LGBTQ+ Career Readiness Certificate

The LGBTQ+ Career Readiness Certificate is designed to prepare LGBTQ-identified college students for the unique challenges they may face in their careers. Those who complete the program will gain essential knowledge and skills for protecting themselves and their career opportunities in the face of discrimination, microaggressions, and self-doubt. Participants will have the opportunity to share fears and challenges with each other in a safe space, and will gain guidance from LGBTQ instructors. Workshops can be taken in any order to qualify for the certificate. This program is made up of the four core workshops along with four workshops of their choice from the Career Design Center.

Students who complete this program will:

• Understand their rights in the workplace
• Gain strategies for dealing with workplace microaggressions
• Understand resources and strategies for reporting workplace discrimination
• Practice challenging conversations, such as coming out at work
• Explore their personal style as it relates to career wardrobe
• Network with LGBTQ professionals and organizations
• Gain confidence and lifelong career skills

The required workshops for the LGBTQ+ Career Readiness Certificate is made up of the following workshops:

LGBTQ Bias in the Workplace

Through this workshop, participants will gain a new understanding of their workplace rights as LGBTQ professionals. Participants will learn and practice strategies for addressing workplace bias and discrimination, as well as microaggressions. Participants will also learn about the bias-reporting systems and organizations available to them. This workshop is intended for LGBTQ-identified students.

The Category is… LGBTQ Career Wardrobe

LGBTQ individuals often face particular challenges when cultivating a professional wardrobe, such as balancing style and comfort with the expectations of the workplace. Participants will discuss their unique style challenges when cultivating their personal career wardrobe. The workshop will also cover strategies for understanding a workplace's wardrobe culture, as well as tips for cultivating a wardrobe that is fashionable, professional, and affordable. This workshop is intended for LGBTQ-identified students.

Coming Out (or not) at Work: Strategies for LGBTQ Professionals

In this workshop, participants will gain strategies for assessing the LGBTQ-friendliness of a workplace. Participants will also understand the costs and benefits of coming out at work. This workshop will cover various situations in which participants may or may not choose to come out, as well as strategies for doing so. Participants will engage in conversation with each other about fears and challenges related to coming out (or not) at work. This workshop is intended for LGBTQ-identified students.

Networking as an LGBTQ Professional

Participants will learn about the various professional organizations available to LGBTQ people. This workshop will also cover strategies for networking and navigating personal and professional relationships within the LGBTQ Community. Participants will practice networking with each other, as well as gain a new understanding of their professional identity and goals. This workshop is intended for LGBTQ-identified students.

For the optional workshops, select from any of the following four workshops of their choice:

• *Career Exploration-Designing your future
• Networking
• Intro. to Resume
• **Advanced Resume
• Introduction to Interviewing
• ***Advanced Interviewing
• Internships
• Job Search Strategy
• LinkedIn
• Transitioning to the World of Work

*Recommended as a foundational workshop 

WORKSHOPS Prerequisite: **Intro. to Resume ***Intro. to Interviewing