Works skills in a political party, put on a CV?

mikemac

Would it be a good thing to put on a CV?

I was involved in a youth wing a party in college and got elected to a senior position on it.
Gave presentations, chaired debates, organized drinking sessions meetings and the odd bit of canvassing.
Having doors slammed in your face and visiting scary flat complexes in the dark evenings definitly toughened me up

I’m not been involved in the main party but maybe I’ll do that some day.
Is that worth putting on a CV? Like it helped me be more better in public speaking which I was struggled with and gave me confidence in general

But then the natural question an interviewer might ask me is which party and then that’s leaving myself open to be rejected in an interview.

Sure could I tell the skills and stuff I learned in an interview but refuse to tell which party? Was Fine Gael btw so nothing mad like communist party or anything

Xiney

Put it in your CV, and if asked at interview say "It's a mainstream party, but I'd rather not say which, since discussing politics at work is a sure-fire way to cause an argument."

It's professional and still lets you include the valuable experience earned.

Gone West

Refusing to say which party it is, is bad advice IMO.
Either man up and say you're a FG'er or don't include it at all.
If you don't say which, they will think the worst (socialist workers lolcats party or SF) and you definitely won't get the job!

I'd say about half of all people who sit on interview panels or look at cvs would side with FG. Quick and dirty, rough guesstimation based on opinion polls with a weight for the demographic in question. Know that maybe 4 people will see your cv, so theres a decent chance that someone won't like FG.

Just a few thoughts to consider.
best of luck.

AARRRGH

What type of jobs are you applying for?

dazberry

I had done a small bit of work for the green party when I was a student (it was a paid job - not something done thru' political conviction), and while I had it on my CV in every interview I was questioned on it and my policitial views. So as soon as I had enough experience - it got dropped off.

Have 2 CVs, one with and one without, and use it when you think its to your advantage.

D.

AARRRGH

Yeah, I developed and ran the website for the "Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign". I used to have this on my CV.

I remember going for a job in Fine Gael. When the interviewer (Fine Gael's Chairman?) saw that on my CV his mouth dropped open and he blurted "but the bombs?!" and then sat there silently for the rest of the interview (which was cut short a few minutes later.)

Moral of the story - you have no idea what kind of moron is going to be interviewing you, so it's probably safest to keep anything "controversial" off your CV!

Serafijn

I'm sure they legally aren't allowed to ask about political views in an interview as it has nothing to do with your ability to do the job. Same way they can't ask if you're married, gay or whatever.

Unfortunately a lot of interviewers don't know this and will ask anyway. I think Xiney has some good advice - don't be cagey about it but just say plainly that you'd prefer not to name the party.

Eoin

Serafijn wrote: »

Unfortunately a lot of interviewers don't know this and will ask anyway. I think Xiney has some good advice - don't be cagey about it but just say plainly that you'd prefer not to name the party.

I'd just be worried that they might think the OP is a 'Ra head.

mikemac

Thanks for advice all, I'll follow the advice in post 2

I can imagine telling my prospective employer I was a communist and looking forward to the day when workers would unite and rise up against their capitalist overlords!
Not sure the employer would be impressed :pac:

AARRRGH

Is the experience relevant though? Like, if you're going for an IT job, there's no need for it, so it might be less risky to just leave it off your CV altogether.

mikemac

Fair point, don't work in IT though
It may be safter to leave off. It's a competancy interview and I've hardly any other examples though. You know: "Give me a example where you lead and persuaded a group.........."

Do you mind me asking were you formerly Dublindude? Used to see you giving lots of advice in this forum

AARRRGH

Yep, I'm dublindude

My experience having political stuff on my CV worked against me, so I'm probably a bit overly cautious now.

I suppose if your CV is light it might be worth putting it in there, I think it's risky though. But hey, your interviewer could be a member of that political party, so it could work out perfectly.

mikemac

AARRRGH wrote: »

But hey, your interviewer could be a member of that political party, so it could work out perfectly.

Sorry, that's Fianna Fail members that look after each other and give "jobs for the boys"

Doesn't apply to me

Eoin

micmclo wrote: »

Sorry, that's Fianna Fail members that look after each other and give "jobs for the boys"

Maybe, but:

micmclo wrote:

Give me a example where you lead and persuaded a group.........."

Not exactly where FG excel either though, is it!

CSC

I personally would not include any references to a politcal party on my CV. I know members of FG and FF who are still stuck in civil war politics mode and would not hire someone from the opposing party.

Pythia

micmclo wrote: »

Was Fine Gael btw so nothing mad like communist party or anything

I was chair of a YFG branch. I've talked about it lots in interviews and it's only helped.

Dave!

I'd put it on as it does sound like great experience. It would be poor form for the interviewer to ask what party you worked for tbh. It's not relevent, only the skills you used are. Dunno if they'd need to verify it however (reference?), in which case you might have to tell them eventually.

I'd certainly leave it on, depending on how much other experience you have.

Eoin

Dave! wrote: »

It would be poor form for the interviewer to ask what party you worked for

If you want to use it on your CV, then you lose some of your right to complain about them asking what party it was for.

Also, someone could quite easily ask without thinking if it's appropriate.

AARRRGH

eoin_s wrote: »

If you want to use it on your CV, then you lose some of your right to complain about them asking what party it was for.

Also, someone could quite easily ask without thinking if it's appropriate.

I agree completely. If someone puts something on their CV, I assume they want to talk about it.