Questions to ask a gay guy in an interview

Even though you’ve spent the time researching your employer and the position they’re hiring for, during an interview is time to have a conversation about all of the things that may not always appear in the position description. Knowing what questions are OK to demand helps you start a vibrant conversation that will help you understand how inclusive their workspace is for you. Here are a few ways to get the convo started!

What is addressed in your equal employment opportunity declaration, and do you hold identities listed explicitly in your non-discrimination policy?
An matching opportunity employer (EOE) expression is a short paragraph that conveys a business’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in its employment practices. If they aren’t sure about the correct wording, at least this is a great conversation starter to dig into how they value each person’s individuality in their workspace. As an example, let’s look at Google’s statement:

“At Google, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Google is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirma

My search for my first full-time job was alternative than other people’s. As an out gay person in a relationship, I had a few more anxieties on my consciousness when it came to my future workplace.

Would my orientation cause conflict between myself and my unused coworkers? Would I be able to talk openly about my girlfriend? Was it even possible to figure out if a company was safe while interviewing with them?

My occupation hunt began in my first semester of my senior year since I planned to graduate in the spring and most tech companies start the interviewing process earlier rather than later. After interviewing at a few diverse companies, I was offered an interview at the Atomic office in Ann Arbor.

Reading the Room

My hands trembled as I stepped into the office. I was not only anxious about the interview, but also looking for any signs that I might not be welcome–perhaps a strange look aimed at my short hair and gender-neutral clothing, or a disapproving glance toward the rainbow bracelet on my wrist.

I was used to looking for these signs whenever I went anywhere new. It had grow part of my routine as I searched for a place to initiate my professional career. But at Atomic, I set up a

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Guides to Doing Oral History

• Oral History Top Practices

  An excellent set of guidelines from the Oral History Association covering preparation for the interview, interviewing, preserving (archiving) recordings, and providing access. Other sections of the site provide more detailed discussion of oral history ethics, archiving, and core principles.
• Oral History (Writing Center at UNC Chapel Hill)

  A thorough put of guidelines on preparing for, conducting, and transcribing an interview, as good as detailed ideas for turning the interview material into an essay.
• How to Perform Oral History (Smithsonian Institute Archives)

  Another very useful site guidance on preparing for oral history interviews, how to ask questions, suggestions for recording, suggested topics and questions, and processing the interview.

Queer Oral History Collections

• Southern Communities: Listening for a Change: History of Gay Men and Transgender People in the South

  Interviews conducted in 2000-2002 by Chris McGinnis, an undergraduate at the UNC Chapel Hill, discussing gay experience in the South with particular emphasis on North Carolina in the 1960s through the
  
  

  Since October is LGBTQ History Month (not to be muddled with Pride Month held in June), there will probably be plenty of panels discussing the importance of diversity and LGBTQ issues.

  So here are my top 35 potential LGTBQ panel discussion questions for Identity festival Month or LGBTQ History Month. You will not seek them all, but perhaps they might provide some inspiration as you grow your own list.

  LGBTQ Panel Discussion Questions

  1. What does LGBTQQIP2SAA rise for?
  2. What is the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity?
  3. How do you see more/less acceptance of LGBTQ in society?
  4. How can we build an atmosphere of inclusion, regardless of our personal or religious views?

  Benefits/Consequences

  1. Why are “firsts” vital to note? What other barrier breakers have you witnessed in your lifetime?
  2. Since many national figures have come out, is it easier for employees in your organization to come out?
  3. What is the biggest or most common misconception about trans people?

  LGBTQ Panel Discussion Questions about the Journey

  1. What kinds of things might a person who is sapphic, gay, bisexual, or transgender go through when coming out?
  2. What kinds of things might a gender non-conforming pe

     “That Means You’re Gay”: Parvati Shallow Fields Questions from Interview Readers

     Photo courtesy of Parvati Shallow.

     Welcome to Try Help, a new column where we enlist Interview’s wisest and weirdest friends to give us answers to life’s most profound questions. For our second installment, we tapped “Survivor” winner and reality TV GOAT Parvati Shallow to help our readers game the problems weighing on them this summer, from trust issues and imposter syndrome to turning bottoms into tops. And if you want to listen even more from “The Traitors” star? Well, she’s got a memoir out this week called Nice Girls Don’t Win.

     ———

     My therapist says I have faith issues, but I declare I just have a good read on people. Who’s right?

     This is my wheelhouse. You’re right; people suck. You can’t confidence anybody. You think you can trust your therapist? No, you’re paying them, so they’re going to try to argue with you and tell you they’re right. I’m going to do some internet research on this, but I would say you know who you are—your authentic compass, your feeling. Alarm bells are going off