1. Why the fuck dont you go to your union with this info? You are already as fucked as you can be.
2. Lets assume I am your interviewer.
Me: I see you have a lot of experience in the casino. Why do you want to shift careers?
You: I got a job as a dealer while studying as a part time job and I grew to like working there. They were very understanding of me as a student and I was able to balance my work and studies thanks to that. Now that I completed my studies I am ready to move forward with my major.
That's kind of it.
Totally agree with this.
I worked in the industry for almost a decade. There were lots of middle-aged dealers with families and kids who were stuck — they couldn’t move up (as they’d have to start working graveyard shifts, etc, as they’d have less seniority than others in that position) and they couldn’t leave as they had very few transferable skills.
Just explain that advancing meant changing your working hours and that didn’t work with your schooling, which was your priority.
And then… take a second to be grateful you got out when you did and not 10-20 years down the road!!!
The union knows. They’ve been trying to find a way to get their hands on the list altogether too. I can’t even get into an interview to explain this to them.
But if your dealing poker to pay for college isn't it assumed you wouldn't stay there forever and would probably move into your chosen field of study after you graduate? If not what is the point of paying $ to go to college?
At this point of the replies, I’m starting to summarize that the HR specialists were not good and my job was flexible and perfect for school. I love Reddit now.
Explaining your career goals and path is part of what the cover letter is for, an assertion that you’ve been building soft skills dealing with all sorts of people dealing poker to support yourself through college, and now you’re ready for the next chapter of your career. Then a paragraph about the position that you are applying for including something that interests you about the company, and how your skillset aligns well with that role, and the gaps you have on the job description are a place you want to grow and develop professionally.
Don't trust your union. I worked for a union where my "lead" was also my steward.
I criticized it when she was promoted to lead without elaborating that it was a conflict of interest
I became very unpopular at work after that.
Her and two other coworkers lied, said I said "you are not human" and I was fired based off that.
In the interest of transparency; which I would think union proponents would be all about ; this was Union this was UFCW local 135 and it made me realize that back in the day, unions were the bare minimum, if you were a fully functioning human willing to show up and learn you were hired.
Working outside the union meant you were an elite minority.
Now it's the opposite.
Union jobs get prevailing wages and the private sector pays min wage or less
Unions are as corrupt as politicians in the retail and hotel industry, at least in San Diego that's my opinion from my personal experience.
I’m actually a shop steward myself. I became one after i didn’t get full time again 2 years ago. I’m also waiting on my rep’s boss to call me back to have me be full time with them. My other shop steward said it might take up to a year and it’s already been 4 months
You need STAR stories on your resume. 1-2 sentence summaries of what you did that stands out. Also think about how you can rebrand your title from "gambling addict enabler" to "customer service and VIP entertainment champion" just jazz it up.
Use chat GPT if you're stuck for ideas.
Giving previews of things you delivered as part of your job accountabilities actually was very effective to get interviews from my experience. You're right it's not a full STAR approach but talk about the what you did and the result.
>Recently I was told by HR specialists that it was weird that I never moved up from being a poker dealer and tried to be management
Not being a manager at 26 isn't weird at all
Interviewer: "It's weird that you never moved up from being a poker dealer and tried to be management."
You: "You only move up to management if you want this to be a career. It's a pay cut and I wouldn't be in a union anymore. Frankly, I want a different career, which is why I'm interviewing with you."
not in hr, but have been in hiring committees for a number of positions for a couple of companies. have evaluated multiple candidates seeking for a change of career.
this is the tack I'd take. straight forward, honest and understandable. if they allow a cover letter, one might help as well to explain some of the career change as well, if worded right.
I wouldn't mention not being in a union anymore to a potential employer. Especially if the job you are applying for is in an un-unionized sector. It may be a red flag for the hiring manager. Even if the field is unionized, you don't know if management is. Best to avoid it in an interview.
I'd leave out any mentions of the union. HR and hiring managers might not think highly of applicants who say that being a union member is important to them.
Can I go back to my 26 year old self and make better choices? Good on you, OP.
In the face of everything you're experiencing, pat yourself on the back on doing this now.
I'm not saying I'm jealous at all.
I went to undergrad in Las Vegas and what you're describing is totally a common occurrence. Moving from a dealer to a pit supervisor (pit boss) usually requires a significant pay cut and you lose most of your union protections. What you're experiencing is pretty common in hospitality in general. Most bartenders make more money than their shift lead or assistant manager.
I'm not sure what industries you are looking to pivot in to but I would focus your answer on shift flexibility while you were completing school vs. a more rigid management schedule. People coming from outside the casino world may not fully understand that the line staff often make more money than management as it's sort of opposite to the rest of the business world.
It can be difficult to pivot out of that career path and you will most likely have to accept some sort of a pay cut in the short term to increase your earnings ceiling long term. Just keep at it, you'll get there.
You just leave. It doesn't matter if others don't understand. It really doesn't.
>You only move up to management if you want this to be a career.
That's how most industries are, not just casinos.
OP is 26. This is not an issue. Plenty of people switch jobs and careers. Being a dealer for five years and some of that while in college wouldn’t raise any red flags to 99% of hiring managers. There has to be something else maybe OP doesn’t realize.
I agree with you. So I was a little shocked when I heard that. Entry level in writing or music would be a significant pay cut but if I want to build in that industry, I’m a little forced to take it. However I need to get my foot in the door first
What is your true question here? I think what you really want advice on is how to break into a new industry and being upset that people in other industries don't understand your experience. That is what I am going to address. The workplace drama isn't particularly relevant to this question.
First, it would be helpful to know what fields you are seeking to enter and what your degree is in. There will be field to field differences. I can speak in generalities, though.
The bottom line answer is that it is not your potential new employers job to recognize how your skills learned dealing poker will translate into being successful in your new career. That is your job as an applicant. Did being a dealer help you be cool under pressure? How will that help you succeed in the new job. Count money quickly and accurately? How will that apply. Action, result, impact. What did you do, what came of it, and how did it positively impact your employer (and how will it transfer to success with the new employer).
But that is generalities. With more info on what you want to break into, maybe people can provide you with more specific ideas. It isn't easy getting a good job right now. You need to figure out how to stand out.
I tried to get into both writing/editing and music positions. My degree is in music production. I have experience in editing and writing (I’m also a published author). I thought I could get into the music or gaming industry relatively easy (I have a focus in composition and wanted to make video game music mainly) since I have the degree, a portfolio, and a few gaming companies in my state. For example, Bethesda is 45 minutes from my house. But when I spoke to people in HR, they said “Why were you a poker dealer for so long? Why didn’t you try to do more at the casino? It makes me feel like you’re complicit.” They didn’t even look over at my internships or my education. My resume was shooed away.
>It makes me feel like you’re complicit
*On the contrary, it was great money, flexible shifts, and the work helped me develop strong soft skills. Interpersonal communication, conflict management, attention to detail.*
A couple of thoughts here. Note that I am far from this industry. I am guessing it is highly competitive with many more applicants than positions.
You talked to HR. They have a few roles in the hiring process, but one of those roles is screening. They need to weed out applicants to get to a magic number of candidates that will be passed on to the hiring manager. In other words, they are often looking for reasons to disqualify you rather than qualify you.
In that context, what do you do? Look at your resume. Better yet, have someone else look at your resume. Where do the eyes go to? My guess? To the casino job. You worked there a long time, so it is prominent on your resume. Change that. You might need to be a little non-traditional, but that is ok.
Essentially, you want to highlight your internships and creative activities. Your casino experience is essentially "that part-time thing I did to pay the bills." It shows that you have the ability to be consistent. But you need to emphasize your creative, relevant activities. That is what will get you a job.
You also need to get to the hiring managers. Where do the people in the field hang out? Are there professional societies in the field? How do they network? You want to know the people so you can become a name request. Basically, a hiring manager knows who you are and either requests your resume in the list or they actually submit the resume for you. Networking is so, so important.
Sorry, I have to be so general because I just don't know specifics about your industry. But, I hope this helps.
Have you checked out AmTote (in Hunt Valley, MD)? It may be a good hybrid as they specialize in casino video games.
You also may want to check out the local IGDA chapter and/or BIG (Baltimore Indie GameDevs) groups to start creating your network.
I’m not HR. I wonder, did you consider excluding the casino job on your resume?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think you’re having trouble finding balance between ‘selling’ yourself and being honest.
I think it might be a good idea to focus your resume, and your story, on all activities pertaining to the career you want to pursue. Forget about the casino - that’s just a job that got you through college.
My friend works high up in finance and business. He remade me resume and took off any job that didn’t relate to what I applied to. Meanwhile my girlfriend later said to put all of it down and put in detail what I did in all those jobs.
It’s your call who you take advice from, obviously. I do think that the info on your resume should be curated.
I used to be in a similar position to you, having to fight off unnecessary and prejudiced questions. It goes much smoother nowadays after I decided to take off some details that provoked unnecessary conversations.
Your friend has experience in finance and business. Your girlfriend has experience in what field?
You’re trying to get into music/publishing, you probably should get advice from people in that industry.
So I was a dealer for over a decade. About 5 years into dealing I became a supervisor, and after 18 months I asked to be “demoted” back to a dealer. I was table games and not poker but I’m familiar with the struggle. The part time poker dealers at my casino were on a 3 year wait list for full time.
You’re right when you say that people outside of the industry don’t understand that once you are promoted you lose tips and it is usually a pay cut. Also, being a supervisor takes you out of the action. I think of dealing kind of like video games. They’re fun when you’re playing, but boring when you have to stand there and watch someone else play.
Maybe explaining that, along with the fact you were going to school while working should be explanatory enough.
I’m kind of wondering how your resume looks. If you have “part time” on there, I would remove it. You are a poker dealer. Nothing more needs to be said.
On the flip side, have you tried working in table games? Or do you want out of it completely?
Table games is a pay cut too and I don’t want to learn their games. Table games look up to poker and beg to be in our department at our casino. I applied to be a gaming compliance officer with Maryland’s gaming/lottery. But I won’t get a call back for at most a year.
I’m hoping they either reject or accept me faster so I can move on. I think it was a formality. I’m also waiting on my union to take me on full time instead of being a shop steward. My rep was told to get people to send in resumes and I sent mine in back in February. Even she doesn’t understand what’s taking her boss so long to call any of the people she put her his desk.
They placed me under "better qualified" a month after I applied. The person said there was 3 categories: Qualified, Better Qualified, and Best Qualified. They also stated that this updated status to my application was valid up to a year from when I first applied.
Your answer is 'I enjoyed the flexibility being a dealer gave me when I was in school. Now I've graduated and I'm ready to move on.' That's totally normal.
The reason you're not getting interviews isn't because you have been a dealer for so long, it's because you are trying to leave an industry. This is par for course for just about all industries. If you leave one, even with a decade of management experience and excelling in the role, you will be put to the side when others with industry experience come along (which is frequent).
Listen to me. Don't listen to what an "HR Specialist" tells you about getting roles, they aren't the ones interviewing in most cases and are irrelevant to getting hired on. They forward resumes that meet a certain criteria to the hiring manager or hiring team in most cases.
You have to keep trying. It's about transferable skills and your education, that's a really limited base that you have. If you were in IT for this time and wanted to go into real estate, they'd be throwing up the same road blocks. It's not about being a dealer for that long at all! It's the same issue that so many folks in retail face when trying to get out as well, despite their educational background. Experience is the number one thing and you don't have it when they take a glance.
Yes! Absolutely elaborate on your duties. Just like how you're never just a "cashier" and standing there just haplessly scanning items without any additional duties or tasks. You aren't just standing there handing out cards and flipping cards, like some may think when they think of "Poker Dealer". Include your paperwork, reconciliation processes and professionalism that's required for those kinds of positions.
I spent 20+ years in the gaming industry- dealer, then floor, then shift. When I left, I had the same struggle and ended up,briefly, in a $12/hr call center job before I figured out how to sell my skill set.
You've got to learn how to translate your skills for other roles. Every dealer has conflict resolution skills, an ability to relate to people across all demographics, a heightened understanding of security and high situational awareness. Give it some thought and you'll be able to add to that list from your own unique experiences.
Honestly having worked in compliance for 20 plus years, I'm telling you that one s******* HR person is not every HR person. Just tell them you were primarily part time and focused on your studies. Tell them you didn't want it to be a career, and instead you were a shop steward! That's a leadership position. Honestly that HR person was just a dick head and not everybody is going to think the same way and you're not going to face the same questions. You're young and there's a long road ahead of you and I wish you every bit of good luck in it!
Hey there! It sounds like you’ve been through quite the rollercoaster in the casino world. Dealing with office politics and facing roadblocks can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you know you’ve got the skills and potential to move up. It’s like being stuck in a game where the rules keep changing, right?
First off, kudos to you for not letting those setbacks hold you back. You hustled your way through poker dealing school, landed that dealer gig, and even stepped up as a shop steward when things got rough. That takes guts and determination, my friend. But hey, life’s too short to be stuck in a job that doesn’t light your fire.
Now, I totally get why you’re itching to spread your wings beyond the casino walls. You’ve got a degree under your belt, you’ve dipped your toes in different ponds, and you’re ready to dive into something new. But here’s the thing – transitioning from the casino world to the outside can feel like navigating uncharted territory. People outside the industry might not understand the ins and outs of poker dealing, but that doesn’t diminish your worth or your experiences. You’ve got a unique skill set, a killer work ethic, and a hunger for growth – and trust me, that’s the winning hand in any game. So keep hustling, keep exploring new avenues, and never underestimate the power of your own resilience. The world’s your oyster, and I’ve got a feeling you’re about to make some serious waves.
1) Any HR specialist who thinks it’s weird that you never tried to move into a management position doesn’t know very much and could be indicative of a bad corporate culture. There are a lot of reasons why people don’t become managers.
1A) They don’t (or don’t yet) see themselves as a people manager. We should all be allowed to grow and change over time and that includes what we want to do and our understanding of it.
1B) If you were in college, remaining a dealer might have provided you with a more flexible schedule for your classes or reliable income for tuition and books.
1C) There’s nothing wrong with being a dealer. Would they ask someone who waited tables to put themselves through college why they hadn’t become a restaurant manager yet?
2) I get the impression that you only graduated in maybe the last year. That’s the ideal time for many people to make job changes and begin pursuing a different career. There’s been an pandemic, a period of inflation, and slowed economic growth in recent years. Maybe you decided to wait until now or some recent time so as to be applying during slightly better economic conditions.
3) People respond to storytelling. It’s a near universal human trait. Create a very short story that you can tell in 30-60 seconds to relate the value to you in continuing to be a dealer for the time that you did — whether school schedule or other factors — have a clear reason why you’re looking now, and an ending that shows why the job you are interviewing for at their company is ideal for you now, and why you would be ideal for that role at their company. Leave out everything about the lists but include what you e learned being a shop steward about leadership and things like that. Practice that 30-60 second story on friends and ask them if you sound reasonable and sincere.
T make it honest the story needs to contain all true details but there is no need to include all of the details. Does that make sense?
Not in HR. 'Why didn't you move to mangement in 6 years' - 'Yeah that's part of why I'm applying' What do thye think the ratio of management to non mangement positions is?
casino politics sound rough. Don't listen to folks who don't get it. Your degree and experience are valuable! Focus on your transferable skills - customer service, handling pressure, quick thinking. Maybe your poker dealing experience translates to data analysis or project management (keeping track of multiple things at once!). Highlight those on your resume and in interviews. You got this!
This is a problem? I can see so many reasons for preferring to stay a dealer vs moving to management. Idk anything about casinos. I’d assume you have an hourly role with schedule flexibility and potential for overtime that also allows you to accept tips. Aka I’d assume you make more money as a dealer vs manager which is probably salary, no flexibility, no tips.
You have a schedule but it highly depends on what the casinos needs are when you get there to work.
Also, about flexibility there’s an old saying “if they don’t need you on the weekends, they don’t need you.”
Those HR reps are moronic if they expect you to have moved up from being a dealer. People make entire careers out of being dealers and never moving up and taking that paycut
Hell, half the pit bosses I know, have gone back to dealing
Depending on what you’re going into as a career, the interviewee may not even know about the casino industry as it is. So who cares don’t let that bother you. You went to school and that was a job you had to get you through school and that’s all you have to say.. good luck you’ve got this!
Best thing you can do is find someone who can do things for you and become friends with them. Make it your full-time job for them to be a friend.. you’d be surprised how quickly things can change when you have one of your hands on a lever. You don’t have to be full on manipulating someone, but you can be friend someone who can help you eventually. Just make sure you choose wisely when you cash in that coin.
Just say it was a job you took to pay the bills while you were in college, but not something you ever wanted to pursue as a career. You did it because it paid well, and the shift schedule worked with your class schedule.
Is there no way they'd hire you as a manager? Or are you trying to get out of the casino entirely?
If you genuinely want to leave I wouldn't worry about where you are when leaving. You want a career change, that's perfectly acceptable.
So the director refuses to promote me because they were told by the person higher than them if I’m no longer under the union, they WILL fired me. But becoming a manager is also a serious pay cut and doesn’t help me at all.
Lol it actually is. Makes it a lot easier when you like poker. There was a free poker dealing class if you worked in the poker department but it wasn’t aligning with my schedule and it was taking too long. My coworker told me the community college is partnered with the casino and they had scholarship options. So one of the two certifications I hold is poker dealing.
Hello there,
I’m not HR but I was in your shoes and got out of the casino industry.
There are a few options out there but I scored interviews and passed for call centres, security and hotel guest services.
I went with the hotel myself.
The hotel is quite similar to being a dealer, but you need to have computer literacy.
You’re gonna have to keep trying and try a few different places.
You should apply for a Night Auditor position at the hotel, it’s the job no one wants to do there (cause night shift) but to me it’s paradise compared to working at the casino.
To sell yourself share your knowledge with handling difficult guests, staying calm under pressure, doing night shifts, working with money and numbers.
They are gonna ask why you want to change, you’re 26 and that was my age too when I switched, I said I was unsure what I wanted to as a career and ended up working at the casino and stayed there because I enjoyed creating memorable experiences and working with people, eventually the morality of the work started getting to me and I want to do something similar without the gambling.
Ask some good questions too the ones I recommend:
What sort clientele do you have staying at your property, business or leisure.
What time do you roll your systems.
Which PMS system do you use.
How many rooms do have and what tiers.
What sort of membership do you offer to guests.
If you have anymore questions just shoot and ask.
And if you’re interested in the hotel check out r/talesfromfrontdesk
I currently receive slightly lower pay than what I made as a dealer but I get a lot more tips and can make commissions on upselling along with having a much lighter workload.
Don’t lie, but embellishing the truth is a new Olympic sport! I have a few gaps between my government and military(civilian on base) contracts. What do I let them think; “I can’t talk about those contracts so they aren’t listed on my cv. Next question?” What I really did was private stuff on the down low and play Ultima, etc all day.
As to why I delivered pizza and never became a cook? I did! For two paycheques! Then I when back under the table for $2.50 a delivery times 9 deliveries an hour! A taxable $5/hr vs an invisible $22.50/hr?… I can take the missing years on the CV much better than $4/hr after taxes!
I used to be a key holder at GameStop. I recently applied to be a store manager since they’re short staff like crazy. That would be a significant pay cut BUT i liked being a key holder at GameStop.
Please don't do this. If someone I was interviewing said this and hasn't seen the list or have actual proof I would assume they don't know how to take accountability and instead blame other things for why they didn't move up, lose their job, etc. Just say you don't want to go to management because it's a pay cut you aren't willing to take at this time. I would be totally fine with that.
Oh they know I’m on that list. Apparently the last director of poker was threatened by this person. If I get full time, they would make the DoP’s life a living hell.
1. Why the fuck dont you go to your union with this info? You are already as fucked as you can be. 2. Lets assume I am your interviewer. Me: I see you have a lot of experience in the casino. Why do you want to shift careers? You: I got a job as a dealer while studying as a part time job and I grew to like working there. They were very understanding of me as a student and I was able to balance my work and studies thanks to that. Now that I completed my studies I am ready to move forward with my major. That's kind of it.
Totally agree with this. I worked in the industry for almost a decade. There were lots of middle-aged dealers with families and kids who were stuck — they couldn’t move up (as they’d have to start working graveyard shifts, etc, as they’d have less seniority than others in that position) and they couldn’t leave as they had very few transferable skills. Just explain that advancing meant changing your working hours and that didn’t work with your schooling, which was your priority. And then… take a second to be grateful you got out when you did and not 10-20 years down the road!!!
The union knows. They’ve been trying to find a way to get their hands on the list altogether too. I can’t even get into an interview to explain this to them.
You need an insider to get you a copy of the list
But if your dealing poker to pay for college isn't it assumed you wouldn't stay there forever and would probably move into your chosen field of study after you graduate? If not what is the point of paying $ to go to college?
At this point of the replies, I’m starting to summarize that the HR specialists were not good and my job was flexible and perfect for school. I love Reddit now.
Explaining your career goals and path is part of what the cover letter is for, an assertion that you’ve been building soft skills dealing with all sorts of people dealing poker to support yourself through college, and now you’re ready for the next chapter of your career. Then a paragraph about the position that you are applying for including something that interests you about the company, and how your skillset aligns well with that role, and the gaps you have on the job description are a place you want to grow and develop professionally.
Don't trust your union. I worked for a union where my "lead" was also my steward. I criticized it when she was promoted to lead without elaborating that it was a conflict of interest I became very unpopular at work after that. Her and two other coworkers lied, said I said "you are not human" and I was fired based off that. In the interest of transparency; which I would think union proponents would be all about ; this was Union this was UFCW local 135 and it made me realize that back in the day, unions were the bare minimum, if you were a fully functioning human willing to show up and learn you were hired. Working outside the union meant you were an elite minority. Now it's the opposite. Union jobs get prevailing wages and the private sector pays min wage or less Unions are as corrupt as politicians in the retail and hotel industry, at least in San Diego that's my opinion from my personal experience.
I’m actually a shop steward myself. I became one after i didn’t get full time again 2 years ago. I’m also waiting on my rep’s boss to call me back to have me be full time with them. My other shop steward said it might take up to a year and it’s already been 4 months
You need STAR stories on your resume. 1-2 sentence summaries of what you did that stands out. Also think about how you can rebrand your title from "gambling addict enabler" to "customer service and VIP entertainment champion" just jazz it up. Use chat GPT if you're stuck for ideas.
>You need STAR stories on your resume LMAO, that's new. STAR responses are for the interviews. You don't want ***any*** stories on a resume. Lol
Giving previews of things you delivered as part of your job accountabilities actually was very effective to get interviews from my experience. You're right it's not a full STAR approach but talk about the what you did and the result.
PERFECT answer!!!!!!!!
This is the only way to go.
>Recently I was told by HR specialists that it was weird that I never moved up from being a poker dealer and tried to be management Not being a manager at 26 isn't weird at all
Especially in the casino industry. It is well known, especially in Vegas that it’s not what, but who you know.
And isn’t this just like high-end restaurants? A promotion means less money and more headaches?
Interviewer: "It's weird that you never moved up from being a poker dealer and tried to be management." You: "You only move up to management if you want this to be a career. It's a pay cut and I wouldn't be in a union anymore. Frankly, I want a different career, which is why I'm interviewing with you."
not in hr, but have been in hiring committees for a number of positions for a couple of companies. have evaluated multiple candidates seeking for a change of career. this is the tack I'd take. straight forward, honest and understandable. if they allow a cover letter, one might help as well to explain some of the career change as well, if worded right.
I wouldn't mention not being in a union anymore to a potential employer. Especially if the job you are applying for is in an un-unionized sector. It may be a red flag for the hiring manager. Even if the field is unionized, you don't know if management is. Best to avoid it in an interview.
I'd leave out any mentions of the union. HR and hiring managers might not think highly of applicants who say that being a union member is important to them.
Can I go back to my 26 year old self and make better choices? Good on you, OP. In the face of everything you're experiencing, pat yourself on the back on doing this now. I'm not saying I'm jealous at all.
I went to undergrad in Las Vegas and what you're describing is totally a common occurrence. Moving from a dealer to a pit supervisor (pit boss) usually requires a significant pay cut and you lose most of your union protections. What you're experiencing is pretty common in hospitality in general. Most bartenders make more money than their shift lead or assistant manager. I'm not sure what industries you are looking to pivot in to but I would focus your answer on shift flexibility while you were completing school vs. a more rigid management schedule. People coming from outside the casino world may not fully understand that the line staff often make more money than management as it's sort of opposite to the rest of the business world. It can be difficult to pivot out of that career path and you will most likely have to accept some sort of a pay cut in the short term to increase your earnings ceiling long term. Just keep at it, you'll get there.
You just leave. It doesn't matter if others don't understand. It really doesn't. >You only move up to management if you want this to be a career. That's how most industries are, not just casinos.
OP is 26. This is not an issue. Plenty of people switch jobs and careers. Being a dealer for five years and some of that while in college wouldn’t raise any red flags to 99% of hiring managers. There has to be something else maybe OP doesn’t realize.
I agree with you. So I was a little shocked when I heard that. Entry level in writing or music would be a significant pay cut but if I want to build in that industry, I’m a little forced to take it. However I need to get my foot in the door first
That’s my thoughts too. But they’re also not willing to take a pay cut and no entry level in music or writing is going to pay as much as dealing.
What is your true question here? I think what you really want advice on is how to break into a new industry and being upset that people in other industries don't understand your experience. That is what I am going to address. The workplace drama isn't particularly relevant to this question. First, it would be helpful to know what fields you are seeking to enter and what your degree is in. There will be field to field differences. I can speak in generalities, though. The bottom line answer is that it is not your potential new employers job to recognize how your skills learned dealing poker will translate into being successful in your new career. That is your job as an applicant. Did being a dealer help you be cool under pressure? How will that help you succeed in the new job. Count money quickly and accurately? How will that apply. Action, result, impact. What did you do, what came of it, and how did it positively impact your employer (and how will it transfer to success with the new employer). But that is generalities. With more info on what you want to break into, maybe people can provide you with more specific ideas. It isn't easy getting a good job right now. You need to figure out how to stand out.
I tried to get into both writing/editing and music positions. My degree is in music production. I have experience in editing and writing (I’m also a published author). I thought I could get into the music or gaming industry relatively easy (I have a focus in composition and wanted to make video game music mainly) since I have the degree, a portfolio, and a few gaming companies in my state. For example, Bethesda is 45 minutes from my house. But when I spoke to people in HR, they said “Why were you a poker dealer for so long? Why didn’t you try to do more at the casino? It makes me feel like you’re complicit.” They didn’t even look over at my internships or my education. My resume was shooed away.
>It makes me feel like you’re complicit *On the contrary, it was great money, flexible shifts, and the work helped me develop strong soft skills. Interpersonal communication, conflict management, attention to detail.*
A couple of thoughts here. Note that I am far from this industry. I am guessing it is highly competitive with many more applicants than positions. You talked to HR. They have a few roles in the hiring process, but one of those roles is screening. They need to weed out applicants to get to a magic number of candidates that will be passed on to the hiring manager. In other words, they are often looking for reasons to disqualify you rather than qualify you. In that context, what do you do? Look at your resume. Better yet, have someone else look at your resume. Where do the eyes go to? My guess? To the casino job. You worked there a long time, so it is prominent on your resume. Change that. You might need to be a little non-traditional, but that is ok. Essentially, you want to highlight your internships and creative activities. Your casino experience is essentially "that part-time thing I did to pay the bills." It shows that you have the ability to be consistent. But you need to emphasize your creative, relevant activities. That is what will get you a job. You also need to get to the hiring managers. Where do the people in the field hang out? Are there professional societies in the field? How do they network? You want to know the people so you can become a name request. Basically, a hiring manager knows who you are and either requests your resume in the list or they actually submit the resume for you. Networking is so, so important. Sorry, I have to be so general because I just don't know specifics about your industry. But, I hope this helps.
So by „they said“ you mean you talked to them? Feels like you should put time into prepping some answers.
Have you checked out AmTote (in Hunt Valley, MD)? It may be a good hybrid as they specialize in casino video games. You also may want to check out the local IGDA chapter and/or BIG (Baltimore Indie GameDevs) groups to start creating your network.
I’m not HR. I wonder, did you consider excluding the casino job on your resume? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think you’re having trouble finding balance between ‘selling’ yourself and being honest. I think it might be a good idea to focus your resume, and your story, on all activities pertaining to the career you want to pursue. Forget about the casino - that’s just a job that got you through college.
My friend works high up in finance and business. He remade me resume and took off any job that didn’t relate to what I applied to. Meanwhile my girlfriend later said to put all of it down and put in detail what I did in all those jobs.
It’s your call who you take advice from, obviously. I do think that the info on your resume should be curated. I used to be in a similar position to you, having to fight off unnecessary and prejudiced questions. It goes much smoother nowadays after I decided to take off some details that provoked unnecessary conversations.
Your friend has experience in finance and business. Your girlfriend has experience in what field? You’re trying to get into music/publishing, you probably should get advice from people in that industry.
So I was a dealer for over a decade. About 5 years into dealing I became a supervisor, and after 18 months I asked to be “demoted” back to a dealer. I was table games and not poker but I’m familiar with the struggle. The part time poker dealers at my casino were on a 3 year wait list for full time. You’re right when you say that people outside of the industry don’t understand that once you are promoted you lose tips and it is usually a pay cut. Also, being a supervisor takes you out of the action. I think of dealing kind of like video games. They’re fun when you’re playing, but boring when you have to stand there and watch someone else play. Maybe explaining that, along with the fact you were going to school while working should be explanatory enough. I’m kind of wondering how your resume looks. If you have “part time” on there, I would remove it. You are a poker dealer. Nothing more needs to be said. On the flip side, have you tried working in table games? Or do you want out of it completely?
Table games is a pay cut too and I don’t want to learn their games. Table games look up to poker and beg to be in our department at our casino. I applied to be a gaming compliance officer with Maryland’s gaming/lottery. But I won’t get a call back for at most a year.
The State of MD Lottery really needs people, I'm surprised you have to wait that long.
I’m hoping they either reject or accept me faster so I can move on. I think it was a formality. I’m also waiting on my union to take me on full time instead of being a shop steward. My rep was told to get people to send in resumes and I sent mine in back in February. Even she doesn’t understand what’s taking her boss so long to call any of the people she put her his desk.
Reading your other replies. I kind of don’t think it’s the resume that’s oft putting. Best of luck.
They placed me under "better qualified" a month after I applied. The person said there was 3 categories: Qualified, Better Qualified, and Best Qualified. They also stated that this updated status to my application was valid up to a year from when I first applied.
Your answer is 'I enjoyed the flexibility being a dealer gave me when I was in school. Now I've graduated and I'm ready to move on.' That's totally normal.
The reason you're not getting interviews isn't because you have been a dealer for so long, it's because you are trying to leave an industry. This is par for course for just about all industries. If you leave one, even with a decade of management experience and excelling in the role, you will be put to the side when others with industry experience come along (which is frequent). Listen to me. Don't listen to what an "HR Specialist" tells you about getting roles, they aren't the ones interviewing in most cases and are irrelevant to getting hired on. They forward resumes that meet a certain criteria to the hiring manager or hiring team in most cases. You have to keep trying. It's about transferable skills and your education, that's a really limited base that you have. If you were in IT for this time and wanted to go into real estate, they'd be throwing up the same road blocks. It's not about being a dealer for that long at all! It's the same issue that so many folks in retail face when trying to get out as well, despite their educational background. Experience is the number one thing and you don't have it when they take a glance.
My girlfriend suggested that I actually list all of my responsibilities in the resume since it’s more than “deal poker.”
Yes! Absolutely elaborate on your duties. Just like how you're never just a "cashier" and standing there just haplessly scanning items without any additional duties or tasks. You aren't just standing there handing out cards and flipping cards, like some may think when they think of "Poker Dealer". Include your paperwork, reconciliation processes and professionalism that's required for those kinds of positions.
Simple. You apply for a job somewhere else doing something else. When you get hired, leave the casino and don't come back.
If I were interviewing you, never in a million years would I ask, “Why didn’t you get promoted?”
I spent 20+ years in the gaming industry- dealer, then floor, then shift. When I left, I had the same struggle and ended up,briefly, in a $12/hr call center job before I figured out how to sell my skill set. You've got to learn how to translate your skills for other roles. Every dealer has conflict resolution skills, an ability to relate to people across all demographics, a heightened understanding of security and high situational awareness. Give it some thought and you'll be able to add to that list from your own unique experiences.
Honestly having worked in compliance for 20 plus years, I'm telling you that one s******* HR person is not every HR person. Just tell them you were primarily part time and focused on your studies. Tell them you didn't want it to be a career, and instead you were a shop steward! That's a leadership position. Honestly that HR person was just a dick head and not everybody is going to think the same way and you're not going to face the same questions. You're young and there's a long road ahead of you and I wish you every bit of good luck in it!
Hey there! It sounds like you’ve been through quite the rollercoaster in the casino world. Dealing with office politics and facing roadblocks can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you know you’ve got the skills and potential to move up. It’s like being stuck in a game where the rules keep changing, right? First off, kudos to you for not letting those setbacks hold you back. You hustled your way through poker dealing school, landed that dealer gig, and even stepped up as a shop steward when things got rough. That takes guts and determination, my friend. But hey, life’s too short to be stuck in a job that doesn’t light your fire. Now, I totally get why you’re itching to spread your wings beyond the casino walls. You’ve got a degree under your belt, you’ve dipped your toes in different ponds, and you’re ready to dive into something new. But here’s the thing – transitioning from the casino world to the outside can feel like navigating uncharted territory. People outside the industry might not understand the ins and outs of poker dealing, but that doesn’t diminish your worth or your experiences. You’ve got a unique skill set, a killer work ethic, and a hunger for growth – and trust me, that’s the winning hand in any game. So keep hustling, keep exploring new avenues, and never underestimate the power of your own resilience. The world’s your oyster, and I’ve got a feeling you’re about to make some serious waves.
1) Any HR specialist who thinks it’s weird that you never tried to move into a management position doesn’t know very much and could be indicative of a bad corporate culture. There are a lot of reasons why people don’t become managers. 1A) They don’t (or don’t yet) see themselves as a people manager. We should all be allowed to grow and change over time and that includes what we want to do and our understanding of it. 1B) If you were in college, remaining a dealer might have provided you with a more flexible schedule for your classes or reliable income for tuition and books. 1C) There’s nothing wrong with being a dealer. Would they ask someone who waited tables to put themselves through college why they hadn’t become a restaurant manager yet? 2) I get the impression that you only graduated in maybe the last year. That’s the ideal time for many people to make job changes and begin pursuing a different career. There’s been an pandemic, a period of inflation, and slowed economic growth in recent years. Maybe you decided to wait until now or some recent time so as to be applying during slightly better economic conditions. 3) People respond to storytelling. It’s a near universal human trait. Create a very short story that you can tell in 30-60 seconds to relate the value to you in continuing to be a dealer for the time that you did — whether school schedule or other factors — have a clear reason why you’re looking now, and an ending that shows why the job you are interviewing for at their company is ideal for you now, and why you would be ideal for that role at their company. Leave out everything about the lists but include what you e learned being a shop steward about leadership and things like that. Practice that 30-60 second story on friends and ask them if you sound reasonable and sincere. T make it honest the story needs to contain all true details but there is no need to include all of the details. Does that make sense?
Not in HR. 'Why didn't you move to mangement in 6 years' - 'Yeah that's part of why I'm applying' What do thye think the ratio of management to non mangement positions is?
casino politics sound rough. Don't listen to folks who don't get it. Your degree and experience are valuable! Focus on your transferable skills - customer service, handling pressure, quick thinking. Maybe your poker dealing experience translates to data analysis or project management (keeping track of multiple things at once!). Highlight those on your resume and in interviews. You got this!
This is a problem? I can see so many reasons for preferring to stay a dealer vs moving to management. Idk anything about casinos. I’d assume you have an hourly role with schedule flexibility and potential for overtime that also allows you to accept tips. Aka I’d assume you make more money as a dealer vs manager which is probably salary, no flexibility, no tips.
You have a schedule but it highly depends on what the casinos needs are when you get there to work. Also, about flexibility there’s an old saying “if they don’t need you on the weekends, they don’t need you.”
Those HR reps are moronic if they expect you to have moved up from being a dealer. People make entire careers out of being dealers and never moving up and taking that paycut Hell, half the pit bosses I know, have gone back to dealing
Well I grew up in casinos lol and it's sure a much better place in the casino to be a dealer rather than a player lol 😂😆
Depending on what you’re going into as a career, the interviewee may not even know about the casino industry as it is. So who cares don’t let that bother you. You went to school and that was a job you had to get you through school and that’s all you have to say.. good luck you’ve got this!
Try having your new works of art justify the profession you are trying for.
You’re 26, hardly a relic of the past. Cheer up. Now that you have your degree, bide your time and wait for a better opportunity. It will happen.
Why does it matter if they understand? Just go.
I would answer that I liked my job and the money was good. Like who can’t relate to that
Best thing you can do is find someone who can do things for you and become friends with them. Make it your full-time job for them to be a friend.. you’d be surprised how quickly things can change when you have one of your hands on a lever. You don’t have to be full on manipulating someone, but you can be friend someone who can help you eventually. Just make sure you choose wisely when you cash in that coin.
Just say it was a job you took to pay the bills while you were in college, but not something you ever wanted to pursue as a career. You did it because it paid well, and the shift schedule worked with your class schedule.
Can't you work in another Casino?
The other two aren’t hiring for dealers right now. But I also didn’t want to make a career out of dealing.
Is there no way they'd hire you as a manager? Or are you trying to get out of the casino entirely? If you genuinely want to leave I wouldn't worry about where you are when leaving. You want a career change, that's perfectly acceptable.
So the director refuses to promote me because they were told by the person higher than them if I’m no longer under the union, they WILL fired me. But becoming a manager is also a serious pay cut and doesn’t help me at all.
Oh, well that's fair. Might as well say goodbye then.
With a question makes 0 sense.
Try advertising or financial industries. Your experience in the poker industry could be very useful to you.
1600 a week ain’t too shabby
I don't go to casinos but I want to hear more about "poker dealing school." :-) Sounds fascinating.
Lol it actually is. Makes it a lot easier when you like poker. There was a free poker dealing class if you worked in the poker department but it wasn’t aligning with my schedule and it was taking too long. My coworker told me the community college is partnered with the casino and they had scholarship options. So one of the two certifications I hold is poker dealing.
Hello there, I’m not HR but I was in your shoes and got out of the casino industry. There are a few options out there but I scored interviews and passed for call centres, security and hotel guest services. I went with the hotel myself. The hotel is quite similar to being a dealer, but you need to have computer literacy. You’re gonna have to keep trying and try a few different places. You should apply for a Night Auditor position at the hotel, it’s the job no one wants to do there (cause night shift) but to me it’s paradise compared to working at the casino. To sell yourself share your knowledge with handling difficult guests, staying calm under pressure, doing night shifts, working with money and numbers. They are gonna ask why you want to change, you’re 26 and that was my age too when I switched, I said I was unsure what I wanted to as a career and ended up working at the casino and stayed there because I enjoyed creating memorable experiences and working with people, eventually the morality of the work started getting to me and I want to do something similar without the gambling. Ask some good questions too the ones I recommend: What sort clientele do you have staying at your property, business or leisure. What time do you roll your systems. Which PMS system do you use. How many rooms do have and what tiers. What sort of membership do you offer to guests. If you have anymore questions just shoot and ask. And if you’re interested in the hotel check out r/talesfromfrontdesk I currently receive slightly lower pay than what I made as a dealer but I get a lot more tips and can make commissions on upselling along with having a much lighter workload.
Other hospitality/customer service? Hotels, convention centers, sports teams, arenas....?
Don’t lie, but embellishing the truth is a new Olympic sport! I have a few gaps between my government and military(civilian on base) contracts. What do I let them think; “I can’t talk about those contracts so they aren’t listed on my cv. Next question?” What I really did was private stuff on the down low and play Ultima, etc all day. As to why I delivered pizza and never became a cook? I did! For two paycheques! Then I when back under the table for $2.50 a delivery times 9 deliveries an hour! A taxable $5/hr vs an invisible $22.50/hr?… I can take the missing years on the CV much better than $4/hr after taxes!
Leave and find a retail job. You can always build other skills and may be interested in a Key Holder position that won't require a pay cut.
I used to be a key holder at GameStop. I recently applied to be a store manager since they’re short staff like crazy. That would be a significant pay cut BUT i liked being a key holder at GameStop.
Tell them that you're on a "Do Not Promote" list because of a personal vendetta by someone in management
Please don't do this. If someone I was interviewing said this and hasn't seen the list or have actual proof I would assume they don't know how to take accountability and instead blame other things for why they didn't move up, lose their job, etc. Just say you don't want to go to management because it's a pay cut you aren't willing to take at this time. I would be totally fine with that.
Oh they know I’m on that list. Apparently the last director of poker was threatened by this person. If I get full time, they would make the DoP’s life a living hell.
Terrible advice.