Will working at Hooters as a 0L ruin my chances? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am considering working at Hooters this summer before starting law school in the fall. I am very much in need of the money, and have exhausted all avenues of possible employment. Time is running out to find another job.

I am concerned, though, that working as a Hooters Girl, will hurt me when I begin looking for jobs as a 1L. Even though it is really not that scandalous, its reputation is not stellar. I could leave it off my resume, but if I have to fill out an application asking for job history(or something similar) I would have to list it.

How much would it hurt me?

[YCrevolution]

..

[Kilpatrick]

If you were forced to list it, couldn't you list it by another name. Waitress- HOA Inc Restaurants or something like that?

[MrKappus]

Edited 2x. Take the job, leave it off the resume, and tell people you waited tables. They won't ask where.

[thinkbig]

I bet you're hot. What's your bra size?

[Azmatt]

No. I wouldn't worry about it. I'm not exactly trying to be the guy pushing you to show off your naughty-bits, but just leave it off your resume. Plus, it's not something that you'll have to explain in regards to a gap in employment. I've had a friend who was a stripper and she had no issues with that affecting her, despite dancing for over 2 years.

P.S. Marry me.

[Bert]

If you were forced to list it, couldn't you list it by another name. Waitress- HOA Inc Restaurants or something like that?

I think Hooters proudly uses "Hooters" in its corporate name, and operates no non-Hooters businesses. <-- can anybody confirm this? My work computer won't let me go to hooters.com.

If you can get a Hooters gig, isn't there another nearby bar/restaurant that you could work at? Why is it Hooters or nothing?

[Anonymous User]

If you were forced to list it, couldn't you list it by another name. Waitress- HOA Inc Restaurants or something like that?

I think that could work, especially if it wasn't going to be my last job. HOWEVER, I imagine that they might call my last employer to verify with them, and the idea that they would call and someone would answer "thanks for calling hooters..." worries me.

I find it hard to believe that they wouldn't contact my last employer. However, I am a 0L and clueless. That is why I am asking.

Nobody cares what you did if it has no bearing on a lawyer's skill-set.

I think this is mostly true, but I am worried it will raise an eyebrow and hurt my chances. That is what I want to know about--will they care?


Thanks for the serious responses so far. This isn't something that is really google-able, and I don't have access to career services yet.

[pany1985]

I find it hard to believe that they wouldn't contact my last employer.

Believe it. You probably won't have to fill out anything for a 1L job that requires you list every job you've ever had (unless it's necessary for a background check/security clearance or something). I'd just leave it off the resume and if anyone asks what you were doing between the last listed job and law school, you can just say "Oh, I just worked as a waitress to earn some money during those last few months."

[Bert]

OP, I also have the following questions:

1 - are you going to law school directly out of undergrad? It seems like you are not because you are looking for "another job." What was your other job and when did you leave?

2 - see question in post above (why can't you just work at a Fridays or something less scantily clad).

3 - I doubt any law firm will ask for a complete employment history. They most likely only want relevant work history. The only time you would need entire employment history would probably be for the bar and for a government job, and I am sure that they have both seen worse than Hooters girl.

[Anonymous User]

OP, I also have the following questions:

1 - are you going to law school directly out of undergrad? It seems like you are not because you are looking for "another job." What was your other job and when did you leave?

2 - see question in post above (why can't you just work at a Fridays or something less scantily clad).

Yes, I am going directly out of undergrad. In fact, I technically graduate UG on move-in day to my LS apartment. Because I am not technically graduated, I can't use my degree really yet. Second, I have to take a class during part of the summer. This has made finding a job difficult as most places hiring right now are requiring open availability. I don't want to out my exact location, but unemployment is INCREDIBLY high here(one of the worst places in the country) so most jobs that I qualify for are taken by older people. Hooters is one place that older people aren't going to be working. It's also the only place I have even been mildly successful with.
I only have two months before school starts/I move to a different state, so I am running out of time to keep looking for other jobs.Trust me, I have attempted Fridays and basically every other place in existence. Having a lunchtime class for most of the summer is killing me.

I am comforted by the replies that say I most likely won't need a complete job history. I still think it is something legitimate to worry about. I appreciate the responses.

[quickquestionthanks]

I don't see the big deal. Isn't it a family establishment?


Just kidding. I understand. I would definitely have no hesitations about leaving it off your resume. Having gaps like that can often imply that you have enough money to go without working and it's been shown that employers prefer to hire people who don't appear to need the job.

Just say you traveled to India for the summer. Trust me, they won't check your passport.

[mazzini]

Before I got my job at Chippendales I felt the same way.

[quickquestionthanks]

If you can get a Hooters gig, isn't there another nearby bar/restaurant that you could work at? Why is it Hooters or nothing?

I know a girl who worked at a Hooters. They get ridiculous tips. 100% of the bill is not uncommon, it's the goal.

[jayn3]

semi unrelated but worth considering before you agree to work there....didn't hooters recently get sued for telling a girl to slim down from 5'8"/130ish?

found the link: http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2010/05/24/hoo ... imination/#

[clintonius]

Wait. So, your concern is this: you're already in the running, your prospective employer is conducting a background check, and... they find out you worked at Hooters? That vs. the candidate who researched who-the-fuck-cares-what at X university for the summer? You think this will *hurt* you?

[quickquestionthanks]

semi unrelated but worth considering before you agree to work there....didn't hooters recently get sued for telling a girl to slim down from 5'8"/130ish?

found the link: http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2010/05/24/hoo ... imination/#

Also something to consider...


My friend who worked for Hooters was approached about being part of a class action lawsuit against them because they were caught filming their employees while changing. Totally slipped my mind.

But I don't think it was a nationwide peeping tom campaign. I think just the Pasadena location. Check the ceiling panels in the restroom and you should be fine.

[Kobe_Teeth]

Anyone else notice that someone with a very similar amount of posts 4600-4800 ALWAYS posts anonymously in this thread?


I wish I could remember the other posts...maybe I'll go hunt them out....but I'm smelling flame...however discreet/subtle/not annoying....I sincerely doubt this post's legitimacy.

(EDIT: Soooooooo apparently I don't pay attention to post counts very often / at all)

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else notice that someone with a very similar amount of posts 4600-4800 ALWAYS posts anonymously in this thread?


I wish I could remember the other posts...maybe I'll go hunt them out....but I'm smelling flame...however discreet/subtle/not annoying....I sincerely doubt this post's legitimacy.

I agree, very suspicious.

[clintonius]

Oh my god. ALL OF THE ANONYMOUS USERS HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF POSTS.

[Kobe_Teeth]

for reals?

[clintonius]

YES.

OH MY GOD.

[Kobe_Teeth]

Oh son of a bitch! Just checked. My bad.

[quickquestionthanks]

Did that just really happen? Was that exchange real?

[Kobe_Teeth]

Yes it was. I seriously don't pay attention to usernames / post counts on here.