Re: Is working for the U.S. government out of the question?
 

Very reassuring. I hope he never misclicks "Launch" when he meant to fold.

Re: Is working for the U.S. government out of the question?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Very reassuring. I hope he never misclicks "Launch" when he meant to fold.

[/ QUOTE ]

That would be a bad beat for the U.S.

Re: Is working for the U.S. government out of the question?
 

Working for the government in general: not a problem.
Working for State: might be a problem. They're weird.
Working for the CIA/NSA: likely a problem. Definitely don't lie about it.

Re: Is working for the U.S. government out of the question?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Online poker player = fine.
Gay = not fine.

[/ QUOTE ]
This is a popular misconception.

Being in the closet is not fine. Having homosexual affairs is not fine. Being openly gay, so that you can't be blackmailed into revealing secrets, is fine.

Having a legal gambling problem is not ok, since it may lead you to have debts you can't cover. Evading taxes is not ok. In the OP's position, I would make sure everything is documented, including that I am a winning player if possible. I would pay all taxes, and start paying estimated taxes on a quarterly basis. I would pay a lawyer to tell me in writing that it is or may be legal to play poker online.

Re: Is working for the U.S. government out of the question?
 

The most important thing is TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT IT. It probably won't come up unless you're going for TS which has a lifestyle polygraph. You might get some questions where you'll have to admit to it.

Truthfully, unless you have comitted felonies, they would rather know. The idea is they don't want you to have information because then some foreign enemy could blackmail you with that info. If they find out you lied about something they will be MUCH MUCH more likely to turn down your clearance than if you had admitted it.

I know many people who admitted to trying all sorts of drugs on their clearance apps (I work for the DoD). I know one person who didn't admit to a tax lien and didn't get his [censored] cause they found out he lied.

Re: Is working for the U.S. government out of the question?
 

If they reject you for it, the job aint worth it.

Re: Is working for the U.S. government out of the question?
 

Stay in the private sector...working for the government is very -EV.

Re: Is working for the U.S. government out of the question?
 

This is the most important post within this thread. If you go to post-secondary school for 6-7 years and settle for $40k, you might want to revisit your opportunity.

Re: Is working for the U.S. government out of the question?
 

[ QUOTE ]
This is the most important post within this thread. If you go to post-secondary school for 6-7 years and settle for $40k, you might want to revisit your opportunity.

[/ QUOTE ]

Private sector requires 2-10 years of relevant work experience (depending on job). It's either this or some crappy internship for the U.N.

Re: Is working for the U.S. government out of the question?
 

[ QUOTE ]
This is the most important post within this thread. If you go to post-secondary school for 6-7 years and settle for $40k, you might want to revisit your opportunity.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's a 1-year MA at University of Chicago.