The LGBTQ Career Community
Welcome to the Career Connections Center’s LGBTQ Career Community page. As a member of the LGBTQ community you may have questions or experiences about your career development process that your straight and cisgender peers may not have.
The Career Connections Center is here to help you no matter what stage of the career development process you may be in currently. We understand that career paths and work place cultures can vary greatly, in both openness of and resources available for LGBTQ employees. We are here to assist you at all stages of the career development process. On this page you will find customized resources for UF’s LGBTQ students and alumni.
These resources include:
- Self-Reflection questions to help you start the career development process
- Resources for researching companies and preparing for the search process
- Customized handouts and resources for your professional development
Learn about yourself and Career Options
There’s a world full of careers waiting for you. Learn more about your College of Law career path and careers that interest you by using the tools below. They’ll help you make sense of your interests and experiences.
Use the following section to help you throughout your career development process.
Which statement speaks to you the most?:
- Being open about my identity is who I am. It is a large part of myself.
- My identity is only a small part of what defines me as a person. I am very careful about who I tell and do not tell.
- Sharing information about myself is not my preference. I tell very few people.
The statement that resonates the most with you should be the approach you use when entering the workplace.
Remember, disclosing your identity is a personal decision, there is no “right” answer. You must think about this decision from multiple angles, and this decision can change throughout your career.
CHOMP
Need help with understanding how your interests will play a part in your future career? Start with CHOMP!
What Can I Do With This Major?
Whether you are exploring multiple majors or searching for information about your chosen field, this site will help you connect majors to careers.
Occupational Handbook
The OOH can help you find career information on duties, education and training, pay, and outlook for
O*Net Online
Has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development and HR professionals, students, researchers, and more.
Develop Professionally
There are three options when deciding what to include on your resume and cover letter:
- Include your affiliation to LGBTQA organization and highlight the transferable skills you gained as a member.
- Use acronyms or generic descriptions when listing your affiliations. This could include using such words as ‘civil rights’ or ‘equality organizations.’
- Omit any references to your affiliation with an organization. As mentioned above, this is you decision and you need to be confident in how much you would like to share with a potential employer
Resumes
Find out how you can effectively communicate your skills, abilities, and achievements.
Resume Keywords
Use these keywords to help communicate your experiences on your resume.
Cover Letters
Learn how to introduce your resume and provide context to your experiences!
Interviewing
Enhance your interviewing skills with tips to help you prepare for your next steps.
Gator CareerLink
Access to internships, job opportunities, online resource library, events, and more.
Build Experience: Jobs and Internships for LGBTQ Students
Looking for a job or internship?
Things to look for:
- A Non-Discrimination policy that includes “Sexual Orientation” and “Gender Identity”
- Domestic Partner Health and Additional Inclusive Benefits
- Family Medical Leave that includes Domestic Partners
- Transgender-Inclusive Health Benefits in Summary Plan Description
- LGBT Employee Resource Groups
- LGBT-Friendly Work Environment
- Public Commitment to LGBT Equality
Corporate Equality Index
The Human Rights Campaign is also the publisher of the Corporate Equality Index. This index “provides a simple way to evaluate whether America’s biggest employers are treating their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees and consumers equitably.” The index is based on a 10-point system that rates corporate policies and actions toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Human Rights Campaign
An organization dedicated to advancing equal rights for the LGBT community. For workplace related issues, a job search database, and information, visit: http://www.hrc.org/explore/topic/workplace
National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
An organization promoting the LGBT community in the area of business.
- Out For Undergrad: Dedicated to helping high-achieving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) undergraduates reach their full potential in their careers. Hosts career conferences in the fields of Business, Marketing, Engineering and Technology.
- Diversity in the Workplace: A magazine highlighting diversity related news, top 50 employers, workplace issues and professional development opportunities.
- Out and Equal Workplace Advocates: Provides information regarding workplace issues and hosts annual LGBTQ workplace summit.
- Out Professionals: Leading LGBT networking site with a fairly extensive LGBT-centered job bank.
Pride at Work
Pride At Work is a nonprofit organization that represents LGBTQ union members and their allies. Pride at Work organizes mutual support between the organized Labor Movement and the LGBTQ Community to further social and economic justice. There are more than 20 Pride at Work chapters across the country. Resources are also available on the site for issues related to access and discrimination in the workplace
DiversityInc: Top 50 Companies for Diversity
To be ranked in the top 50, companies have to demonstrate diversity related to talent pipeline, talent development, leadership accountability, and supplier diversity. Additional lists feature top companies for LGBT employees, people with disabilities, veterans, executive women, women of color, diversity leadership, and specific industries and initiatives.
Great Places to Work: Best Workplaces for Diversity
The Best Workplaces for Diversity list focuses on the experiences of women, people of color, LGBTQ people, employees who are Boomers or older, and people who have disabilities. To determine the Best Workplaces for Diversity, Fortune partnered with the people analytics firm, Great Place to Work®, to analyze anonymous survey feedback representing more than 4.4 million US employees.
Prepare
The tools below will help you take active steps to transition from where you are to where you want to be!
Salary Negotiation Resources
Financial Tools
Relocation Tools
Professional Associations
A professional association is an organization for people who work in the same industry. These organizations provide members with networking and professional development opportunities, continuing education, and job boards. Members can join a committee to advance the interests of their field or engage in advocacy.
Education:
Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) – The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Professionals – A professional organization for LGBT professionals in higher education. A job board can be found on the website
Entertainment:
Professional Organization of Women in Entertainment Reaching Up (POWER UP) – Originally conceived & founded by Stacy Codikow in October 2000 with the mission “to promote the visibility and integration of gay women in entertainment, arts and all forms of media, “POWER UP has been challenging perception through film” ever since.
Government:
Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies – GLIFAA is a non-profit that works to secure full parity for gay and lesbian personnel and their families in U.S. foreign affairs agencies serving in the United States and overseas.
Journalism:
National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association – An organization of journalists, online media professionals, and students who work from within the journalism industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues
The Publishing Triangle – The purpose of the Publishing Triangle is to further the publication of books and other materials written by lesbian and gay authors or with lesbian and gay themes.
Law:
Minority Corporate Counsel Association – (MCCA) was founded to advocate for the expanded hiring, retention, and promotion of minority attorneys in corporate law departments and the law firms that serve them. There are resources listed on their website specifically targeting gay and lesbian lawyers.
National LGBT Bar Association – An affiliate of the American Bar Association, the LGBT Bar Association provides a job board, as well as a writing competition and other information for LGBT law students.
Medicine:
Gay & Lesbian Medical Association – GLMA works to ensure equality in health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) individuals and health care professionals.
PRIDE VMC Lesbian & Gay Veterinary Medical Association – PRIDE VMC is a professional organization whose mission is to provide support for individuals, education to the community, and a forum for information exchange and social interaction.
Science:
National Association of Gay Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals – A national organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their advocates employed or interested in scientific or high tech fields.