Should I put poker in my resume?

[handsome]

Besides running a cultural event and being a member of a couple of religious groups, I have ZERO extracurricular activities. All I do is do schoolwork, chill and play poker.

I'm going to be interviewing for a few finance-related firms and I have no idea how I'm going to "impress" them with my low-content resume. I'm seriously considering putting poker down as one of my activities, because it's somewhat finance-related. Requires an understanding mathematical concepts, expected value, return on investment, risk of ruin, standard deviation, etc.

What do you guys think, and how could I make it sound like poker is more than just a game?

[istewart]

Print out your PT stats. Bring them. Change Party $2/4 to Bellagio $4K/8K. Profit.

[miajag81]

I think it is hit or miss. Some potential employers in that field would probably find it impressive while others would be afraid you're a compulsive gambler. Personally I would never put poker on my resume (unless I won the WSOP or something, and then it would just be to brag), but I can see how it might be helpful to someone in your situation and field.

[CrazyN8]

I guess you could put it under "other". I worked some with a V.C. and he was really impressed that I was a good poker player. We would always talk about poker and options trading. He thought that it made me a better business man - too bad my degree is in engineering. Poker won't impress anyone there.

[blatz]

It helped me get a job as a professional roulette shill at the local Lion's club charity casino.

[beta1607]

Do you already have the interviews set up or are you trying to get them? I would say do not put poker unless you are sure that it would go over well and you play at a very high level. Nobody will care if you can beat the 2/4 on PP but if you are beating 50/100 at the local card room that might be worth it.

I think a better bet would be to somehow work the conversation into your interview about how you paid for school playing poker or something along those lines - and only if the person you are interviewing with seems cool and laid back.

[MarkL444]

this has been covered a couple times before

[gamblore99]

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this has been covered a couple times before

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Everything on here has been covered a couple of times.

[MarkL444]

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[ QUOTE ]
this has been covered a couple times before

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Everything on here has been covered a couple of times.

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let me rephrase-

this has been convered a couple times before, you might want to search for those threads as im sure they have some good info as well as results on whether or not the posters in the other threads did or did not use poker on their resume and what they thought about it.

[The Dude]

Well, since you have very little else to put in your resume, I would probably put it in there. When you've got little else to work with, you have to take more risks. And the better communicator you are, the better chance you have of turning it into a positive.

[Clarkmeister]

As long as you are putting it down as an activity and not as a part of your job history, I think you are way safe.

[Bluffoon]

Don't do it unless the job is in the gambling industry.

Not only is it unprofessional but it will indicate that you have poor judgement.

[TheWorstPlayer]

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As long as you are putting it down as an activity and not as a part of your job history, I think you are way safe.

[/ QUOTE ]
Agreed. And I would just write 3.5BB/100 over 200K+ at 300/600 (I'm just using my numbers here, you should use your own). That way if someone knows, they will be impressed and if they don't know, they will probably just ignore it.

[Clarkmeister]

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Not only is it unprofessional but it will indicate that you have poor judgement.

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It might have 3 years ago, before poker became the highest rated cable programming on multiple channels. Now it's simply a harmless and trendy hobby to those who don't like it and it's a conversation starter for the many who do.

[jnalpak]

i have to say it was one of the better ideas for my resume.

In my first interview with Texas Hold Em under "Activities" my financial interviewer stopped and asked me about the game and how i play it, blah blah blah...half the interview was about cards and i came back for a second interview...second interview had almost the same effect and i got the job...

FINANCIAL COMPANIES LOVE THE POKAH!

edit: my activity area had: skiing, traveling,hockey, texas hold'em
definitly dont make it front and center

[jnalpak]

what if while you were in b/w jobs and you were semi-pro could you put this on there?

I think my convo in the interview would be:
me- "so, what have you been doing since you were unemployed"
you- ummm, playing poker at 3.5BB/100 at 30/60
me- YOUR HIRED and ill stake you /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[TheWorstPlayer]

[ QUOTE ]
what if while you were in b/w jobs and you were semi-pro could you put this on there?

I think my convo in the interview would be:
me- "so, what have you been doing since you were unemployed"
you- ummm, playing poker at 3.5BB/100 at 30/60
me- YOUR HIRED and ill stake you /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Hopefully on your resume you will also write "Do not know how to read" (300/600 != 30/60) and "Do not know how to write" (your != you're).