{"id":4841,"date":"2023-12-18T12:37:09","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T12:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/?p=4841"},"modified":"2024-01-10T15:03:10","modified_gmt":"2024-01-10T15:03:10","slug":"sex-work-and-future-job-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/sex-work-and-future-job-opportunities\/","title":{"rendered":"Sex work and future job opportunities: Does it affect your career?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What happens if a sex worker wants out? Can they switch to a new career? Or is it slightly more complicated?<\/p>\n<p>Today, we\u2019re looking at whether sex work affects your future job opportunities, what you need to know about leaving sex work, and how to protect yourself if you\u2019re starting your career in the adult industry.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#sexworkandemployability\">Does sex work affect your employment eligibility?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#whatjobsdobackgroundchecks?\">What jobs do background checks?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#leavingsexwork\">All about leaving sex work<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#consideringsexwork?\">Considering sex work? Here\u2019s what you should know<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#whatodoifyourcolleaguedoessexwork?\">What to do if your colleague does sex work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#sexworkisrealwork\">Sex work is real work: Breaking the stigma<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#thetakeaway\">The takeaway<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Ready? Let\u2019s break stigmas and empower!<\/p>\n<p><em>Scroll down for more.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"sexworkandemployability\"><strong>Does sex work affect your employment eligibility?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re reading this article, you might be worried about your future career path. Maybe you\u2019re considering sex work, or perhaps you\u2019re a sex worker looking to try something new. Either way, we\u2019re about to give a frustrating answer.<\/p>\n<p>It depends on your experience, what industry you\u2019re applying to, and your hiring manager.<\/p>\n<p>Some sex workers leave the industry and can swap jobs quickly and without questions. Others struggle to get hiring managers to look past their old careers.<\/p>\n<p>You might have more trouble if you\u2019re a high-profile sex worker or have a large internet following. For example, if someone googles your name and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/things-you-need-to-know-when-creating-an-onlyfans\/\">your OnlyFans account<\/a> pops up, it could decrease your chances of employment. However, if you\u2019ve used a fake name or have a small following, you might be unable to trace your content to your government name.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, we don\u2019t agree with any companies that discriminate against sex workers. But there\u2019s a clear pattern of sex workers having issues when their content pops up after searching their names. Unfortunately, employers do background checks and this won\u2019t change anytime soon.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"\u201dwhatjobsdobackgroundchecks?&quot;\"><strong>What jobs do background checks?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>These days, most employers will conduct background checks. However, the levels of checks vary depending on the industry.<\/p>\n<p>For casual office work, your employer will usually focus on your CV, your LinkedIn, and maybe search your name on Google. Other industries, such as child or healthcare, will require stringent background checks. This is to check for criminal activity or anything illegal.<\/p>\n<p>Your sex work may pop up in these searches, but it shouldn\u2019t be something they discriminate against &#8211; so long as it\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/a-z-sexual-consent-in-sex-work\/\">legal and consensual<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4844\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/sex-work-and-future-job-opportunities-1.png\" alt=\"woman on her latop typing, exploring the impact of sex work on future job opportunities, aiming to foster understanding and challenge societal perspectives on career choices\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/sex-work-and-future-job-opportunities-1.png 1080w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/sex-work-and-future-job-opportunities-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/sex-work-and-future-job-opportunities-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/sex-work-and-future-job-opportunities-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/sex-work-and-future-job-opportunities-1-600x338.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"leavingsexwork\"><strong>All about leaving sex work<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Did you know the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zippia.com\/advice\/average-number-jobs-in-lifetime\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">average person changes jobs 12 times<\/a> in their lifetime? That\u2019s a lot of different careers and a whole load of experience.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re a sex worker who\u2019s feeling drawn to another career, it can be challenging to know if it\u2019s time to leave the industry or not. Sometimes, the perceived lack of career options keeps sex workers in the same job.<\/p>\n<p>But it\u2019s important to know that your options aren\u2019t limited. You can start a new career or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/top-ways-escorts-can-diversify-their-income\/\">side hustle<\/a> if you want to! Whatever you do, as long as you\u2019re safe and enjoying it, you\u2019re all good.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>However, if you are interested in leaving sex work, these tips can help you move on to a new career:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Make the decision<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The first step is the hardest. You must commit to your decision and be mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared for the journey.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Build up some savings<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Most sex workers are self-employed. While you\u2019re between jobs, you\u2019ll need some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/money-saving-tips-for-sex-workers\/\">savings<\/a> to live on. So, spend some time working and saving to ensure you have some spare cash while finding your new passion.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Examine your skills<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Transferable skills are strengths and abilities that can be used in various jobs. Sex workers are equipped with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/financial-management-for-sex-workers\/\">wide range of skills,<\/a> and they\u2019re often more transferable than you\u2019d think. For example, you might be a great social media manager. Maybe you\u2019re passionate about customer service or problem-solving.<\/p>\n<p>Look at what you\u2019re best at (and what you don\u2019t enjoy). Use this information to inform your job applications and CV.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Use the internet<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The internet has a wealth of information on all subjects. Seek out videos and blogs from other sex workers who have left the industry. Or use online interview prep to help you get ready for your upcoming applications. Online preparation will give you a huge advantage, so don\u2019t forget it!<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Ask for help<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Finally, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/sex-worker-community\/\">reach out to other sex workers<\/a> who have left the industry to learn more. Forums are a great place to connect with active and past sex workers. You never know what you\u2019ll learn from others.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"consideringsexwork?\"><strong>Considering sex work? Here\u2019s what you should know<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Deciding to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/benefits-of-online-sex-work\/\">become a sex worker is exciting<\/a>. But many worry about potential long-term effects before starting their career.<\/p>\n<p>If this sounds familiar, don\u2019t worry. You can take some steps to lessen future problems if you decide to change careers. <strong><em>Here are some tips to stay safe and anonymous online:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use a fake\/performer name<\/li>\n<li>Consider not showing your face or wearing masks<\/li>\n<li>Opt for a more anonymous form of sex work &#8211; such as phone sex<\/li>\n<li>Always keep your personal information hidden<\/li>\n<li>Use a secure Wi-Fi connection or VPN<\/li>\n<li>Only tell people you can trust<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4843\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/sex-work-and-future-job-opportunities-2.png\" alt=\"woman greeting and interviewer, exploring the impact of sex work on future job opportunities, aiming to foster understanding and challenge societal perspectives on career choices\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/sex-work-and-future-job-opportunities-2.png 1080w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/sex-work-and-future-job-opportunities-2-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/sex-work-and-future-job-opportunities-2-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/sex-work-and-future-job-opportunities-2-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/sex-work-and-future-job-opportunities-2-600x338.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"&quot;whatodoifyourcolleaguedoessexwork?\u201d\"><strong>What to do if your colleague does sex work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Have you stumbled upon a colleague or job applicant\u2019s online sex work? Before you message colleagues or respond to their applications, take a moment to stop and think.<\/p>\n<p>Push away your prejudice about sex, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/sex-work-business-tips\/\">consider the extra skills<\/a> this side hustle or previous career displays. If they\u2019ve built up on OnlyFans or online following, it shows they\u2019re tech-savvy, good at marketing, and can create content. It also shows they\u2019re familiar with accounting, building a small business, and meeting customer needs.<\/p>\n<p>Being a sex worker involves lots of professional skills that many people don\u2019t consider.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"sexworkisrealwork\"><strong>Sex work is real work: Breaking the stigma<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Finally, it\u2019s critical to remember that sex work is real work. Though there shouldn\u2019t be, there\u2019s still a stigma surrounding the adult industry. From OnlyFans performers to porn actors, the general public demonises these careers while still purchasing the products and services.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s time to speak up and speak out. <strong><em>You can <\/em><\/strong><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/ending-sex-work-stigma\/\">show your support to sex workers<\/a> <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>and normalise the profession by:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Working with local <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/num-vocational-support-services\/\">sex worker outreach projects<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Share stories from sex workers<\/li>\n<li>Campaign for fairer rights<\/li>\n<li>Educate yourself and others about sex work<\/li>\n<li>Fight for better regulations &amp; standards<\/li>\n<li>Offer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/emotional-impact-of-working-as-an-escort\/\">emotional support to escorts<\/a> and sex workers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"thetakeaway\"><strong>The takeaway<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In an ideal world, a history of sex work shouldn\u2019t affect your future job prospects. However, some employers might not be so accepting. Hopefully, this article has provided a new perspective and empowered you to plan your career. Sex work is real work. Don\u2019t forget it!<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/for-sex-workers\/\">Find more expert-approved sex worker content on our blog<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What happens if a sex worker wants out? Can they switch to a new career? Or is it slightly more complicated? Today, we\u2019re looking at whether sex work affects your future job opportunities, what you need to know about leaving sex work, and how to protect yourself if you\u2019re starting your career in the adult [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4845,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"CBBTypography":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[217,221,214],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-4841","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-for-sex-workers","category-sex-work-101","category-support-and-resources"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4841"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4841\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4841"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=4841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}