Poker a hook??

<p>basically is it a positive or negative to put poker on my resume or discuss it in an interview as an extra curricular? (for grad school, internships, and first job, hopefully IB)</p>

<p>background - I'm going to be a college freshman this year and looking foward just wondering what effect this would have on my future. I'm not just like some random degen gambler i've put a lot of time/energy into become a solid winning player over a large sample size (online since I'm under 21 obv) and have a good amount of $$$ to show for it. (enough to not work a regular job a day in my life to this point and a enough to finance a significant part of my college education) Anyway I feel poker has provided a model of success for me and many of the concepts apply to business (bankroll management, EV calculations, ability to analyze situations on a higher level) and it should be a relevent EC; however, I've never heard of anyone in this situation so I was just wondering if anyone had a more qualified opinion or has heard anything on this specific subject.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for any feedback.</p>

<p>lol, maybe it'd be a positive thing in some sick, perverted, world. </p>

<p>Do you honestly think that a recruiter will look and be impressed to see a history of gambling activities from a 22 year old student? You'd seriously have to be good enough to the point where you wouldn't need to get a job (aka win the WSOP or something), to actually warrant some respect in that EC. Remember, as an analyst, you'll never actually help the firm make a tremendous amount of money. However, you sure as hell can make them lose a lot of it.</p>

<p>I would only use it if you were applying to a prop trading firm or if you were doing S&T at a bank.</p>

<p>where do you play online sleepy? i bet i could beat you.</p>

<p>I put it on on my resume.. as an interest at the botton of my resume along with other hobbies/interests I pursue.... It's fine if you put poker on your resume at the bottom of the interest section.</p>

<p>If you can talk about your risk management strategy in an intelligent (read: not BS like 95% of ivy league grads) way, then poker will indeed help you land trainee trading positions.</p>

<p>you could also talk about how in the game of poker.. especially texas no limit hold'em you are constantly given incomplete information but you still have to either continue playing or fold.. that in some sense relates to trading.. where you will always have some incomplete information but you have to use your judgement & experience to see if the equity is worth the potentional risk/reward.</p>

<p>Susquehanna are obsessed with their traders and employees knowing how to play poker. So I guess it helps a lot in certain circles.</p>

<p>okay a few responses</p>

<p>CNI - you don't understand poker if u think the best players win the WSOP events - tournys are variance fests - the consistent big money makers all play cash games</p>

<p>Pierce - I play on Full Tilt and Stars ..recently more Full Tilt because the games there have been much softer this summer... I play cash games ranging anywhere from 1000NL (5/10 blinds) up to 5000NL (25/50) depending on what the juicy games are at the time - so if you play in those games games feel free to pm me and we can set something up</p>

<p>1ee304 - thanks for the honest response...yeah there are tons of indepth concepts to talk about such as how the game has evolved over the last few years and how u must continue to improve to keep up and identify the level ure opponent is thinking on and playing optimally to exploit their mistakes/tendencies </p>

<p>general - oh and ill prolly want to be an analyst not a trader if that matters</p>

<p>Use this in your college personal essay. It's called a 'risky' essay, but the article I read (was it in Newsweek?) by I think Dr. Perthe Muth of U.Va said admissions committees get really tired of 'canned' essays with a certain format. They are 'an open-minded lot' who if attracted by an essay topic and the actual writing will give SERIOUS weight to admission of that risk-taker.</p>

<p>Oh, wait, you already got into college. Sorry.</p>

<p>Well, see if you keep up with the poker before you think this far ahead. And also see if your college education improves your poker game--that would be a fantastic way to connect the 2 and make the poker a legitimate academic pursuit appropriate for brief mention during job/grad school discussions.</p>

<p>pensive - yeah already into to college...and didn't use it in any of my essays - looking back I should have but oh well, I'm happy with where I'm going. </p>

<p>Good thought on making the connection between the two thats kinda what I hoping to do although I'm not sure how it would be views (prolly just luck of the draw on who reads ure resume/interviews u)</p>

<p>Poker may seem like a sophisticated, psychological, smart-man's game, but it's gambling and a lot of people feel very strongly against gambling.</p>

<p>I believe poker is just a hobbie for most investment bankers where they prob meet once every few weeks play poker, catchup, and socialize.... much like golf. Now I am only going to be a rising sophomore but If I was an interviewer looking at a resume I would look for characteristics and interests that fit well within the investment bank world.. and some of those interests I would look for are.. sports esp golf, poker, personal portfolio, traveling,etc.. you guys get the jist... so I think putting poker down on your interest is a PRO I mean.. if you are interviewing for an analyst IBanking Job.. you should have at least a 3.7 GPA and a 1-2 good leadership positions... those two right there takes alot of time in a student's life.. so I think it it's indirectly understood that the kid who put poker as an interest isn't a degenerate gambler who plays 6-7 hrs a day..</p>

<p>i have a p stars and full tilt account, but i mostly play on p stars. </p>

<p>found a book about the topic. it talks about how poker teaches you how to embrace financial risk.</p>

<p>Amazon.com:</a> The Poker Face of Wall Street: Aaron Brown: Books</p>