How well respected is Chess as a hobby?

Was very competitive at it as a kid (below 10) and then stopped. I still enjoy playing but I'm in this weird in-between where I can easily beat bad players, but I stand no chance against people that play frequently.

I think it's a cool thing to have in your interest section on your CV, though for don't only speak about that as it may make you come across as super nerdy.

You're about 1,000% more likely to connect with someone in banking over a sport or active hobby than over chess.

Unless they bring it up first during interviews/coffee by saying, "Oh you play chess? I do too," I wouldn't proactively talk about chess and how you think it'll help you in your finance game.

It's definitely one of the sweatiest sounding hobbies.

My guess is that not too many investment bankers play chess. I do not think it would be a negative, though. I played when I was young but never took it all that seriously. i had a friend who played a lot as a kid and ended up making a business out of it.

Was curious about this as well. My parents forced me to play the game growing up. On top of joining a plethora of clubs, I had private lessons as well on a weekly basis. I competed in most regional tournaments and a couple state tournaments up until the age of 12, so it definitely helped shape my identity growing up. While I was never on a GM path, I was damn good and would - likely - beat anyone that doesn't consider themself a "serious"-enough chess player, even to this day. I retained the game pretty well.

Unfortunately since then, I haven't been able to play as much. I have the Chess.com app and play games frequently with randos, but I don't have anyone in my network to play with for fun.

I would say it's as impressive as being good in monopoly.

Holy sh** kids. Just enjoy your hobbies. Try to design them for leverage in networking or career advancement and you'll die a sad, unfulfilled person. People will be more engaged and interested in something you're passionate about than they will be by the simple fact that you do something superficially in the same vein as something they also happen to like.

Next, someone please rate the prestige of my preferred flavored sparking water brands. I've been going La Croix, but worry about brand dilution from the "faux French" factor. I think switching to Spindrift might really accelerate my exit ops in dried fruit snacks. Thx.

I’m at what some view as one of the nerdier banks but off the top of my head can think of a bunch of guys who play chess in down time at the office. (Through computer against other analysts) Unsure about the ladies or senior levels but I would estimate a solid 15-20% of male analysts at my bank play a bit.

And which bank could this be?

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I was interviewing a prospect SA with a senior associate, the prospect had chess on their resume, the senior associate laughed and said “take that sh*t off your resume.” I didn’t think it was that bad but oh well

I have chess on my resume and play it all the time. It's helped

Just out of curiosity as I could use your help. I'm a final year bachelor and will start my 2-year Master in the fall. Studying at a really well regarded business school in my country, but I've botched up all my interviews for internships and I've only been doing part-time at a prop-trading firm and my BSc GPA is kind of shitty. I've still managed to get a few interviews partly due to my accomplishments with chess, though.

Now my question is, if I want to do banking, am I absolutely screwed with no relevant internships (might still have time to do 1-2 during Masters if I get it together). Or can I get FT offers after Master's if a get good GPA's in my MSc? Or is it just time to lick my MD-chessfriends feet? Thanks for your feedback?

Anyone want to get a WSO chess group going? We could even play each other kind of like the one for poker

Lotta people will have kids that play chess, competitively and otherwise. If you play, love it and can talk to it, definitely put as an interest and see if someone picks it up. You could use it as a response to "so what do you do in your spare time,"... "I really enjoy chess and played competitively as a student, have been working my game lately." I think anything that displays passion and interests outside of work/school that shows your enthusiasm and personality is great. If it brings a smile to your face, confidence and an upbeat tone to your voice that attracts people to listen and engage, that's what you're going for. So maybe it's not a specific interest pointing to trading, but more of a solid intellectual yet fun pursuit. If someone's kid plays, be very generous. Ask questions, show enthusiasm, suggest the app you use for the child to try. Anything you can give of yourself is great. People remember that.

You shouldn't pick up something because it's impressive, you should pick it up because you like it.

That being said, I have never met a chess player who I thought was stupid.

Peter Thiel use to be top 10 in the country in his age group. Then went to Stanford Law. Then started some company called Paypal.

I think Luke McShane is no longer a trader and moved back to chess. Seen him playing top level chess quite recently. I played chess for about 9-10 years and have a Fide Master title and when I tell someone that I have it, people are usually impressed and view it as a positive/intelectual ability thing.

Just to add my personal experience, I have listed Chess as an interest on my resume since I applied for internships back in school. Not once has it been brought up in an interview.

I also have Bourbon on there. That's gotten a lot more action.

Anyone else find it awkward that the rating are abbreviated with "k" instead of spelling out 1500?

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Poker > chess

chess is great - poker is great - triathlon is great - etc... If someone did it themselves they'll pick it up and you can chat about it in your interview. Only some insecure idiot would look down at your hobbies.

I had salsa dancing when I was younger for my first bb job (removed it since) - but one of the guy chuckled at it and liked it, he never salsa danced but he asked me about it, I still ended up with the job. (I only had the dancing thing because my ex had me take a bunch of classes so that I could dance with her as she was a professional, long story but the MD liked it).

As you grow in your career people don't really care as much at your interests and those get asked about a lot less. When you are young - the only thing that sets you apart is your interests - the 4.0 GPA the two internships at GS then blackstone are expected.

unless you compete in tournaments or run some sort of organization relating to it, keep chess off the resume.

Honestly, why does it matter if it is respected or if it is not? Sometimes it feels like people in this forum just want affirmation for anything they want do in life.

If you like something, just freaking do it, man. Not every single thing you do your your life has to be approved by others.

I have fine cheeses as an interest on mine.

I was asked about it in an interview after a bunch of grueling technicals. And not jokingly; they asked me to tell them about some good cheeses. So I walked them through my ideal cheese plate (I do v much like cheese).

Got the job.

Takeaway: put it on if you truly are interested, otherwise don't; people will ask you about it. Also, quants are weird.

I have it on my resume it comes up once in a while in conversation at work or when I was interviewing. I used to compete in tournaments when I was younger but towards high school stopped playing in the tourneys. I usually have a favorite opening in my head if they ask me about it. People who like it will talk about it more. Like you, I am playing on Chess.com and playing more now with everything going on. It is staying on my resume since I think it shows a strategic and analytical mindset.

1500 on chess.com is inaccurate. You probably have around 1200, don't play around