GLBT Careers are Built Strategically
Are you not feeling safe in your workplace?
Are you wondering how to “get ahead”
in a society that still harbors bias?
More and more companies are realizing
that they need to make commitments to Diversity in order to recruit and retain the best talent. Even in the Triad area there
are companies that recognize this. PFLAG Winston-Salem is making the effort to
“raise the bar” by publicly saluting high standards of companies committed to creating a gay friendly workplace
by offering the “most inclusive Company Award” at our annual Kaleidoscope Banquet.
In the meantime, here are things you
can do to plan your career strategically.
- When
researching a company you are interested in, search their website for a page that addresses Diversity. Look specifically for
a non discrimination policy based on sexual orientation. Then look for partner benefits
or spousal equivalent compensation. Make a list of these benefits so you can compare with other companies as they vary
drastically.
2. Research
the Human Rights Campaign website. Best Places to Work lets gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender job seekers know which
companies to put at the top of their list. The list of more than 100 companies is based on data from the HRC Foundation’s
2005 Corporate Equality Index. www.hrc.org
- Subscribe
to the online newsletter at DiversityInc.com Workplace issues are featured all the time AND Diversity Inc rates the top 10
companies for GLBT employees as well as the top 50 for Diversity commitments in general.
- Post
your resume on Diversity websites. Here are 2 :
·
http://wkdiversity.careercast.com/texis/jobseeker/login.html
·
http://www.diversityinc.com/public/department33.cfm?banner_id=ad733
- Make
sure your resume shows results of your work history. Resumes that simply list job functions are not nearly as powerful.
- In
North Carolina,
you can determine what companies supported the statewide HRC banquet held each year in Charlotte
and what companies supported the GayLesbian Film Festival in Durham.
- Network
at the Triad Business Guild every third Thursday at the Airport Marriott.
Ask people where they work and
whether they have a gay friendly human resources department.
- Do
you want to stay with the company you work for now? Consider starting an “out and equal energy group. http://www.outandequal.org/resources/groups/default.asp
This will get you going. Many of the
above sites have other resources and articles that would be helpful. DiveristyInc.com has wonderful articles on writing good
resumes, negotiation tactics, and other information valuable to you in this process.
Ana Tampanna is the facilitator for the PFLAG-WinstonSalem
support group. She is an executive coach and diversity specialist who offers workshops to eliminate homophobia in the
workplace. Contact her at ana@alligatorcoach.com
