application and, at worst, can appear evasive.
Some organisations are openly LGB friendly employers, so prior research might help you to decide whether to come out, or not. Look out for :
Marketing
yourself positively
Whether you decide to
come out or not, there are many things that you can do to promote yourself
when you are looking for a job :
Stonewall
UNISON
REGARD (The National Organisation of Disabled Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals and Transgender People)
The Gay Business Association
The Gay Police Association
Armed Forces Lesbian and Gay Association (AFLaGA)
Pink Paper
Publications
'A Level Playing Field'
(AGCAS)
www.prospects.ac.uk (click 'handling discrimination')
'Careers for Queers' (Oxford University Students Union [OUSU])
