Card counting on a resume?

I just got back from a job interview (if I got it I could certainly increase my bankroll substantially) and on my resume in the hobbies section I included the mathmatics of blackjack. Low and behold the interviewer asked about it so we talked about it briefly. Do you think that this is a risky thing to put on a resume as they could associate it with the bad connotations that come along with gambling?

Especially since GA identifies most of us here as problem cases, do you think I should remove it from future versions of my resume? The position didn't have anything to do with blackjack but I thought I would put it down anyway.

They are interviewing all this week and they will call back canidates next week. The interview went quite well so I'm hoping for a call back, we'll see what happens.

it's a casino job!##%$#?

One of the things that has helped me get jobs that I have wanted was to wait a few days and then call them. This works because it shows you have a genuine interest in that company as opposed to someone who has just blanketed the industry. It can also serve to get your resume pulled to the top of the stack. The last time I did this was my most successful. I called 2 days after putting in for a position. The person in charge of the hiring told me over the phone that they would be calling people in the next day or two to schedule interviews. Lo and behold, I was called back no more than 15 minutes later. No doubt that my paperwork got looked at immediately after the phone call. I was most likely one of the first to be interviewed, and that helps because you can become the measuring stick for the other interviews.

The job I'm working at now came as a result from an online ad. I emailed them my resume then found out the company's phone number and called them 2 hours after I sent my resume to show my interest. The next week I got a call to come in for a trial, after which I was hired. No interview! Just goes to show what certain things can do to get you noticed.

"I just got back from a job interview and on my resume in the hobbies section I included the mathematics of blackjack. Lo and behold the interviewer asked about it so we talked about it briefly. Do you think that this is a risky thing to put on a resume as they could associate it with the bad connotations that come along with gambling?"

I remember reading in Olaf Vancura's own "resume", in his Knock-Out Blackjack book, that his course on gambling was the most popular in the university he was teaching. And I believed that! Getting the inside track on such a glamorous and sexy endeavor as gambling is indeed extremely attractive. We should know.

But it all depends on how you dress it up! It is no good writing on your resume "Hobbies : Gambling" or "Hobbies : Playing Blackjack". Hell, even me, I wouldn't hire you. I probably wouldn't even give you the chance to explain! (Why should I?? If you care enough about a job, you put the effort to have everything clear and in order.)

Now, I would give you a chance to elaborate if you'd put "Hobbies : Playing advantage Blackjack". It's still not perfect but I'd give you the chance to tell me whether this is about legitimate advantage techniques or some sort of TARGET. I'd also try to gauge how are you doing financially in your gambling endeavors, no matter what kind of player your are! Even if you are the best shuffle-tracker ever, in case you are losing big time, you are a liability.

...You don't believe that very good APs can be losing big time? You should.

What does it all mean ? This :

1. The general public is rightly weary and cautious about gambling and gamblers. The prevalent impression is one whereby people lose money -- period. You will have a hard time changing that perception and the time to do it should not be when you're out looking for a job. (Don't think you're compromising your integrity : it's not as if you pretend you're not Black, or Jewish, etc.)

2. The general public, at the same, is fascinated with gambling and its masters. Selling yourself as a master of advantage gambling and, specifically, as an innocuous and mostly theoretical student of the game is far more preferable. How about putting in there, "Hobbies : Theory of advantage gaming techniques". (What you've put in your resume, sounds good as well, but lose the word "blackjack".) This opens the way for some interesting back and forth with your interviewer, with your point being that it's practically all about studying. Yes, the white lie would be that, no, you don't spend anything near a lot of time in casinos. (It's true! If you are a good counter, you should be spending more time. No need to tell him that.)

Take care.

--Cyrus

After I sent in my resume I did call to make sure that it arrived and I did get an interview. I have sent a thank you letter to the interviewer and if I don't hear anything by Tuesday I will difinately give a call. They are doing interviews all this week and won't know who made the cut for a second interview until at least Friday. I think calling before then would just be pesty so I'm going to hold off.

I have been looking more into the only area that I was lacking (the interviewer let me know that no one else applying had those skills). So hopefully by next week I'll be able to show initiative and make up for what I don't already know.

You might try a method I've used successfully before. Instead of writing "gambling" or "mathematics" on your resume, consider using some of the martial-arts and Asian-philosophy metaphors from the titles of BJ books and counting systems. In fact, you could write that you practice a discipline that *combines* zen, aikido, judo and karate with laser-precision memory and logic -- and omit the word 'blackjack' entirely, until the interview. Person who reads such such a resume will *want* you to come in, just to find out what you're doing :)

If the interviewer turns out to be attractive, you might quietly place a pair of handcuffs between you on the desk while asking if *she* likes to practice discipline, either giving or receiving it, before talking about penetration, soft and hard hands. Look for 'tells' (heavy breathing, blushing, etc.) Worst that might happen is that you get backed off, 86ed or barred for life. Best case: 51 or 52% of the time you win big, whether you get the job or not.

Some how in the interview books I've read they left out bringing a pair of handcuffs. Unfortunately my interviewer was a guy, a little too old for me, maybe if he was a little younger and a woman. I don't think that flirting on an interview is a good idea, somethings just wrong with it.

then I'd probably highlight my card counting skills, including the system I use, how long I've used it, knowledge of cover ploys. Unfortunately there are no casinos within a reasonable commuting distance, though I probably wouldn't want to work in one. Maybe for the insight and experiance but it would get old. Right now I work with computers and when I get home I don't want anything to do with them and if I'm on vacation I don't want to even see another computer. If I was a pit boss I'm afraid the same thing would happen with casinos and then I'd have to find a new hobby.

Hmm lines could include
"You sure know how to handle that deck of yours"
"Are you getting enough penetration in that pit?"
"How many decks do you prefer, at the same time that is?"
"Are you satisfied with the penetration?"
Anyway lots of penetration and deck jokes
"My that's a big deck you have"
"Actually it's 6 decks"

I guess that mentioning blackjack didn't kill my chances at this job, now I have all weekend to be nervous about the second interview. I've been studying up but I'm still wondering if that's going to be enough. I have lots of ties but only two suitable for an interview, what if there's a third interview? I guess I could get a new tie. Anyway just me being nervous I guess, now if I could translate BJ people skills to a job interview then I'd be fine.

Well now that I think of it I'm always a little nervous sitting at a table but once I buy in and the cards are flying then I'm fine. When I was at the interview I was fine after the first 30 seconds or so, is there anything to this analogy or am I on crack? And if I am on crack how would I go about passing a drug test?

A little nervousness is good for most job openings. It shows that you really want the job. However, too much nervousness/desire can diminish your negotiation strength on compensation. Moreover, some jobs require control and composure such as sales person, public speaker, etc.

A second interview is an extremely good indicator. They obviously consider you a viable candidate. Concentrate on figuring out what they want to see in you, and present yourself in that vein.

If you want the job, and need to get another tie, get the tie or whatever else you need.

Leave the blackjack info alone now unless they bring it up. If they ask about it, then speak confidently about it, but don't act like you are consumed by it.

Drugs? Most leave the system in a few days, including forms of cocaine like crack. Marijuana is detectable for two weeks to a month. If you need to take care of something, go to one of those health/vitamin stores. Just say you want to "cleanse your system", and add that you have a job interview. They will guide you to the right stuff. You have to take the tablets a short time before the test with a HUGE amount of water to flush your system. Just follow the directions.

Hope you get the job.

-T-

I've just got to get down to it and I'll be fine. The interviewer noted that I didn't have experiance in the field but none of the other canidates did either. I planned on using this weekend to flesh out my research in the field, learn a little about the processes, history and such.

I do really want the job, I've got appropriate experiance so I guess I'm just worried about saying something stupid. And I'm worried about questions that are seemingly unrelated to the job. Anyway I'm going to go drink some tea and not worry about it for a while. Thanks for the cleansing info, it was just a hypothetical question and I'm clean so I don't have to worry about that. Thanks for being a sounding board guys.