Poker winnings on resume

[chisness]

I've listed online poker as an interest in my resume (along with stuff like golf).

What do we think about putting an amount in parentheses to legitimize the interest -- something like won $X in 2006 or won $Y to date in 2007 or won $Z in summer 2007?

What if we do none of these and an interviewer asks "how did you do this year" or something along these lines? Do we answer with monetary figures?

what about if we just say "was summer job for summers A and B"?

I won't get into where to list it because that's been discussed forever and never really been resolved, but comments are welcome.

[Keyser.]

It's been discussed a lot on here. Generally it's a very bad idea.

edit: I guess I didn't answer your Q at all. Unless there's a serious gap in your resume I would just leave poker out altogether and say you were traveling or something.

[chisness]

The major gap I have is no internship experience at all. Also, these are all for finance jobs (mostly investment banking).

[Keyser.]

How good are you at poker? I know Jason Strasser brought up poker for investment jobs b/c he's been so successful, but if you're grinding 50nl it probably doesn't look as good.

[sigurrostyp]

i used poker to help me get an internship in nyc in the investment banking. It really is hit or miss it depends on who you are being interviewed by. It is a great conversation piece and it sets you apart from the crowd, but that doesn't necessarily mean it sets you apart in a good way.

[chisness]

Keyser - no big tourney scores but probably make around an IB salary w/ bonus

sig - how did you list it on your resume?

[FireStorm]

No offense but this thread and others like it are nightmares. Find other ways to fill in gaps/show earning potential. Poker generally is going to be negatively viewed by employers, they don't care about how much you won or that you played for a living, etc etc etc. No reason to even mention it, keep it a seperate part of your life.

[Wyman]

I somewhat disagree. Most people I've spoken with are fascinated with poker and poker players. They, of course, don't want a degen gambler working for (read: stealing from) them, but if you've been pro for a while and are just tired of it, I think that's a perfectly reasonable interview topic. You can talk about it, and they love hearing it.

I would however, leave gambling off of the resume, and I'd only bring it up if they asked about the employment gap.

As far as the $$ is concerned, "enough to live off of", with a sly smile should end that discussion. You don't need to tell them, and not telling them adds to the intrigue (which is why they're interested in your poker playing in the first place). If it does come up, make sure they know that you are deciding to take a job because you don't want to grind in a smoky casino with degens for 12 hrs a day -- not because you are busto (regardless of what's true). It makes you seem more intelligent and cleaner cut.

[Go_Blue88]

the problem is, even if you make a lot of money ppl still view it as gambling (which it is, but not in the sense they think of it as), and therefore, they think primarily luck contributed to your winnings.

even my dad used to be like "ugg, well don't lose it all," even after my discussions with him about how i minimize the luck involved by being way over-rolled for the limits i play.

[En Passant]

Putting interests on a resume is generally very stupid.