Disclosing Your Identity during the Job Search

Here are some reasons people choose to disclose their identity during a job search: 

 

 

 

  • Individual mental health reasons - full integration of identity; "I am comfortable in my skin."
  • Personal reasons (e.g., integrity, honesty, recognition, and support from peers of who one is as a person).
  • Professional, political, and societal reasons (e.g., provide role model for other diverse people, desensitize co-workers, and eliminate stereotyping).
  • Practical reasons (e.g., benefits, professional development, and career fulfillment).

 

 

You should keep in mind that sometimes full disclosure is vitally important in order to protect yourself, and to be sure your needs can be physically met in the workplace! On the next page, you’ll find an example that illustrates how to handle a disability disclosure.