Telling your employer about dancing
So I am taking a month off from dancing, but I am looking for another short-term job. My question is, when/who should I tell that I was a dancer?
Here's my thought. Obvi, I wouldn't bring it up if I were to work in a shoe store or something, but I want to work in a bar. They asked my if I had had any bar/club experience.
The thing is, on my resume, it looks as though I've been unemployed for the last 6 months, and dancing HAS helped me a lot. People skills, sales, all that jazz- stripping has really helped me!
Since it is a bar, do you think it would be okay to bring it up? I want them to know that I've had a lot of experience with people, etc. But I don't want silly stereotypes preventing me from getting the job.
Re: Telling your employer about dancing
Then you let them know you were a waitress. or a hostess. that is it if they ask for more details on the job you tell them your job experience, helping customers, cash handling experience, keep it simple. as much as possible
I work online as a camgirl for 6 years and I always stick with the transferable skills when I am in a job interview.
Re: Telling your employer about dancing
should I tell them I was a waitress/hostess in a SC?
What if they want to call for references?
Also, I left it off my resume. Should I just say I left it off 'cos it was a SC, and I didn't think I should put it on my resume??
Sorry for all the ?'s, I just really really want this job! ;D
Re: Telling your employer about dancing
If they want references, provide some. Find someone you worked with who will vouch for all the good things you tell them: you can effectively sell and upsell drinks, you provide good customer service, your alcohol awareness (being able to tell when a customer is hammered) is well-honed, etc.
I'm not sure how you would explain the fact that it wasn't on your resume; maybe you could spin it a little by saying that the resume you turned in wasn't the most current because you wanted to jump on the opportunity to fill their vacant position...
Also, if you want more short-term bartending work, you could always apply to a staffing company that provides bartenders, servers, etc. for events like banquets and parties. In the future, you'd have professional contacts who could verify your experience, quality of service, reliability, etc. and you could use the staffing company as an explanation for employment gaps.
I didn't start working at a peepshow until after I had a bartending job (the pay was so bad, it was the reason I applied to the peepshow), but I only told a few coworkers so they would understand if I couldn't cover the shifts they wanted me to take. I used the server staffing company explanation when customers marveled at the fact that I stayed with the bar as long as I did.
Re: Telling your employer about dancing
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AngelWithHorns
If they want references, provide some. Find someone you worked with who will vouch for all the good things you tell them: you can effectively sell and upsell drinks, you provide good customer service, your alcohol awareness (being able to tell when a customer is hammered) is well-honed, etc.
I only worked at the club for like 4 days, so I am not sure who I could use as a reference! but I have some old clubs I could call maybe...
Do you mean recommend me as a former dancer or as a former waitress/bartender?
Re: Telling your employer about dancing
I just meant that anyone who can verify the skills you have applicable to be a waitress/bartender would probably be good. I went the opposite direction you did (bartending, then adult entertainment) but several of my professional references for mundane jobs no longer hold the positions they did when I met them and formed the professional relationship. (i.e., most of the supervisors/coworkers have either changed jobs, changed fields, or totally stopped working over the years)
I generally check in w/the folks I'm asking to refer me for a job and let them know "Hey, I want to try _____" would you feel comfortable providing a reference to help me get there?"
I can't tell you whether to reveal that you are a dancer or not; as I said, I went in the reverse order. But a career counselor at the last university I attended said to describe the experience as one where I learned applicable skills (sales, alcohol awareness, customer service, conflict resolution, etc.) *if* the issue that I worked in an adult environment came up.
Good luck with your application and let us know how it goes.
Re: Telling your employer about dancing
damn, they just told me they're not hiring! :(
oh well, plenty of bars around! and now I know what to say to them!