Gun club affiliations on your Resume?

[Can'thavenuthingood]

I'm doing up another resume and I'm wondering if I ought to list the NRA, Gun Owners of America and the California Rifle and Pistol Association as affiliations.

This particular format has been accepted previously (last week) by this company from one of my coworkers and they hired him. He is not affiliated with any gun or hunting groups, so I ask the all knowing collective GunOrg (GORG?)

Any of you had a problem belonging to gun clubs while seeking a better position or employment?

Did a search. I think I'll leave them listed.

Kinda answered my own question.

Vick

 

[cfabe]

I don't think I'd put that information on my resume, I can't see what purpose it serves. I also wouldn't include if I were a member of greenepeace or some other lefty group. Just don't see what it has to do with your job performance. And in california, I think you might encounter some liberal bias in the hiring process.

 

[Justin]

Unless you're looking for a job with the NSSF or some other gun-related organization or company, there's no reason to include that information on your resume.

 

[spartacus2002]

I just went thru this recently; on my resume, under interests, I gingerly made reference to teaching rifle safety and marksmanship to Boy Scouts. It provided something to talk about without screaming "GUN NUT." I did not list my memberships in NRA, GOA, JPFO, THR.

Yes, I did get hired.

 

[HankB]

I recommend against listing membership in anything other than a professional organization on the resume . . . unless 1) you're applying for a job in the sporting goods sector, or 2) you KNOW the hiring manager and everyone else in your future chain of command has similar interests.

And even if 2) applies, don't over-emphasize "extracurricular" interests. If you're getting hired, it's because of the job you'll be able to do for the company, NOT for your hobbies.

 

[GT]

On the application for citizenship of the US it asks what clubs and associations you belong to.

I put down NRA since I was obliged to tell the truth.

The gentleman conducting my interview seemed impressed.

So it's apparently not the 3rd rail... or maybe the guy I had was a shooting enthusiast.

Since I don't have a resumé I can't comment on that.

G

 

[FPrice]

I generally do not put any hobbies, past times, or club affiliations on a resume unless they are germane to the position I am applying for. They should not be hiring you for your personal life, but for your professional skills.

 

[hso]

While it might be of idle interest to me when I look at a resume I'm only interested in the professional affiliations. What people do in their personal lives shouldn't be inculded.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

I still have my club/association memberships listed on my resume. I have the NRA, HOG (Harley Owners Group), US Desmo (a Ducati/European motorcycle club), a professional association or two, and a few other things listed (whether an active member or just a magazine receiving member). I want them to know that I do have other interests and hobbies and that I am just not a couch potato/slug and am active in other areas of my life (When I was in a local hard rock/heavy metal band, I had that listed, too).

An employer usually figures that if you are passionate and motivated in your non-work activities, enough to be a member of clubs, you will have the same enthusiasm in your job......but sometimes they are afraid you may be too active and stretching yourself too thin in those other activities that you will neglect your job, so it can backfire. As for firearms related clubs and memberships......if they don't like it, I don't want to work for them, anyway.

 

[boofus]

No way, unless the job is firearms related I would not even mention it. Your resume is supposed to be a summary of skills applicable to the job.

If you are applying to Heckler & Koch or Barrett or the NRA maybe, otherwise there is no reason to list your hobbies on your professional resume.

 

[Russ]

No politics, religious affiliations and no hobbies. Most employers could care less what you do for hobbies. More than a few anti gunners and anti religious people out there though so why buy trouble.

 

[Wags]

Negative to the original question.

 

[Waitone]

I have the NRA, HOG (Harley Owners Group), US Desmo (a Ducati/European motorcycle club), a professional association or two, and a few other things listed (whether an active member or just a magazine receiving member).

In today's screwed up world you gotta be careful.

<Plays like an hiring authority>"Outdoorsey type. Oh, likes motorcycles. Gotta hog, that's good. A real 'merican. Reallly likes motorcycles. Hog and I-talian. He does both. Lots of time on the road. Lots of chance for some nut to hit him. You know, this dood may be a risk taker. Just like 'em, He takes the risk and I pay the medical bills. Hogs and I-talian bikes, eh? This guy is reckless. My budget would take a hit on his medical costs. Forbid the chance he will exceed the company stop loss limit then I would look bad. Screw it, the guy is just too expensive."

I ain't makin' this up. I know people who go through calculus. Companies are not hiring the best employees they can find. They are hiring the best employees they can at the least total cost.

 

[GEM]

I've read 100s of resumes. I only care about job related info. I don't care about you being the loving father to Tyler and Melissa, sing in the First Church Choir and are VP of the Airmail stamp club.

Ditch all that stuff - sure there is a risk of being a gun loonie but anything personal is a risk to some nut being offended.

Some folks are even googling employees - so if you appear on a list like this, you may offend someone. Personally, I think it is wrong to google someone and read nonjob related stuff but another dude at work thinks it is just fine.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Everything on your resume must fit on one page. No one reads page 2. So, each line must be considered to portray you in the best possible light. The resume should be tailored to fill the needs of the prospective employer. Unless there is space for recreational activities whether it's tennis, golf or guns, leave it out. Human Resources' bells & whistles will go off if they see gun club.

 

[Old NFO]

Wait one and GEM hit the nail on the head- DON'T list things that are not pertinent to the job- ESPECIALLY if you are applying for a Government job. You could actually be disqualified as indicated by Waitone. Also, if you are asked in an interview, be very circumspect as to what you tell the interviewer. I did not hire a technician once because all he could talk about was hunting and how he'd made every opening day for the past five years- This told me he would not be showing up to work on those days, regardless of what the work schedule was or his vacation hour availability. He was hired by one of our compeditors, who fired him 6 months later for excessive time off...

 

[RocketMan]

If it has nothing to do with the job you are applying for, do not list it on your resume.

Listing my interest in Amateur Radio has benefited me in the past. It was a direct factor in one hire for a technical position. That one lasted nine years before I moved on.

 

[BryanP]

Hobbies, clubs, political and religious affiliations, none of that has any place on a resume. It will rarely do you any good and may do you harm. The only exception is if your hobby has some bearing on the job for which you are applying.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

Waitone

<Plays like an hiring authority>"Outdoorsey type. Oh, likes motorcycles. Gotta hog, that's good. A real 'merican. Reallly likes motorcycles. Hog and I-talian. He does both. Lots of time on the road. Lots of chance for some nut to hit him. You know, this dood may be a risk taker. Just like 'em, He takes the risk and I pay the medical bills. Hogs and I-talian bikes, eh? This guy is reckless. My budget would take a hit on his medical costs. Forbid the chance he will exceed the company stop loss limit then I would look bad. Screw it, the guy is just too expensive."

So true, in many ways, but.......Most people who own Harleys and Ducatis are "posers" and don't actually ride (most white-collar/managers with a Harley knows this little fact). More often than not, neither brand of bike sees over 1000 miles a year, and even more rare to find one that has over 10,000 on the odometer. In my case, though, I like to wear my bikes out (ridden cross-country and been in 44 states). But the medical/lost time scenerio is quite true in many cases. I had a bike wreck that cost the company/insurance company $27,000+. My wife had a bike accident that cost her insurance company over $350,000+ and increasing, so.....yeah, sometimes you have to be careful.



4v50Gary

Everything on your resume must fit on one page. No one reads page 2.

I guess it all depends on the profession and your accomplishments. I've been told, as a rule of thumb, you are "ok" for one page for every ten years in a profession. Seems more true with people who are professionals.

I have two solid pages on my resume (one page just for degrees, certificates, licenses, and computer/equipment skills and one for previous jobs and responsibilities), but I've worked in environmental and engineering fields in R&D, for two different companies, over the last 15 years (with two non-R&D jobs between).....wow, that sounds a whole lot more impressive than it actually is. LOL

 

[spartacus2002]

I've been told, as a rule of thumb, you are "ok" for one page for every ten years in a profession. Seems more true with people who are professionals.

True, and it worked for me.

 

[Jim K]

With all respect, I disagree with Old NFO on government applications. On government forms, especially those involving a security clearance, omitting any significant affiliations (Sam's Club doesn't count) is a no-no. No one cares if you belong to the NRA or the local gun club (it could be a plus), but an omission always leads to the question of what else you omitted, and could mean rejection for the job or at least more severe scrutiny.

Jim

 

[Old NFO]

With all respect, I disagree with Old NFO on government applications. On government forms, especially those involving a security clearance, omitting any significant affiliations (Sam's Club doesn't count) is a no-no. No one cares if you belong to the NRA or the local gun club (it could be a plus), but an omission always leads to the question of what else you omitted, and could mean rejection for the job or at least more severe scrutiny.

Jim, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree- The only place I have ever put affiliations is on the DD375 or what ever the new one is.. I have never put them on a resume.
r,
jim

 

[wingnutx]

I'd leave it off.

 

[keyhole]

They can find it out later. I know of a professer at a local university. kept it quiet for some years, as he wanted to have tenure first.

 

[mmike87]

I frequently review resumes for positions I have open. I have several rules of thumb that are pretty controversial amongst my peers:

1) The best resumes are ONE PAGE and ONE PAGE only. Leave something for the interview - all you want is to get someone's attention and get an interview.

2) Forget the stupid "mission statement" type openings. Everyone knows you're looking for a challenging position in your field.

3) Leave any affiliations that are not related to your occupation OFF the resume. They are too risky and not relevant anyway.

I actually had a resume that stated that one of the person's qualifications were that he took care of his cats. This was for a professional software development position. Another went on about his missionary work for the Mormons. Seriously - I don't care.

My advice - concentrate on your experience and abilities. Don't spend too much time touting your education, professional certifications, etc. Experience and ability counts for everything in my book - and unless firearms are related to your position I'd leave them off.