I'm filling out a job application - experience/referees

[berry87]

I'm in my final year in college and, well my work experience and referee section is relatively sparce.

The part time work I've done has been dealing for a company that runs poker tournaments, and i have dealt some big events... however, i've decided that i was going to leave poker out of my CV/applications altogether. Would this be a bad job/reference to include?

Also, the application asks for some academic references. My lectures are pretty big so my lecturers probably don't know me, would it be unreasonable to ask some to be references?

 

[Killter]

Re: I'm filling our a job application - experience/referees

beef up your role and tailor it to specific job specs. also, include your lecturers. introduce yourself to them and ask them. good source of advice too.
best of luck

 

[ClubMan]

however, i've decided that i was going to leave poker out of my CV/applications altogether. Would this be a bad job/reference to include?

Not unless the operation is illegal or something!? Presumably you are gaining some useful experience and knowledge in this role so this is important for your personal and career development. I would not necessarily leave it out but, as mentioned above, highlight those aspects of the job that are specifically relevant to each particular job that you apply for. Also - "beef up" does not mean "lie".

Also, the application asks for some academic references. My lectures are pretty big so my lecturers probably don't know me, would it be unreasonable to ask some to be references?

Do you not have a class tutor or project supervisor who you would know better than others? Evene if not just contact one of your lecturers or your department head and discuss the matter of them being a named referee on your applications.

Good luck!

 

[jhegarty]

The part time work I've done has been dealing for a company that runs poker tournaments, and i have dealt some big events.

Poker playing bad (on a cv, I play quite a bit myself) ... helping organising an event good...

 

[Flax]

Yeah I would focus on the helping to organiser events part rather than the poker part...

Personally I wouldn't like to receive a CV which mentions poker.

 

[amtc]

yeah, but a cv that mentions being able to deal with people is always good. I would include it but talked up as account management/PR etc.

[BTW, on a point it's sparse, not sparce]

 

[berry87]

Poker playing bad (on a cv, I play quite a bit myself) ... helping organising an event good...

This is the bit i'm thinking about, is it really believeable to say i deal but don't play? It would be the natural progression of questions.

I think going to mention it, as someone said, with regards to dealing with people and all that.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[gearoid]

I think you're overly worried about the implications of working in the gambling industry. I was in a similar situation to you in the 80's though at the time it was much less easy to get jobs... I went to the US on a J1 and got great work in NJ in a casino town. It looked great on a CV when I got home so I got off the mark. Things like this are worrying at the time but in retrospect will seem very small when looked back on at a distance.

The funny thing was that at the end of my summer in the US having worked for this top employer, who had looked after and respected me, I found out the real truth. I ended up the witness of a crime to which the FBI were called. The Fed was an Irish-American and wanted to know how come an innocent Irish kid like me was working for 'scum'. It turns out my excellent CV was being helped by the mob!!

The story didn't hurt. Working in an industry like gambling at your age doesn't impute you share the values of your employer. Take the positives out of what you do as others have stated. The reference letter I got from a forerunner of the Sopranos extolled my abilities in customer relations and merchandising. It went down well back home!

By the way I believe the gambling industry (see post where spouse lost 28k in one night) is corrupting but I would blame the owners and not the staff.

I'm sure you'll have a great career.

Best of luck,
Gearoid

 

[jhegarty]

This is the bit i'm thinking about, is it really believeable to say i deal but don't play? It would be the natural progression of questions.

yes you could say it, unless they play themselves (then it won't be an issue)...

if they don't play then just say "i have seen too many people lose their wages to ever get involved myself"....

if they do ... they get out a deck and start them we will start with $10/$20 plo and work up from there