I haven't worked since June 2006... and while I'm still fine financially, I had an opportunity to interview for a trading job in NYC that really sparks my interest. In the description for the job, they say they like candidates who are good at strategy games, specifically bridge or poker. It highlights this along with athletes as things they have found to be better at this position.

Since it mentions poker as a strength in the description, would you put it on your resume? How would you go about this? I mean, if I was applying for a standard finance or accounting job, I would never put POKER on there since it is usually shunned or laughed it in the professional world, but this job mentions poker in the listing.

How do I put it on there to explain that I'm not sitting in my parents basement playing .5/1 limit, throwing back miller high lifes, and asking them for $20 to go to the mall... I've paid off all of my tuition and school loans, car payments, paid rent for the last year, pay quarterly taxes, and have retirement savings as well. How would I explain poker as a strength without it sounding like bullshit, or looking unprofessional?

Even anyone who has general advice, even if it's not specific to my situation, in getting attention on their resume when they have a blank spot due to poker breaks. I have done some some volunteering and a lot of travel during this time as well so it's not entirely blank.

How do I put it on there to explain that I'm not sitting in my parents basement playing .5/1 limit, throwing back miller high lifes, and asking them for $20 to go to the mall... I've paid off all of my tuition and school loans, car payments, paid rent for the last year, pay quarterly taxes, and have retirement savings as well.

Buld on that. In a resume each career and school (if you have an MBA) take a seperate section. Make a career section of Professional Poker Player June 06-present. Talk about paing off all loans, what your rough earnings (profit/salary) was, your ROI, big wins, etc.

As a partner in a recruiting company, I would strongly caution you against putting this on your resume. It would be OK to address it in a cover letter since it is specifically mentioned (otherwise NO WAY).

For example:

Dear Sir:

Please accept this resume in response to the trading opening posted on your website. BLAH BLAH BLAH

One thing that peaked my interest in the oppportunity was your mention of strategy games as a good measuring stick for potential success. I, in fact, am an accomplished poker player in my spare time with 3 years experience in formal tournament competitions.

Anybody who tells you that it's OK to put things on a resume like that is steering you down a wrong path. The downside greatly outweighs the potential benefits. If you had to explain a gap in employment, I would do so in 1 of 2 ways:

1. I decided to take some time off from the working world to pursue some personal interests. Fortunately I was very prudent early in my career and saved enough money to do this without financial hardship.

2. I decided to try my hand at my own business. I would consider the venture an overall success since I learned so much about myself and what it takes to succeed in the business world. I also realized how much I appreciate a more stable work environment and therefore am considering returning to a more structured job.

Best of luck.

VERY good post by nole91 there.

Don't put it on the resume. Bring it up if you want during the interview, but do not put it on the resume itself.

Nole91,

Great response and good call on mentioning it just in the cover letter. I agree that putting something along the lines of "poker" on my actual resume just didn't seem fitting. I appreciate your advice...

How do you get around this?

You don't. Period. Unless you're applying for a job that's poker or gaming related or know beyond a doubt that the only people who are going to see your resume are people who understand poker as a profession.

If you're just applying for a standard job or posting? Forget about it. Your resume needs to pass through so many hands before you're even brought to the attention of someone who might set up an interview. 95% of the general public will read any mention of success at poker as "I'm a lucky, irresponsible gambler."

Sad but true. Sucks, but it's one of the things you probably should have thought about before taking up poker semi-professionally.

You can explain poker as a strength by saying... "Look here mofo. I don't need your mofo job or your mofo money. I play mofo poker mofo.

LMAO...

I am the opposite. I have a masters degree in accounting and have been doing it for 3 years. I play poker at night and have several nice finishes and making about half of what my job pays. I can only play a few hours a day though becuase of work. Over the past year I have saved up about 6 months worth of living expenses and I am looking at leaving my job to give poker a real shot. If it does not work out, I know with my education and work experience that I can easily go back to work though.

I would never put poker on my resume (my employer now has no clue that I play) and that is for a reason). I would not even mention it in the cover letter (accounting looks down on it as risky, becuase most accountants IMO are ultra conservative), but if the job you are applying for mentions it then like Nole said put it in the cover letter if you use one and be ready to explain your accomplishments as a player and how it can help you in this job, but I wouldnt put it in my resume.

Also, I looked at your profile and you are an extremely accomplished player for what I can see....Why do you want to go back to work the 8-5 just kills me??

Epiphany, try to think of a made up story that sounds legit and go with it (lie). If i was an employer and had somebody tellin me hes been makin alot of money playin poker but now he wants a job, i would first think he is full of sh1t and secondly i would think this guy is irresponsible and a degenerate gambler.

Throw out your highest wins, saying you won 200k in one tournament is definitely something to put out there. The fact that you pay quarterly taxes, and keep track of it all is also a plus in my opinion. Let the numbers speak for themselves