Including poker/card playing on a resume?

D

DamianDelPiero

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 30, 2008
Total posts
120
Chips
0
Greetings to my fellow CC'ers. I am sure there are plenty of B&M and/or online grinders on this forum who have decided to pursue other career avenues for one reason or another. With that being said I present a question that has been asked ad nauseum: How would an individual articulate in writing playing poker as primary income >2 years on a resume, or reasons not to with alternative explanations are much appreciated :)
 
AlexeiVronsky

AlexeiVronsky

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 15, 2007
Total posts
270
Chips
0
I'd just put it down as investing, put down something about risk/reward analysis, computational analysis, blah blah blah, but don't actually say that you're investing based on the (perceived) strength of (virtual) playing cards. Or just put down you were a consultant.
 
D

DamianDelPiero

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 30, 2008
Total posts
120
Chips
0
I'd just put it down as investing, put down something about risk/reward analysis, computational analysis, blah blah blah, but don't actually say that you're investing based on the (perceived) strength of (virtual) playing cards. Or just put down you were a consultant.

Thank you for your response Alexei. Are there any particular bullet points you would write on your resume? Also, when confronted during the interview to articulate the details of what you suggested, what would be the most (for the lack of a better term) +EV way of going about it? All responses are welcomed.
 
E

edgie212

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 16, 2010
Total posts
174
Chips
0
If you are applying for anything involving investment/day trading/analysis, that sort of thing (and you can prove a good win rate), put it down. Anything involving risk/reward based on careful analysis - oh wait...that's pretty much everything.
 
CSuave

CSuave

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 15, 2006
Total posts
273
Chips
0
Outside of the investment/trading field I recommend you not put down nor discuss card playing. You would be deemed a risk and in many cases your "gambling" would be held against you.
 
T

ThunderPT

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 28, 2010
Total posts
336
Chips
0
I put poker under "Personal Interests" on mine. Poker is getting big in the UK, I was hoping I'd run into some employer who was into poker and I'd catch his/her attention.
 
JohnBoyWWFC

JohnBoyWWFC

Grindddddd
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 11, 2010
Total posts
5,369
Chips
0
Yeah, I don't include it opn a CV, but I recently applied for some Christmas work doing nights and in the interview the guy asked, since I'd not done night work before and I had to stay focused for 8 hours during the night, what makes me think I can do that and I mentioned sitting playing a big tournament for 10 hours between 12.15am and 10.15am. I got the job.
 
Shufflin

Shufflin

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 28, 2010
Total posts
510
Chips
0
Yeah, might be better to have it come up in a conversation where you can discuss it; rather than have it on a page and you have no idea what preconceptions the reader has about gambling.
 
kmixer

kmixer

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 11, 2008
Total posts
2,936
Chips
0
But it sounds liek the OP is stating that this has been his line of work and main source of income for the past two years. So when they ask what jobs he held last and when he is going to put down Poker. Problem is if you don't put this down and just put down the last job you held they are going to want to know what you have been up to for the last 2 years. You could always put down self employed for your latest position. If the company you are going to work for has internet access though I would think they are gonna be concerned about it. Maybe just state that you don;t play online.

It's a tough one that is for sure.
 
Debi

Debi

Forum Admin
Administrator
Joined
Oct 13, 2006
Total posts
74,642
Awards
20
Chips
1,331
I would absolutely not recommend it. Most people ourside of the poker industry do not view it the same as we do. There is a much larger chance it will hurt you than help you.
 
FatCatBamboo

FatCatBamboo

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 13, 2010
Total posts
88
Chips
0
If you are pursuing a position where you will be involved with market analysis, finance, or strategy, putting "poker" under interests at the bottom of your resume may not be a bad idea.

But if you're pursuing a job as a lawyer, teacher, etc... I would leave it off.
 
serendipity

serendipity

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 25, 2009
Total posts
435
Chips
0
I decided to take a couple years off work to pursue some personal interests.
 
T

Tangerine 53

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 1, 2010
Total posts
367
Awards
1
Chips
4
I decided to take a couple years off work to pursue some personal interests.

I once interviewed a guy who in the middle of his career had a 5 year "career break" on his CV. It screamed of prison time and since he wouldn't elaborate or come clean I didn't pursue him further. In my mind 'pursuing personal interests' says the same thing.

Whilst, somewhat reluctantly, I do agree with Dakota that most people wouldn't see it the same way we do and could see it negatively, I think if you've been a successful player and earned a living then it could be seen as having an entrepreneurial spirit and showing initiative which most employers love. If you do declare it then I would 'dress it up' by you were self employed running your own business (thank you Dusty Schmidt!) and talk about the discipline and studying required to be successful and the long hours required.

If you can demonstrate a hard working attitude, ability to think outside the box, initiative and if you stand out from the crowd in some way then this goes a long way with employers and as someone who has conducted a lot of interviews in my time, these are the qualities that I look for. I worked with homeless men for 2 years over 20 years ago now and still keep it on my CV as it has the 'difference' factor - it interests people and helps me stand out from the other CV's out there. So if you do put poker on your CV on spin it in a favourable light and show interviwers how the skills you've gained through doing it match the qualities they are looking for in their person specification.

Good luck anyway!
 
arahel_jazz

arahel_jazz

Unbalanced and Committed
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 6, 2007
Total posts
6,764
Chips
0
I would absolutely not recommend it. Most people ourside of the poker industry do not view it the same as we do. There is a much larger chance it will hurt you than help you.

This ^^^. Absolutely correct.
 
C

Chemist

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
May 17, 2009
Total posts
1,480
Chips
0
I decided to take a couple years off work to pursue some personal interests.

That is a possible line BUT it does need the detail.

What else were you doing at the time?
Family, Traveling, writing a book, trying to go self employed, researching an area of interest.
And also need to show how it was funded.
(mentioning that luck in card playing facilitated the other activities may be acceptable, whilst recognising that it is time to end the timeout and get back into mainstream).
 
OzExorcist

OzExorcist

Broomcorn's uncle
Bronze Level
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Total posts
8,586
Awards
1
Chips
1
You're kind of stuck in a nasty situation here - while people above are right in noting that most interviewers will take a negative view of someone that's spent such a long time gambling they will also take a negative view of someone who can't explain what they've been doing for a living for the past few years or provide any kind of references for what they've been up to.

Both options suck.

So unless you've got something else you can put down that explains how you've been paying the bills for the past few years (say a part time job that you can talk up and pass off as your main source of income) I'd just be honest and put down "professional poker player". If the interviewer asks about it (and they probably will) answer their questions honestly and openly, tell them why you want to get away from doing that and into whatever job you're interviewing for and hope for the best. If there's a two year gap in your CV they'll jump to their own conclusions if you don't explain it and the conclusions they jump to might be even worse than playing poker for a living. Tangerine gives just one possible example above.

I'm saying this as someone who's spent some time on the interviewer's side of the table, BTW.
 
D

DamianDelPiero

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 30, 2008
Total posts
120
Chips
0
I would like to thank everyone who posted their comments in this thread. I read them all and am flattered by some of the lucid and helpful comments.
 
arahel_jazz

arahel_jazz

Unbalanced and Committed
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 6, 2007
Total posts
6,764
Chips
0
I would like to thank everyone who posted their comments in this thread. I read them all and am flattered by some of the lucid and helpful comments.

If you are seriously looking at help - I suggest http://theladders.com. They have some excellent resources that include resume writing tips.
 
FatCatBamboo

FatCatBamboo

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 13, 2010
Total posts
88
Chips
0
This just came to mind, why not pursue a career as a trader on wall street? You use similar parts of the brain and your abilities to take risk will be tuned to managing a portfolio. I don't know if this is what you're going for but it could be a good road to take.
 
Atticus22

Atticus22

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 5, 2011
Total posts
128
Chips
0
this is an interesting question.
I have a friend whose son has been making 80k per year playing online poker with occasional trips to vegas. I always wonder about not having health insurance or a pension as the months and years pass.
He has an undergraduate degree, but the only income he has had for 3 years is via online poker.
As an employer, I would look at him as a rather risky investment. No job other than playing online poker? And if nothing shows on your resume, it looks like you've been bumming off your parents which is even worse.
Also what college degrees to you have? undergrad? masters? and in what field?
Many questions to ponder.
Good luck to you.
 
Debi

Debi

Forum Admin
Administrator
Joined
Oct 13, 2006
Total posts
74,642
Awards
20
Chips
1,331
You're kind of stuck in a nasty situation here - while people above are right in noting that most interviewers will take a negative view of someone that's spent such a long time gambling they will also take a negative view of someone who can't explain what they've been doing for a living for the past few years or provide any kind of references for what they've been up to.

Both options suck.

So unless you've got something else you can put down that explains how you've been paying the bills for the past few years (say a part time job that you can talk up and pass off as your main source of income) I'd just be honest and put down "professional poker player". If the interviewer asks about it (and they probably will) answer their questions honestly and openly, tell them why you want to get away from doing that and into whatever job you're interviewing for and hope for the best. If there's a two year gap in your CV they'll jump to their own conclusions if you don't explain it and the conclusions they jump to might be even worse than playing poker for a living. Tangerine gives just one possible example above.

I'm saying this as someone who's spent some time on the interviewer's side of the table, BTW.

This is absolutely correct - I would never choose either of those options. I suggest finding some way to reasonably account for those few years besides saying you played poker or did nothing.

I have also spent a lot of time interviewing and know that 90% of the time saying you have played poker or having no explanation at all will both prevent you from getting the hob.
 
T

tony80

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Total posts
8
Chips
0
It actually depends on what job description you are rooting for. If in part, you can give concrete qualities or skills, you developed from playing poker, which you think can help you get a good foot forward, then go ahead. I also think though writing some hobbies and interests can strike up conversations that will lighten up the mood if ever you will get interviewed. So it actually depends if you are confident that it they will take it positively and hope not give a negative connotation to it.
 
A

arrytus

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 19, 2009
Total posts
228
Chips
0
Experience with computers.
Applied Game theorist.
Social psychologist.
 
JLtrooper

JLtrooper

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 19, 2008
Total posts
226
Chips
0
I would just say I was self-employed or something :)
 
micalupagoo

micalupagoo

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Mar 16, 2008
Total posts
7,476
Awards
2
Chips
141
man, i should take drug addicted alcoholic gambler off my resume,
tho the last guy i worked with fed me beer as i rolled joints and we played a lotta poker... lol... funniest thing was all the poor workin buggers around who just envied us.....didnt always make for the biggest pay checks, but ya gotta be happy at your job:p

(imma stonemason BTW, and might start up the beerband with him again too)
 
Top