Employment Section on Applications

[mandak]

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I have never had a paying job in my undergrad, just lots of research assistant positions and volunteer clinical work. Do schools want that listed under employment sections? It seemed more geared to gauging financial information rather than experience, but I am not sure.

 

[mandak]

I have never had a paying job in my undergrad, just lots of research assistant positions and volunteer clinical work. Do schools want that listed under employment sections? It seemed more geared to gauging financial information rather than experience, but I am not sure.

I did work at as a hostess in high school and at a hardware store for 3 months my freshman year in college...would I include those? I am in my senior year right now, so it has been some time..

 

[CheetahGirl]

I have never had a paying job in my undergrad, just lots of research assistant positions and volunteer clinical work. Do schools want that listed under employment sections? It seemed more geared to gauging financial information rather than experience, but I am not sure.

Nope. They are asking about paid employment experience. Most students (at least in my experience) have been in the paid workforce since high school (part-time jobs, summer jobs, evening jobs). I worked at a flower shop from high school through college, and then also waited tables in college. Not because I needed to financially, but I wanted to have my own money to do what I pleased rather than always asking Mom & Dad.

There's a lot going into your overall picture as a applicant (are you applying to doctoral or masters programs??). Being in the workforce prior to graduate schools is always a good thing...IMO...adds to your maturity level and helps you deal with clients all that much more once you can empathize with what is like to be responsible for your food, heat, water, gas, roof over your head, transportation, etc.

Consider yourself lucky, mandak. Now, you'll have to figure out how to make it work in your favor rather than against you.

I did work at as a hostess in high school and at a hardware store for 3 months my freshman year in college...would I include those? I am in my senior year right now, so it has been some time..

Edit: GREAT! List it.

 

[mandak]

Nope. They are asking about paid employment experience. Most students (at least in my experience) have been in the paid workforce since high school (part-time jobs, summer jobs, evening jobs). I worked at a flower shop from high school through college, and then waited tables in college. Not because I needed to financially, but I wanted to have my own money to do what I pleased rather than always asking Mom & Dad.

There's a lot going into your overall picture as a applicant (are you applying to doctoral or masters programs). Being in the workforce prior to graduate schools is always a good thing...IMO...adds to your maturity level and helps you deal with clients all that much more once you can empathy with what is like to be responsible for your food, heat, water, gas, roof over your head, etc.



Edit: GREAT! List it.

Consider yourself lucky, mandak. Now, you'll have to figure out how to make it work in your favor rather than against you.

why would it work against me?

 

[WisNeuro]

Anything that was a few months or less, I wouldn't bother listing. Makes it look like you can't commit to things. People want to see long histories. Gives the impression that you're reliable.

 

[CheetahGirl]

Add those jobs. At first, it seemed a little 'entitled' when you initially said "no work experience," (using the term loosely...because I do not know you or your background). Remember doctoral training in this field is far from just academic. Real world experience is always helpful.

Good luck!

Edit: I somewhat disagree with WisNeuro...because of my abovementioned point. Reliability in your work experiences is very important, but work experience outweighs no work experience IMO. Plus summer jobs are only 3-4 months, if it was in fact a summer job.

 

[mandak]

I work in two research labs, each 15 hours a week and throughout each summer. So that plus full time classes the past 4 years, I would have no time to work. I don't that is any form of entitlement at all. I don't think it is fair of admissions to gauge "real world experience" from a McDonalds, when my research hours are all acquired from assessments with participants.

 

[CheetahGirl]

Oh...don't take offense....that's why I said I used the term loosely. And don't be like that Jeb Bush and discount working in McDonalds...it all shows strength of character to do any form of paid work (McDonald's, included). Yes, but admissions committees are not necessarily "fair" and one may love your tenancity and focus on your career goals, while another may say..."This kid doesn't know what the real world is like (i.e., even working at McD's)...how is this applicant going to treat someone who just lost her food-service job, single-parent, multiple children, who is now spending her spare money from prostituting on crack???" And you are the one who is required in your externship placement to treat her depressive sxs, anxiety and substance use problems. Programs want to know, going in, that you have what it takes...is all I'm sayin'

And remember working paid jobs...no matter how menial are not menial at all if they taught you something...anything.

That's why I said...consider yourself lucky. Medical school may not give as much weight to real world experience as clinical psychology doctoral programs, IMO. Most medical doctors I know dedicated all their spare time in labs while undergrads (my dad included - he thought it was BS when I wanted to work in college & used to lecture me about NOT being in a lab working, but I'm glad I did. Taught me a lot about life that I even use now).

 

[WisNeuro]

People will read it both ways. Some people like to see that someone worked through high school and college. Some don't care. As long as the rest of your application is solid, I wouldn't worry too much about it. As far as fairness is involved, such is the way of life. Just something we all have to deal with from time to time.

 

[mandak]

Oh...don't take offense....that's why I said I used the term loosely. And don't be like that Jeb Bush and discount working in McDonalds...it all shows strength of character to do any form of paid work (McDonald's, included). Yes, but admissions committees are not necessarily "fair" and one may love your tenancity and focus on your career goals, while another may say...this kid doesn't know what the real world is like...how are they going to treat someone who just lost her food-service job, single-parent, multiple children, who is now spending her spare money from prostituting on crack...and you are required in your externship placement to treat her depressive sxs, anxiety and substance use problems?" Programs want to know, going it that you have what it takes...is all I'm sayin'

...And working paid jobs...no matter how menial are not menial at all if they taught you something...anything.

Yeah I just hope they look at my CV and what I do in my labs. Because I work with populations that definitely prepare me for that scenario you listed. I just feel like saying "oh I did all this cool stuff with research and clinical work oh and by the way here's this hardware store I mopped floors at for three months" would hurt me more than help me. But I guess you're right, any experience teaches something.

 

[bcliff]

I think I added my RA and applied experience on my applications, if it asked for salary information I'd write in "intern" if it allowed text, or $0 if it only allowed numbers. I worked as a server and in retail during high school and the first two years of undergrad, and I didn't add it to my apps, or have it on my CV.

 

[CheetahGirl]

by the way here's this hardware store I mopped floors at for three months" would hurt me more than help me.

THIS...will never hurt you. Actually, makes me like you even more.

It is all character-building. Just weigh it from a different, new perspective now. You are the sum of your experiences...not just one part of one experience (i.e., great student, great student researcher).

 

[CheetahGirl]

I worked as a server and in retail during high school and the first two years of undergrad, and I didn't add it to my apps, or have it on my CV.

Did anyone ever ask you about it in interviews? Or if you never put it anywhere, did anyone ever know that you had any sort of non-psychology related work experience...and the big question is...Did you apply straight out of undergrad?

This is why I think it is more important of some folks rather than others (Not so much the 28-yo applicant).

Perhaps, my opinion on this does not fly with others, but I'm just thinking along the lines of maturity level....and paid work experience, does not guarantee maturity (for sure) but the experiences of dealing with other co-workers, dealing with a trade, customer service (if you don't work in a factory), etc. may go a long way for some undergrads who are up against career-changing, few-years-out-of-undergrad, >23 yo adult applicants.

 

[bcliff]

Did anyone ever ask you about it in interviews? Or if you never put it anywhere, did anyone ever know that you had any sort of non-psychology related work experience...and the big questions...Did you apply straight out of undergrad?

This is why I think it is more important of some folks rather than others (Not so much the 28-yo applicant).

Perhaps, my opinion on this does not fly with others, but I'm just thinking along the lines of maturity level....and paid work experience, does not guarantee maturity (FOR SURE) but the experiences of dealing with other co-workers, dealing with the trade, customer service (if you don't work in a factory), etc. may go a long way for some undergrads who are up against career-changing, few-years-out-of-undergrad, >23 yo adult applicants.

I had ~3 years between undergrad and my applications, and I had been employed full time (as an RA) during that time (& half time as a paid RA in the last two years of UG). I've discussed my experience as a server casually with faculty and other students - I still think it's the most acutely stressful (& physically exhausting) job I've ever had. I don't think discussing it in my apps or interviews explicitly would have gotten me any interviews I didn't already get, but I guess there's no way to know for sure.

 

[CheetahGirl]

I had been employed full time (as an RA) during that time (& half time as a paid RA in the last two years of UG). I've discussed my experience as a server casually with faculty and other students - I still think it's the most acutely stressful (& physically exhausting) job I've ever had.

Yup. Well, straight out of undergrad has its own challenges....frankly, I would not have gotten into a program straight out of undergrad. I needed extra time to grow up. So I'm definitely viewing this from the other side of the rainbow.

 

[bcliff]

Yup. Well, straight out of undergrad has it's own challenges....frankly, I would not have gotten into a program straight out of undergrad. I needed extra time to grow up. So I'm definitely viewing this from the other side of the rainbow.

I agree, if I had applied straight out of undergrad, I would not have been prepared for interviews, let alone graduate school.