# Are there organizations/ideals you support but wouldn't want on your resume? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 23, 2016, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689 "2016-07-23T17:13:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/1 "2016-07-23T17:13:13Z")
I’m starting a job hunt and in my searches I’ve found a couple of organizations whose mission I strongly support and who have jobs that I would probably enjoy. But at the same time, they are highly political and politicized and I’m not sure I want either to step into such a charged environment or that I want to have my ideology be (or at least appear to be) so much on display. Are there organizations you support but wouldn’t want to publicly endorse, or wouldn’t want to work for, or otherwise wouldn’t want to be deeply associated with in other people’s minds for whatever reason? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/2 "2016-07-23T17:26:44Z")
Possibly Planned Parenthood. ETA: Possibly in that having them on my resume might be a drag on getting a job with some companies. I definitely support abortion right. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/3 "2016-07-23T17:40:09Z")
I faced this issue with my 2L summer job. I took the plunge, and have never regretted it even when explaining/defending the work to skeptical interviewers in more small-c conservative settings. Once I broke the seal, then I figured I could work anywhere and it wouldn’t much matter. I was never gonna be a federal judge after that first one! And you never know where politics might go in 10 years. Stuff that was controversial in 2004–working for Lamda Legal or NORML–now seems pretty mainstream and tame. Conversely, national security work for John Yoo seemed like a safe and conservative choice in 2004. Now, I suspect that’s a much more radioactive resume item. Planned Parenthood or Muslim Advocates seems like a scarlet letter in 2016, but 2026? Maybe not. Who knows. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/4 "2016-07-23T17:58:05Z")
There are a number of environmental groups that–while I wouldn’t say I fully support them–I have some respect for just because they keep regulators on their toes. But I’d only seek employment with these organizations if I was at the tail end of my career, with no intention of working for government again. Governments don’t like hiring activist-types. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/5 "2016-07-23T18:50:26Z")
I spent a number of years leading substance abuse groups, despite not having a history of substance abuse myself. During an interview, a helpful HR rep told me that it probably wasn’t a great idea to include that time on a resume designed for jobs that were outside the SA realm (though I could mention it during an interview, where it could be qualified). Apparently the first place HR people go in their heads is “person with an issue, who may or may not relapse while working for us—risky!” I pulled it off my resume. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/6 "2016-07-23T18:55:41Z")
Yes, all of them. I do not support the kinds of causes that corporate HR executives adulate. Almost by definition. ---
**Author:** ![Chihuahua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/7 "2016-07-23T19:12:48Z")
Just my AO3 material. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/8 "2016-07-23T21:23:44Z")
I support Taiwan independence, but having one of those groups on the resume would be a problem if I ever want a job in China or a “blue” (anti-independence) company job in Taiwan. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/9 "2016-07-23T22:41:43Z")
Oh goodness yes. I won’t even list them just in case. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/10 "2016-07-24T00:32:55Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/11 "2016-07-24T00:45:40Z")
I am a member of the Richard III society, which is to say I pay dues so I can get the newsletter. No, I don’t think he did it. Are there a lot of crackpots in the society who are essentially conspiracy theorists? yes. But fortunately, this is not the sort of this one puts on a resume anyway. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/12 "2016-07-24T00:49:32Z")
Given that for nearly all “sides” these days the concept of “lets agree to disagree” has gone the way of the dodo, I’d be afraid to put anything on resume’ Shit, listing BBQing as hobby would probably get you in deep shit if you were vinegar based and the boss though mustard based was the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/13 "2016-07-24T01:03:31Z")
The NMLRA (National Muzzle-Loading Rifle Association) mostly because people equate it to the NRA which is an organization I do not belong to or really agree with. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/14 "2016-07-24T02:36:38Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Possibly Planned Parenthood. > ETA: Possibly in that having them on my resume might be a drag on getting a job with some companies. I definitely support abortion right. The Fortune 500 loves Planned Parenthood and showers them with money. A conservative Christian group on your resume would be far more likely to cost you a corporate job. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/15 "2016-07-24T03:37:34Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > The Fortune 500 loves Planned Parenthood and showers them with money. > > A conservative Christian group on your resume would be far more likely to cost you a corporate job. I hthink it really depends on the interviewer. I am much more liberal than most of my neighbors and business peers. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/16 "2016-08-01T01:33:33Z")
I interned for NORML one summer during law school. It did not go on the resume. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/17 "2016-08-01T01:39:58Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > The Fortune 500 loves Planned Parenthood and showers them with money. > > A conservative Christian group on your resume would be far more likely to cost you a corporate job. I’d think that any organization associated with a political issue could only hurt you in the private sector. Although in the legal profession the conventional wisdom is to include political work if the omission will result in a resume gap, lack of experience, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/18 "2016-08-01T06:07:34Z")
I don’t include my gaming history and clans in my resume. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/19 "2016-08-02T19:36:08Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I don’t include my gaming history and clans in my resume. I don’t include the hours playing Scrabble or Trivial Pursuit on my resume either. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-organizations-ideals-you-support-but-wouldnt-want-on-your-resume/760689/20 "2016-08-02T19:37:05Z")
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