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Cascadia Douglas Fir flag with trans stripes. WA Trans Resource and Relocation Guide

Jobs

Copy our Job Search Checklist - Checklist preview

Section titled “Copy our Job Search Checklist - Checklist preview”

Resumes

Section titled “Resumes”

Want some tips on how to build a quality resume? Check out our Resume Building Guide.

Consider basing your resume off a template from our friends at Renegade Fund:

Need help editing a resume? Reach out – someone from our team may be able to go over your resume. Many of the work sourcing agencies listed above also have experts who review resumes.

Definitely scan your resume on Jobscan – this will check it to make sure it’s hitting key-words for automatic resume checkers.

Work sourcing agencies

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These can be a great resource if you’re struggling to find work for any reason, and can help you with every step of finding work.

  • Pacific Associates is a WorkSource affiliate that actively works full-time to connect people to employment. They work across industries, are expressly trans-inclusive, and also have significant experience with finding work for those with disabilities. You need to reside in King County or Snohomish County. (Seattle area) They can help find jobs and help fund transit to interviews or jobs.
  • WorkSource can also connect you to services directly!
  • Uplift Northwest in Belltown can be a good resource, especially for temporary placements!
  • Peer Seattle is a queer group that offers employment support and connections, among many other resources. I believe you can reach out before relocating to help find something here to land with!
  • If you’re going somewhere other than the Seattle area, check this page to find your local WorkSource agency! Many take walk-ins for all kinds of employment help – finding openings, identifying viable jobs, working on resumes and cover letters, and more!

Job Leads

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Perennial Seattle employers

Section titled “Perennial Seattle employers”

Sign up for alerts for new postings for these places if their site lets you! Checking regularly is good but it’s much easier and saves you time to just have them email you!!

  • Grocery is frequently low barrier to entry and is often trans, check jobs at Costco, PCC, Metropolitan Market, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Uwajimaya, Red Apple Markets (I’d apply in person, postings not listed online), QFC, Safeway, Town & Country.
    Check all of these regularly, as it fluctuates a lot. Some may not have up-to-date online postings, so it never hurts to go in and ask!

  • General retail is also good for all kinds of jobs across different cities – I’d check US Foods, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Regal, AMC, Target, and anything else large and nearby!

  • Check this union jobs board! It’s got a bit of everything – food service, teaching, manufacturing, customer service, etc. Usually with good pay and benefits!

  • USPS is nearly always hiring, mostly for mail carriers and vehicle maintenance. Benefits and a good career, just a lot of driving and sometimes long hours.

  • Seattle Conservation Corps is a great program regularly hiring unhoused folks! Call (206) 684-0190 to find out the schedule for the next Phone Screen.

  • Dicks Burgers is a good local chain food service employer with no experience required and good pay + benefits who is usually hiring (including via in-person interview days), depending on location.

  • City of Seattle + King County also have good jobs. They are sometimes pretty specific, but can also be as general as janitorial, and they have good pay and benefits.

    • Might also check the Washington Department of Transportation, who are often hiring for entry level and specialized roles. Might help to filter by county: King (Seattle), Pierce (Tacoma), Thurston (Olympia), etc.

    • Other cities have their own job boards, but you can also search Government Jobs for WA, and it will show results across cities and counties.

  • BECU is a local queer-friendly credit union often hiring for all kinds of roles.

  • Recology is often hiring entry-level positions for customer support, retail, and various administrative roles! Plus LOTS of CDL drivers!

  • UW is HUGE and ebbs and flows but is constantly hiring across a wide variety of positions (medical, janitorial, food service, everything). As of 2025, there’s a modest hiring freeze – it likely applies less to entry-level jobs like janitorial, but is likely currently a bit harder to get hired there for less on-the-ground roles.

  • Seattle Public Schools- Not just for teachers! They need support staff and pay decently with great benefits. Kitchen staff, office staff, bus drivers (they will train), para educators (work with special needs students), janitors, maintenance, IT help, even nursing. If you have a 4 year degree you can substitute while looking for other work. You can be a substitute para with a HS diploma.

  • Lake Washington School District (Eastside)- Very queer friendly! Like above they need more than teachers- see classified listings. They had a huge push for bus drivers which pays $35+/hour

  • Ridwell- Recycling company founded in Seattle. Always looking for drivers. Queer Friendly and great (non smelly) facilities.

  • In the broader area, especially Kent (between Seattle and Tacoma), food logistics is great for both entry-level and specialized roles. Check Columbia Distributing, Sysco, Bimbo Bakeries, Holman Logistics in Kent and Federal Way, and Lineage Logistics for jobs further north.

  • Apple Consulting - Private company that contracts with school districts to support students with special needs. Training provided for Behavior Specialists. Offers PTO, benefits and 401K matching. “Looking for compassionate people of ALL backgrounds.”

  • SP+ is a parking company that’s often hiring across roles! Parking attendants (chill, work by yourself), valet / drivers, facilities managers, etc. Both in Seattle and surrounding areas!

  • If you’ve got a Driver’s License, Elm Utility Services is usually hiring in most areas surrounding Seattle. The job is driving around (company-issued vehicle) and taking measurements and painting on the sidewalk to mark utilities. It’s an easy job to get, you work by yourself, and it’s pretty chill!

Basics to remember

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Make sure you are regularly searching for jobs matching your experience or field on all major job boards. (Most jobs are only listed on 1-2.)

Applying directly to employers (rather than on job boards) is always going to be more effective, but if you’ve checked the postings above definitely look here too!

  • Western WA union jobs board w/ a bit of everything – food service, teaching, manufacturing, customer service, etc. Usually with good pay and benefits! You can even filter for entry-level positions!

  • WorkSource WA: Big board, lots of options!

  • InsightGlobal: Staffing agency – smaller and more specific board, and a lot of the options are contract rather than regular employment, but should be all up-to-date postings!

  • BuiltIn Seattle is great, mostly tech jobs but some IT etc

  • LinkedIn

  • Monster

  • Hiring.Cafe: Specializes in scraping jobs not on other boards)

  • Want entry-level work that starts immediately? Check labor postings.

    • PeopleReady is great for this. You have to sign up + put in your tax info off the bat but then it’s easy to get hired into tons of positions. Process requires a second person to confirm signature of documents, let Sophie (sophie@tractionpnw.org) know if you need help with this and she can attest for you!

  • Government Jobs across cities and counties

  • School jobs – lots in Seattle, PDX, Olympia, etc. Many IT + entry level positions too!

  • Poached: Board for food service jobs!

  • Idealist: Nonprofit-oriented work

  • Indeed

    • Indeed is super convenient. But do NOT only apply to jobs on Indeed. About half of the jobs are fake/outdated/unmonitored, and also because it’s so convenient, every job on there has a million applicants.
    • Try using Indeed to find job postings, go to the company’s site, and apply directly through there. Bonus: you’ll often see jobs on the company site that aren’t on Indeed (and thus have fewer applicants)!

  • More below!

Homeless

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Many of the job links above will serve you well, especially Uplift. You should also shoot your shot at the Seattle Conservation Corps, a 12-month paid job training system by the Seattle city government for homeless adults. It also comes with benefits and more. Depending upon operational needs, they offer open enrollment on a rolling basis. A new cohort of 5-7 Corps members usually starts every 1-2 months. If you are interested in joining, call (206) 684-0190 to find out the schedule for the next Phone Screen.

Open to caretaking

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You can get directly hired as a home care worker for disabled or elderly folks with no experience in WA, via CDCN. There is a five-hour online training you complete and then you’re set.
Pay is $21-24. It’s reportedly easy to get “hired”, you just get verified and then match with clients. There is a network called Carina that connects you to clients. It’s on a client-by-client basis: you have to get clients and work out schedules to have paid shifts (but on the upside, you make your own schedule and can ramp up). More info via DSHS.
(You may or may not need to complete a certification process. However, if you do, this certification can be done after you start work – and some employers will pay you to do it, while with CDCN you can already be working for pay while doing certification on the side.)
I’d recommend a car for this work, though depending on the employer it may not be strictly required.

You can get support navigating this process as well!

CDCN is the biggest in Washington, but you can also get connected to in-home caregiving positions with other organizations, like nonprofit KWA. “KWA got me hired within a week of applying and will pay you to get certified. I had no prior experience.”
There are also other companies you can try, like FRHC and Fedelta. Carina.org is also the SEIU clearinghouse for some union caregiving jobs at 21-23 hour.

Hoping for remote work

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Generally, remote work is extremely competitive at present, particularly for those without skills in any particular industry. One that is relatively commonly hiring for remote positions is call center work (AKA “customer support representative”). Most companies don’t hire huge numbers of these consistently, but I’d check Monster, WorkSource, LinkedIn, and the other sites above and search for call center work – try both with your city, and with location set to “Remote”.

One place to try looking for remote work is the TransCanWork job board.
If you have business experience or specialization, try remote job boards at Sysco, Bimbo, and other big corporations.

However, I would also strongly consider trying to figure out if any kind of in-person jobs you might be able to do, and search for both. (Don’t want to interact with people? Try back-of-house at restaurants, or manufacturing, etc. Can’t stand? Lots of office or assistant jobs will let you sit. Talking through it with an employment specialist might help you figure out what would be in-reach for you. Also, see the next section!)

Have a disability

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If you have disabilities, WorkSource agencies like Pacific Associates specialize in helping you find opportunities that may suit you! Northwest Center is also a placement agency that specializes in helping folks with disabilities find work, often in public-sector roles. See also our guide about getting on Disability Benefits, but note that that is typically a long and challenging process, and often doesn’t pay very much; do not expect a fast path to stability.

Other Job Boards + Staffing Agencies

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Staffing agencies that may help place you in jobs

Section titled “Staffing agencies that may help place you in jobs”

Cleanslate Solutions: Local commercial cleaning agency

HireQuest: Staffing agency part of a national chain, works with numerous industries.

  • Note: Must complete intake at one of the offices - Kent or Everett are local.
  • (253) 277-3361 (Kent)
  • (425) 374-0250 (Everett)

Hi Top Staffing: Great staffing agency for those with tech experience who are looking for temp or temp-to-hire placements.

  • Click “Contact Us” on their website

Both Job Boards & Agency Help

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PeopleReady Skilled Trades: Big job board for licensed trade workers, updated regularly. Also will help with direct placements.

  • (206) 242-4800

Verstela Staffing Group: Staffing agency for numerous industries. Work 1:1 to place in temp, seasonal, direct hire, etc. roles.

  • (206) 405-3300 (Seattle office)

Aerotek Staffing: Staffing agency part of national chain, works with Industrial and Skilled Trades. Also some administrative roles.

  • Branch in Tacoma and a branch in Everett
  • (253) 733-4000 (Tacoma)
  • (425) 249-4300 (Everett)

Express Employment Professionals - Seattle: Job board and placements in Office Services, Light Industrial, and Skilled Trades

Kelly Services: Job board for lab, manufacturing, and healthcare, with some education roles. Can set up personalized job alerts.

  • (248) 362-4444 (Main North America number - they say will connect you to the right expert for your inquiry)

Pace Staffing: Job board of current openings, or you can upload your resume to be considered for current/future opportunities. Often, the jobs are temporary positions, but many are listed as temp-to-hire. Positions range from Office/Admin services to the Healthcare field, but there may be other offerings as well.

Manpower: Job board - looks like mostly tech and manufacturing industries. Also has local reps that can help you find a job. (Nationwide)

Hospitality Staffing: Wide range of hospitality jobs, incl. management and temp travel jobs that can include room and board (could possibly be a way to land in Seattle?). Job board, local office, and a way to put in a general application for their recruiters. (Nationwide)

  • (206) 462-2205

Apps that help you get gig work

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  • InstaWork: hospitality, warehousing, etc.
  • ShiftSmart: retail merchandising, secret shopping
  • JobGet: hospitality, labor, retail, healthcare. Also has a general job board.
  • Qwick: hospitality jobs. 1 yr experience req.
  • Wonolo: wide range of gigs, may not be high volume
  • Note: BlueCrew is not advised as a platform due to shady practices and lack of follow-through.

Interested in teaching or school positions

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Lots of teaching and aide positions don’t require teaching certs, and Instructional Assistant roles are often in high demand, though hiring ebbs and flows throughout the year.

  • NWAIS has a job board for private schools, which often have more lax requirements
  • schooljobs.com is a little harder to refine, but has LOTS of jobs for public schools and private alike. Seattle Public Schools jobs are listed on here, as seem to be for Portland, Olympia, etc.

Stagehand

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If you want to work in theater, the stagehand union IATSE Local 15 is a good gig. However, getting work assignments are based on seniority, so for your first several years you would likely not get enough work to make it work as your only job, but it can be a steady path towards a long-term career.
1) apply for the hiring hall here, sooner is better: https://form.123formbuilder.com/6199808/hiring-hall-application

2) complete the F-List test as soon as possible; unfortunately can only be done physically in Seattle and is only offered outside of peak season. So it’s mostly available in winter, I believe the last one they offer before the work comes in is March? There’s a contact message about the F-list test on the form linked above.

If you have previous experience elsewhere:
3) *some* seniority credit hours toward seniority can be transferred from their current work. any work completed six months prior to acceptance to the hiring hall is eligible for credit hours, so once they’re accepted they need to email the Board of Examiners (boe@ia15.org) and work out payment on the difference in percentage dues between their current local and Local 15

Interested in a trades career but lack experience/creds

Section titled “Interested in a trades career but lack experience/creds”

Consider getting hired for a paid apprenticeship, where you’ll be paid a wage while receiving on-the-job training, often without experience required. Many fields, anything from Construction and IT work to aestheticians. Search https://secure.lni.wa.gov/arts-public/#/program-search to find programs in Washington. Some, like those through Apprenti, require free but unpaid training beforehand; after this training paid on-the-job training is guaranteed for most programs.

For additional/non-WA programs or more info, check https://www.apprenticeship.gov/.

See this spreadsheet for similar options.

Note: For some roles, you’ll need to do a pre-apprenticeship before the paid apprenticeship. These usually last a couple months and can cost between 0 and several thousand dollars. There’s lots of funding for getting trained in a trade.

Washington State Opportunity Scholarship
Up to $1500 a quarter and connections, advice, networks, mentorship, and career development resources as Scholars build their pathway to a high-demand career.

WA Grant
Free money from the State of Washington to help pay for many types of education, including career training, college, or an apprenticeship.

PNW Fishing Industry Courses

MITAGS offers a menu of free USCG approved courses: (1) 5-day STCW Basic Safety Training, including First Aid/CPR, Personal Survival, Personal Safety and Basic Firefighting; (2) 10-day STCW Medical Person in Charge; and (3) 1-day Customized Firefighting Team Training. MITAGS can do this as part of a National Institute of Occupational Health & Safety grant. Anyone who works in, around or near the PNW Commercial fishing industry is eligible. To learn more about this great opportunity, please email fishing@mitags.org

Already Skilled

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Check https://skilled.peopleready.com/ and other sites above for skilled labor work.
https://jobs.aerotek.com/

Residential Positions

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Jobs or training with housing included are often very hard to find or may be in remote areas, but can be a lifesaver if you’re trying to land somewhere new and need to build up money without blowing it on rent. (Do be careful: make sure the position has pay in addition to room+board, be sure to do your diligence on the employer first, and make sure others know where you are and how they can get in contact with you.)

You can just search for current openings, with “housing provided” or “residential jobs” on job boards like those linked above. Alternatively, a friend maintains a non-exhaustive Google Sheet with some leads. (Most are outside the city, but can be a good way to build up money without blowing it on rent, if even as a first-step out of your current situation.)

Other jobs resources and Soft Skills

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Note for Transplants

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We strongly, strongly encourage you to apply for (and ideally secure) employment before relocating. Washington is very expensive, and while wages are somewhat higher than other places, time spent without income can be financially devastating. The job market is tough, and finding employment often takes time.

If you’re trying to relocate in a rush, it’s a good idea to apply to everything you’re qualified for in order to get any possible stable employment. Employment is tough right now, and not only is it much safer to have income, but it will look better on a resumé than an employment gap will (or if you’re worried, you don’t have to include it!), and can help you pivot to a more desirable job once you’re settled.

If your resumé indicates you are out of state, it may be screened out. You will likely have better results if you list the ZIP code you are planning a relocation to. Upon securing an interview, you can explain you are relocating and say when you’d be able to start. It is much easier to explain nuance once employers know you and want to hire you than when they’re looking at 100 resumes looking for reasons to whittle down.

My advice for applying when out of state

Section titled “My advice for applying when out of state”

Don’t mention it on your resume. Ideally, you only want to be talking about it at a point where they already like you and want to hire you, 2nd interview or later ideally (though if they ask where in Seattle you are etc), you should answer rather than avoiding.

When it comes up in interview:
If you’re able to execute the move in a month’s time or less if a job comes together (you probably can, and we can help!), I would say very matter-of-factly something like “I’m moving into the area on July 17th {arbitrary date a few weeks out}”.
If employers hear you’re ~~thinking about moving~~ they’re way less likely to be receptive than if you make it sound like you have a clear plan.
Provide whatever date in the interview, and then when you’ve gotten or are close to getting an offer and you’re discussing start date, you can push it out a bit further from there, like “How’s August 2nd {arbitrary date 2 weeks later} for a start date?.” (Optional.) They can push back if they want you to start sooner, maybe you agree to a date 3 weeks out, but at least 2 weeks notice is reasonable and we can likely put you up temporarily if need be.

Context: If you’re not currently in the area, the concern for an employer is that your move won’t actually happen and thus you won’t actually be able to work, so they won’t offer you the job. If you make it sound like a sure thing, then they’ll likely be more accommodating than they would be otherwise. (And thus your move becomes more of a sure thing! Yippee!)

More info for applying from out-of-state