As a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ+) student preparing for a job or internship search, there are additional decisions you will want to consider to successfully communicate the value you bring to employers. In June 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court passed a ruling that protects gay, lesbian and transgender employees from being disciplined, fired or turned down for a job based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. It is still useful for you to research employers’ commitment to diversity and especially to LGBT employees. You will find workplace differences by employer and geographic regions, and you will want to research your options carefully to meet your individual needs and goals. The Career Design Lab (CDL) coaches are available to help you navigate these decisions.

Where Can I Find Career-Related Resources at Columbia?

Columbia Pride – The mission of Columbia Pride is to build community and foster a safe environment among LGBTQ+ alumni of all schools of Columbia University in the City of New York.

Global Programs – Identify and Diversity Abroad – Provides discussion and resources for managing your identity in other countries.

Where Can I Find Other Career-Related Resources?

Diversity in the Workplace – Provides news on diversity and rates employers on their diversity practices.
Human Rights Campaign – GenEQ Guide to Entering the Workforce
Human Rights Campaign – LGBTQ Recruitment — Includes lists of student associations, recruitment events, links to job search sites.Lambda Legal – Covers workplace discrimination cases
LGBTConnect – A job board for anyone seeking LGBTQ+-friendly employers
National Center for Transgender Equity – See Issues/Employment
National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals Inc (NOGLSTP) – Information on scholarships, events and networking opportunities for students and professionals in the STEM fields.
Out & Equal – A workplace advocacy group designed to connect the LGBTQ+ community through resources, events and support groups
Out for Work – An organization aimed at aiding LGBTQ+ students transition to the workplace
Out Professionals – The nation’s largest LGBTQ+ networking organization
Pride@Work – Represents LGBTQ+ union members and their allies.
 
 

As an LGBTQ+ person, what should I think about in my career journey?

HOW TO PRESENT YOURSELF

You will want to consider how to present yourself in your resume, cover letters and interviews. What you write in both of these documents may identify you, so you need to consider how you want to do that. You may decide to present yourself in different ways depending upon the organization and its commitment to diversity. Other considerations include what name you use to introduce yourself and how you dress for the interview. Your CDL career coach can help you consider these decisions and help you find the wording you are comfortable using.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  • Is the company an LGBTQ+-friendly organization?
  • Do you feel comfortable disclosing that you are a member of an LGBTQ+ organization?
  • Do you include previous work experiences (internships, etc.) that occurred at LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations?
  • How do you list your achievements from an LGBTQ+ organization on your resume?

You will find some useful resources at the Columbia University Center for Career Education: LGBTQ Students.

What should I consider when choosing employers?

Start by looking at the employer’s website, in their career section or in any section where they discuss diversity and inclusion, and consider the following questions:

  • Does the organization provide same-sex partner benefits?
  • Is there an LGBTQ+ employee resource group? (For example, see Ford GLOBE.)
  • Does the organization have at least one gender-neutral restroom?
  • Does the organization sponsor or participate in activities or events that support the LGBTQ+ community?

Review their diversity and inclusion statements. Next, check other resources that provide reviews or ratings of employers.

Here are some resources:

Glassdoor – Amazing companies that champion LGBTQ+ hiring now

Human Rights Campaign – Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ equality

Human Rights Campaign – HRC Corporate Equality Index

The 25 Best Companies for LGBT+ Employees

Job Searching while LGBTQ+: How to find a truly inclusive place to work

When researching employers, conducting informational interviews will be an important tool for you to learn more about the company from the inside. During informational interviews, you can gain additional insight into the company’s diversity commitment. Review the company’s website first before preparing your questions and only ask questions that are not answered on the website.

Why Being Out at Work Matters – Queer Money Ep. 168

On this Queer Money, we discuss a topic that often brings up angst for many in the LGBTQ community; should I be out at work?

An estimated 50% of LGBTQ individuals in the US are not out at work. Why does visibility matter? What can companies do to encourage self-identification? And how can businesses use …

Read more

Fostering LGBTQIA+ belonging in the workplace

The technology industry is undergoing a significant shift toward LGBTQIA+ equality to create belonging in the workplace, yet there’s still work to be done.

For Tonya Allen, a senior staff program manager at tech company ServiceNow, raising a transgender son …

Read more

The Top 10 Affordable LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities Pt 1 | Queer Money Ep. 433

https://chrt.fm/track/8929ED/podcasts.captivate.fm/media/a214c849-bfff-4bf3-83be-786819c65ec2/433-Final-Audio.mp3
What are the most affordable, LGBTQ+ friendly cities in the United States?
On this Queer Money, we’re taking a break from our usual look at individual states. We wanted to share the the top 10 most affordable, LGBTQ+ friendly cities so far from the first 25 states we’ve covered from Montana to Wyoming.
All …

Read more

5 job search tips for LGBTQ+ college and university students

We asked five professionals, including CEOs and a Co-Founder, for their best advice for LGBTQ+ college and university students embarking on their early career journey. From connecting with LGBTQ+ professional organizations to utilizing LGBTQ+ job boards and resources, these leaders …

By College Recruiter
College Recruiter believes that every student and recent grad deserves a great career.
Read more

Pros and cons of using your preferred pronouns on your resume

Have you noticed that pronouns are showing up more on resumes, LinkedIn headlines, and email signatures? 

In the past, the debate around pronouns typically centered around “first-person” and “third-person.” 

However, more modern resumes are evolving to embrace “non-binary” pronouns like …

By College Recruiter
College Recruiter believes that every student and recent grad deserves a great career.
Read more

Sidebar

Featured Classes

Presentations

Improve your ability to communicate big ideas to clients, teams, and execs by honing your presentation skills! Gain access to…

Networking & Outreach

Utilize practical exercises and advice from successful professionals to grow your network, build your professional community, represent your organization, and…

Clarifying Expectations

What questions do you need to ask to get the job done correctly? Improve your ability to communicate with your…

Goal Setting

Setting relevant and precise goals is a recipe for career success… but where do you start? Learn how to choose…

Giving & Receiving Feedback

Feedback is a two-way street — this course helps prepare you to thoughtfully give and receive constructive feedback with team…

LinkedIn Overview

Learn how to harness all of LinkedIn’s features in order to optimize your job search, expand your network, and maximize…

Informational Interviews

Careers aren’t built alone! Informational interviews are a key tool in your professional toolbelt: learn how to leverage the peers…

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Explore the essential roles and functions you’ll be collaborating with at top companies, then dive into best practices for leading…

Requesting Time Off

Nervous about requesting time off from work? Not sure how to ask your manager? Get the essential information and templates…

Career Exploration

Finding your career path doesn’t have to be a headache! Learn the difference between constructive and overwhelming questions to ask…

Cover Letters

When used correctly, a cover letter can be a valuable companion to your resume. This course will provide the samples…

Interviewing

Prepare to ace the interview! Dive into interview fundamentals, secrets to making a great first impression on employers, and how…

Professional Writing & Organization

Take a deep dive into the unspoken do’s and don’ts of professional communication with coworkers, customers, managers, and more! Then,…

Presence & Professionalism

Whether you’re in the office, joining a remote meeting, or attending a work event, how you show up matters! Demystify…

Getting to Know Your Manager & Team

Navigating a new workplace is a challenge. Start your new role with confidence by asking the right questions on (and…

Hiring Process & Offer Evaluation

Upgrade your hire-ability by demystifying the hiring process from application to offer.

Resumes

Get seen by employers and put your best foot forward in the application process by unlocking key hacks and tips…

Career Resources

The 2023 Vault Guide to the Top 50 Consulting Firms is the definitive guide to the best consulting firms to …

The Vault Guide to Top Internships rates more than 130 internship programs. Based on a survey of approxiomately 14,000 interns, …

Informational Interview Steps

 

Informational Interview Steps
Identify someone to interview:Professors, advisors, alumni, and members of professional organizations are great candidates for informational interviews. …

DEIA Equity Language Guide

Being respectful and thoughtful in our exchanges with each other, external partners and stakeholders, and the general public is integral …

Resources for Diverse Populations

The Career Design Lab (CDL) in the School of Professional Studies (SPS) is here to support students of all backgrounds, …

Featured Mentors


Aleenah Ansari

Expert-Recommended People
  • Product Marketing Manager Microsoft
Meet Aleenah >

Rex Chekal

Expert-Recommended People
  • Principal Product Designer TXI
Meet Rex >

James Cook

Expert-Recommended People
  • Lead Consultant Thoughtworks
Meet James >

Rey Dubrawska

Expert-Recommended People
  • Senior Lifecycle Marketing Manager Pitch
Meet Rey >

José García Cruz

Expert-Recommended People
  • Sr. UX/UI Design Specialist Solvento
Meet José >

Soren Hamby

Expert-Recommended People
  • Senior Manager of UX and Digital Design Benjamin Moore
Meet Soren >

Jess LaFrank

Expert-Recommended People
  • Senior Technical Support Engineer Datadog
Meet Jess >

Frederic Liu

Expert-Recommended People
  • Product Designer Yahoo
Meet Frederic >

Ale Lopez

Expert-Recommended People
  • Product Design Lead Netflix
Meet Ale >

Kazumi Terada

Expert-Recommended People
  • Lead Product Designer InfoTrack.com
Meet Kazumi >

Idil Tunga

Expert-Recommended People
  • Product Designer Spotify
Meet Idil >
Meet Larissa >