ANN ARBOR - The University of Michigan Career Planning and Placement Office sponsored a panel discussion for lgbt students Feb. 11 entitled “Employer’s Perspectives: LBGT Issues in the Interview.” The panel included three experts. A small group of students attended the event, held along with other campus activities in observance of Diversity Week, which was held at the U of M Office of LGBT Affairs in Ann Arbor.  

“The panel was designed specifically to give students of all disciplines and degree levels, strategies and advice for handling their job search, especially during the interview process,” explained Robyn Hogue, the Multicultural Services Coordinator at the U of M Career Planning Placement Office. 

Panel members included Cindy Clardy, a Ford truck cost estimator, Diversity Council member and Ford GLOBE officer Cindy Clardy; Ron Miotke, a global data and telecommunications manager with Lear Corporation; and Christopher Johnson, the Technology Venture Fund manager at Ford. 

Each panelist spoke briefly at the workshop and a question and answer session followed. They talked about whether it was a wise idea to come out on a resume or during a job interview. 

According to Johnson, coming out at the job interview is often a good decision. 

“I would tell people not to hide that part of themselves during the interview or on their resume. If you are a member of a gay or lesbian organization, go ahead and put that down as an extracurricular activity on your resume. This is a good time to take a risk like this, the economy is good and jobs are out there. Plus, it’s the best way to gage if a company is going to be gay-friendly,” said Johnson. 

Miotke said the way one comes out is important. 

“I think if someone interviewed with me and said ‘I’m here to fulfill a networking position and I’m gay,’ well, I would probably think, ‘why is this person telling me this? It is better to take a subtle approach,” he said. 

“When I interviewed for jobs my resume showed that I volunteered at the Triangle Foundation which I described as a lgbt organization. Other ways to be more subtle would be to ask if a company covers domestic partners on its insurance and if they would be willing to let you look at the anti-discrimination policy,” added Miotke. 

Other issues that came up included researching organizations and assessing office culture and how to determine if an organization is lgbt-friendly. 

Students were also advised on how to balance the need to be geographically flexible in a job search with the desire to live and work in an empowering and positive community. 

“I was not out on my last job in Nebraska,” said Clardy, an industrial engineer who now does cost estimating in the Ford Truck division. “Before I went to work at Ford a few years ago I had been downsized out of my last job after working there for 16 years. One of the things I was looking for in my job search was a company that was big enough to make me feel secure, so I wouldn’t have to worry about being downsized again. I also knew I did not want to live in a small town. I called the ‘contact dyke’ for the area from the Lesbian Connection and asked about the area. I really checked out the community before coming here,” she explained. 

Clardy said there are many ways to determine if a firm is gay-friendly. She suggested that job candidates do their homework before the interview. 

“Before you go to the interview, check out the company’s website. See if there is any kind of diversity organizations or discrimination policies. After you go the interview, try to talk to others at the company. See how you read them. Try to find out about the history of the company. The point it, do your research. It will just make a you a better candidate at the interview if you know about the company,” she added.