What to say when you go back to work?
 

A recent post made me think of this subject.

I've been playing poker fulltime for approx the last year and a half. I finished college with a Bach in IT, and went straight into poker... I've been doing that for about 2 years now...

Recently, I’ve decided that I can make far more money if I have a fulltime IT job, and simply play poker part time.

My question is, what should I tell these employers’s I’ve been doing for the past 1-2 years? I cannot come out and say "I've been playing poker", because no one would hire me...

Any thoughts?

Edit: Not sure if this is the right forum, mods move if you wish...

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

I don't agree that no one would hire you.

There are LOTS of poker addicts in the IT community.
You may even earn brownie points.

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

Yes, but i've already made that mistake in telling them the truth, and it cost me that job.

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

The places im applying are mostly DOD contractors for the government. Usually you need a secret clearance simply to walk through the door, but some companies are willing to hire you, with the hopes of your obtaining one later.

Telling them i used to gamble for a living will not work...

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

You've spent the last 2 years, travelling, getting to know yourself/purpose and supplementing your adventures with investment returns (all while keeping abreast of current trends in IT).

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

WoW, ldo

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

[ QUOTE ]
You've spent the last 2 years, travelling, getting to know yourself/purpose and supplementing your adventures with investment returns (all while keeping abreast of current trends in IT).

[/ QUOTE ]

master

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

just say u were going to school for some other stuff (possibly another degree in ____ and u were financially secure at the time , but now u've decided in pursuing ur IT career full time ...

and if you can't BS in job interviews on the fly you dont deserve to get that job .....rly

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

Thanks Orlando Salazar and Jzo19... Good stuff, Maybe i'll combine a little of both your replies into something

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

tell them you miss it working for a boss and you really want to be an constructing part of the beautifull society we live in.

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Orlando Salazar and Jzo19... Good stuff, Maybe i'll combine a little of both your replies into something

[/ QUOTE ]


Aren't you forgetting someone?

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

[ QUOTE ]
WoW, ldo

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haha I can imagine this.

"What have you been doing for the last 2 years?"
"playing World of warcraft."
"Welcome aboard!"

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

lol

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

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Telling them i used to gamble for a living will not work...

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Then apply places that it doesn't matter. Every thread someone makes about "I'm considering going pro" always has someone saying, gl getting a job after being out of the market for an extended time. You removed yourself from the market to gamble and will have some consequence in certain fields, deal with it. Asking people about how to lie your way into something you cognitively removed yourself from is pathetic.

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
WoW, ldo

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haha I can imagine this.

"What have you been doing for the last 2 years?"
"playing World of warcraft."
"Welcome aboard!"

[/ QUOTE ]

thats solid

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

[ QUOTE ]
tell them you miss it working for a boss and you really want to be an constructing part of the beautifull society we live in.

[/ QUOTE ]

that one will catapult you directly into senior management ...

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

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Telling them i used to gamble for a living will not work...

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Then apply places that it doesn't matter. Every thread someone makes about "I'm considering going pro" always has someone saying, gl getting a job after being out of the market for an extended time. You removed yourself from the market to gamble and will have some consequence in certain fields, deal with it. Asking people about how to lie your way into something you cognitively removed yourself from is pathetic.

[/ QUOTE ]
So harsh yet so true.

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

charity work LDO.

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

Eh, why can't people just tell the truth? If they don't hire you then [censored] them, they're a bunch of pretentious pricks.

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

Say you tried trading currency from your home office(EUR/USD), did a little better than break even, and can't stand going through three rolls of Tums a day anymore especially with no benefits. Do a little online searching, familiarize yourself with some terminology, and lie through your teeth like every other job applicant.

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

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Telling them i used to gamble for a living will not work...

[/ QUOTE ]

Then apply places that it doesn't matter. Every thread someone makes about "I'm considering going pro" always has someone saying, gl getting a job after being out of the market for an extended time. You removed yourself from the market to gamble and will have some consequence in certain fields, deal with it. Asking people about how to lie your way into something you cognitively removed yourself from is pathetic.

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So harsh yet so true.

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[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

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Eh, why can't people just tell the truth? If they don't hire you then [censored] them, they're a bunch of pretentious pricks.

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Yeah, well they do come off that way... But, there are just some things you don't bring up during an interview (truth or not). Gambling happens to be one of them.

Job interviews suck... A buddy of mine is a stand up comic, and he faces negativity when he brings that up during interviews as well...

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

Tell them you were in rehab for a meth addiction. Everyone sympathizes with a drug addict. Make sure to ask for time off to attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings each day at noon.

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

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Tell them you were in rehab for a meth addiction. Everyone sympathizes with a drug addict. Make sure to ask for time off to attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings each day at noon.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL very nice [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

[ QUOTE ]
You've spent the last 2 years, travelling, getting to know yourself/purpose and supplementing your adventures with investment returns (all while keeping abreast of current trends in IT).

[/ QUOTE ]

This is so awesome.

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

SALAZARRRRRRRRRRRR!

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

Tell them you had very ill family member and took time off to be the full time carer.

i.e "I thought it was only for a few months but it just became very difficult to go back to work" yadda yadda yadda

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

self employed equity analyst/currency trader..

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

tell them u were owning noobs until they found ur 90/75 superaccount

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

[ QUOTE ]
A buddy of mine is a stand up comic, and he faces negativity when he brings that up during interviews as well...

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Some people think it's a prejudice against their former job or some topic they brought up when, in fact, they just aren't good at interviews and are completely clueless to this fact.
I can imagine that it's possible a former stand-up comic might be suckier at presenting himself professionally than he realizes.

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

My failed internet business. Poker-affliate(not player) internet business. Worked at a family member's business for a year. (print business cards, letterhead, etc.--now defunct, of course)

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

Going thru post op sex change therapy. Them tell them your name used to be Samantha.

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

Lie to a potential employer, awesome. Everyone knows the way to start and build a relationship is one on lies.

If you're an adult, you should have known two years ago that your resume/work experience was going to suck if you decided to play poker. You're two years out of school, and you're just now looking for a job?

Fact of the matter is, you're going to look like a burned out degen to almost any employer by telling the truth. Or, you can lie and be happy with yourself that by lying you put yourself ahead of other qualified candidates. Have fun with that decision.

Oh and finally, you're lying to everyone on this forum. You went bust after thinking you'd make it big, and now realize you have to get a job. Good luck with that.

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Lie to a potential employer, awesome. Everyone knows the way to start and build a relationship is one on lies.

If you're an adult, you should have known two years ago that your resume/work experience was going to suck if you decided to play poker. You're two years out of school, and you're just now looking for a job?

Fact of the matter is, you're going to look like a burned out degen to almost any employer by telling the truth. Or, you can lie and be happy with yourself that by lying you put yourself ahead of other qualified candidates. Have fun with that decision.

Oh and finally, you're lying to everyone on this forum. You went bust after thinking you'd make it big, and now realize you have to get a job. Good luck with that.

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this made me rofl serieusly you are such a pathetic person.
lots of people lie in a job interview not to mention the people taking the interview, what's wrong with you?

i respect people who try to live their dreams not the [censored] robots like you walking their designated path of society and eventually dieing without ever having seen what's life truly about.

Good luck with that

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

I have had similar problems- and haven't really resolved them - my experience is that time spent gaming is not appreciated by standard employers at all, they are interested in hearing about it in an interview - but when it comes to giving out a job they are going to be risk averse.

I think you have to take any "proper" 9-5 job you can get first - so you apply for the jobs you actually want from the position of being regularily employed.

If you have some solid financial accounts of your poker work, you can maybe give a presentation on it.

Or - say you did voluntary work or some BS while you were weighing up your options, at least poker can help you bluff it out.

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

Amen Crazy Porto.

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

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i respect people who try to live their dreams not the [censored] robots like you walking their designated path of society and eventually dieing without ever having seen what's life truly about.

[/ QUOTE ]

The issue isn't the dream, we all would like to live in a society where you can float around and discover yourself, but the US is not like that. You can get out of working a traditional job in many ways, one being poker, especially in your early 20s where your expenses are not that high.

The issue is that your choices do have consequences and the choice to forgo a more formal employment and gamble has the consequence of diminishing whatever accomplishments you have achieved in the academic world. I'm not agreeing with this philosophy at all, but realize that it is there.

Regardless of why this guy is now entering the job field, aiming for some of the most scrutinized jobs where you need government clearance is not the brightest move for someone who is hiding what they have been up to for the last two years. These firms that need their employees to gain clearance will see the OP as damaged goods unlike smaller firms.

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

use this:

[ QUOTE ]
You've spent the last 2 years, travelling, getting to know yourself/purpose and supplementing your adventures with investment returns (all while keeping abreast of current trends in IT).

[/ QUOTE ]

-OR-

this:

"was earning a living playing internet poker until the doomswitch was turned on"

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Eh, why can't people just tell the truth? If they don't hire you then [censored] them, they're a bunch of pretentious pricks.

[/ QUOTE ]

you're clueless

Re: What to say when you go back to work?
 

[ QUOTE ]
lots of people lie in a job interview not to mention the people taking the interview...


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I have yet to have an interview where they did not lie to me. Lie back. It's just like a hand of poker, except you won't see the river for 30+ years.