Off Topic Poker Forums

I've just got a new job working for a pretty hip seeming Palo Alto software firm (not Google or Facebook) which starts in July. Before I start I have to send a brief biography of myself which will be sent to all employees as an email to introduce new hires to everyone else. They have sent examples of previous new hire bios to base mine on and for the most part they are pretty nerdy as would befit a pretty nerdy company. People mention games they like to play on XBox etc.

So, the question is should I mention in my bio that I like to play poker? On the plus side, there's a fair chance that if any of them play I'd get invited to a ridiculously soft and fun home game or two. On the downside it's going to shape how people view me right from the first impression and this might be some sort of cultural faux pas. I don't really understand the latent American puritanical streak well enough to say.

For calibration, when I worked on Wall Street, everyone knew I played poker. In fact I got asked to give a talk to all the quants about it. But in that scenario being a risk taker is viewed as a highly desirable attribute, and everyone is interested in the maths of probability and game theory. (eg the other quants were highly impressed that Von Neumann wrote his "Theory of Games and Economic Behaviour" partly because of his desire to understand the mathematics of poker)

I wouldn't mention it. People at my work know I'm playing poker but still haven't got a clue about the game after I tried to explain how it worked. Even showed them my graph to demonstrate that its about winning over large samples. Basically they think I'm a degenerate gambling addict and that I must have lost money and as such am lying. Funniest comment was: "If you're winning at poker, why you still working here?". It's not surprising really even family and friends struggle with the idea

No.

My career advisor advised me to mention it as long as it supports your qualities. I am highly competitive and analytical for example. Due to poker I'm reasonably "financially independend (Don't need to have an "actual job" just for the money) and before poker I played other games at a high level. I don't mention poker as a job but I mention "competitive games" as a quality where I mention mtg stratego and poker in which all 3 I played on quite a high level.

When explained well it supports your strong points.

From a business perspective, I don't see how poker would emphasize qualities or strong points. I'll give you that in some situations it might be relevant to some work, but the majority of jobs "competitiveness" is not viewed as a good thing because you often have to work together in teams and/or with colleagues. Then I'm not sure if employers will appreciate the analytical game aspect either. I mean you'd typically look for someone educated, professional, etc. - not someone that is good at playing/analysing a game. Then most people think that poker is all about bluffing/lying, so they won't view you as being a honest person. Lastly, it's viewed as gambling so your not viewed as being adverse to risk which is typically not something an employer is looking for either.

Anyway maybe look at it like what you believe they want to hear. If you think that telling them about your poker will get you the job then you should do it

I would mention that you play it and all the skills in enhances, so maths, decision making, mental side, analytical skills, comptetition - i.e. to try and get away from the "I am a degenerate gambler" thats why
I play as some people may get the wrong idea if you dont expand.

So in a nut shell, either dont mention it at all or make sure you elaborate on what poker gives you in terms of skills

Maybe wait a month or two until you have developed a few relationships. This gives you some context, enabling you to explain hansgeertsma's points a little better, and people will be less likely to jump to conclusions, viewing you as a straight-up degen. Everyone knows it's pretty hard to demonstrate the positive aspects of 'gambling'...i guess open minded people will be open to new concepts and haters gonna hate.

Always a pretty big risk tho, I would probably say that the detrimental impact of the those who view it as a negative quality will outweigh the positives of those who are willing to listen to you. I just tend to avoid the topic.

However, I have only recently started full-time work myself, so I can't really verify anything I'm saying, and it sounds like you work in a fairly competitive environment with a totally different group of people to those I have tried explaining it to, so maybe you will experience a totally different response. Just a few things to think about.

I have worked as an recruiter last year and I am having an interview myself at a headhunters company.
I would say, you can use it, but how you use it is more important.

"I am huntse, 23 years old. Love football and poker".

"I am huntse. I am a person with lots of dedication and I am very logical in my approach to things. This shows by a hobby of mine, which is poker. I learned with poker..this and that'.

To clarify, I have the job - I'm not applying.

Okay so why not slowplay and see what the peeps are like and than make a better informed decision? If the big boss outs his screenname on pokerstars you know your golden

I would mention it if i wanted to look like a degen gambler. People who dont play poker just don't understand "you might be winning now but one day your luck will run out and you will lose it all" classic retarded line.

I am confused. You guys play a game you absolutely love, spend hours of playing and studying it but want to keep it a secret? Why?
a couple of years ago everybody played poker, it was a huge hype. You just kept playing. You don't have to tell them everything but I don't see nothing wrong with having poker as a hobby.

if there was a way to like esist first comment i would.. i wouldnt mention it

I havent kept it a secret in my place of work and I have happened upon some more senior people who enjoy the game.

No point in hiding who you are unless you work from gambling anonymous or something

I wouldn't put it in the bio. I think it's fine to mention conversationally.