What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
Um...they moved the application deadline for my professional school up by 3 months, so now I have to apply by late Jan!
I have to come up with a killer resume...somehow. No lying allowed- what have you used that's worked? Professional dancer? Don't they ask where you studied dance? Model? Is that any better than stripper (from a school's perspective)? Bar promotions?
My agent will give me a ref., but he won't lie. He won't bark out "she's a stripper!", but if they ask straight up I think he'll tell them. So I need something true-ish that won't inspire questioning..
help? Success stories?
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
What's your profession? Can you not just tell them you've been a dancer?
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
Entertainer. Show model. Entertainment facilitator. Peer counselor (hehheh).
The best tactic is to act like you don't care.....if you don't panic, they might not.
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
^ That works too.
Or if you're dealing with male HR people, play those fools & then flip them. Viva la difference!
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
Scarlett, what are you applying for? A professional school? Like doctor/lawyer/accountant? Don't lie. On a normal job application, I would advocate for lying (of a particular kind) but not here. Once you get in you will understand. Lying is a big deal - I presume because the professions are largely self-regulated, so they have to regulate, and there is a public trust involves so your ethics are pretty important. Omit if it is feasible, but outside of that, I would tell the straight up truth. I mean, you are not a bar promoter, and you are not a model - at least not the kind you would be presenting yourself as, and you are certainly not a counselor of any kind. You COULD say "professional dancer" and simply answer if, and only if they ask. You can also say "independent contractor" and let them investigate if they so wish. If they investigate, they will find out unless you are going out of your way to lie.
I would say leave it out, and fill in the blanks with other work you've done, including minor jobs and volunteer work. Feel free to puff your volunteer work, but again, don't lie.
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
Yeah, it's a school to study natural medicine...I don't want to lie, but I really really want to get in!
Serious, if I tell the truth about being a stripper...omg. Has anyone ever done that and made it in to a professional school?
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
I am considering law school after this degree (was planning on writing the LSATs in the spring...). Jenny- if omitting the dancer job is possible, can it not somehow be construed as lying? For instance, if the law school application asks about past employment, could I just skip out on the dancing job while being forthcoming about the rest of my job history? Honestly, how much stigma does 'stripper' convey (or whatever euphemism is supplied instead)? I want to be pragmatic, but I don't want to lie or be unethical.
Also, to say I were a 'professional dancer' or 'independent contractor', but that I was employed as such at 'Barbarella's Diamonds Cabaret' or whatever- wouldn't this just look like a naive attempt to sugarcoat the truth?
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
why do you have to put anything, why can't you just leave it off there?
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
Honestly ladies, I have no idea. MM - I see your dilemna. However no matter how open you are, I wouldn't describe your job as stripper. I would always go with "Dancer", no qualifier. Putting the bar name afterwards CERTAINLY makes it clear what you are doing, and there is no sugarcoating. In your case, I don't think it is necessary to reveal. They don't need to know all your negative history - things like your criminal record and all that isn't their problem. SV - Hmm. Honestly, I don't know. You are a freelancer, right? Can you just say "free lance dancer"; at least that way if they ask you get to spin it, live and in person, and frequently we can make a stronger case for ourselves in that situation. But really, in a field where ethics are important don't fuck with them. Seriously, these schools will fuck you up if they find out you tried to circumvent their evaluation process.
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
How long is the gap in your work history between other jobs? Perhaps you could say that you had a family problem of some sort to explain the time not working, but keep it vague (sick relative?).
I imagine natural medicine is little more open minded than some other programs, but it just doesn't really seem worth chancing it. The climate of professional school can be pretty conservative. I was talking to a first year M.D. student the other day and he was telling me how he was having trouble adjusting because so many of the other students were making him uncomfortable bringing up religion all the time. And this is at a major public University, not Bob's corner bible school.
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
Well, it's doesn't matter now- I've realized with the deadline having been moved up I no longer have time to complete two of my prereqs, and conditional acceptance is apparently very rare. *cry*
So it's 2007 now...what am I going to do for another YEAR? Dance...
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
Eh, blessing in disguise. Why don't you take a part-time house mom position, so you can claim you were "managerial" in the club biz, instead of a "naked wench"?
Fret not, pet. I know people who ought to be in prison but they managed to parlay their secret shady skills into advancement in the real world. "Yeah, boy!" LOL You shouldn't feel bad about anything.
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
I would suggest finding out what a 'real' dancer would call herself. Honestly, what title does a professional dancer use on her resume when not employed at the latest Broadway fad to pass through town? Though many strippers are just strippers - they can't dance worth squat! - many have just as much right to call themselves professional dancers as any woman dancing in a theatre.
If you present yourself professionally enough, and don't end up getting a personal evaluation from some right-wing religious fanatic, then when the exact nature of your dancing becomes clear it shouldn't be a problem. On the other hand, lying on a resume gives an employer a retaliation-proof excuse to boot you out the door for any reason.
Good luck in 2007!
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
I would be honest. People in natural medicine tend to be fairly liberal. :-)
I would also play up the interpersonal parts of dancing - empathy, sympathy, understanding how different people work (just like people from different backgrounds have different ideas about lapdances or their sexuality, they have different ideas about healthcare) and tailoring your presentation to the client, that kind of thing.
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
Lie, and get someone to back you up. Surely you know someone who can provide a viable reference.
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
Perhaps you could research whether your club operates under an Inc.'ed name. Ask the bartender at your club what appears at the top of her paystub, it may or may not be what appears on the neon billboarded sign outside. You might feel more confident in listing the business you were employed by/ independently contracted for (depending on your situation) if it is inc'ed.
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
^ That's a fantastic suggestion!
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
self employed. promotions.
Re: What kind of half-truth have you used that's worked?
Glad to have helped. Hope it works out for you.