Gap year employment question

[asdf123g]

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How important is it to work something clinical? Obviously clinical (scribe, pharmtech, etc) is always a plus. However, I want to know would it sink your application if you did something random like...bag groceries during your time off?

 

[TopTomato]

I doubt it would "sink" you application if you bagged groceries. But anything clinical obviously is better. Not only does a clinical job give you real world clinical experience but it'll also put you in contact with doctors that you could ask to shadow or write you LoRs

 

[AlteredScale]

How important is it to work something clinical? Obviously clinical (scribe, pharmtech, etc) is always a plus. However, I want to know would it sink your application if you did something random like...bag groceries during your time off?

It's always the better choice to pick the clinical if it works out. If it doesn't then just do the other job. You gotta do what you gotta do to make money. I worked at Starbucks and learned a lot from it that I took to my application.

 

[PlaqueBuster]

Like others have mentioned, if you are stuck with only bagging groceries make sure you are also volunteering or shadowing once a week so that you have some connection with the clinical world and can get LOR.

 

[LuluMed]

I work a completely unrelated job, but it's giving me the chance to relax before classes start in the summer which is great. I would suggest doing a clinically related job if you have a low number of shadowing hours and/or clinically related experiences. I had some 400+ hours of clinical exposure after I graduated, and have had no questions during my interviews about why I am not doing a clinical job.

 

[sameharu1991]

i worked in research administration at a hospital that looked at contracts/finance/billing aspects of clinical research. it's not really clinically related job, but i think i got a good picture of the other side of medicine. i also worked at an ice cream store part time 🙂

but on that note - if you can always find something medical/clinical related to do like volunteering/shadowing on the side of bagging groceries and make those experiences worth telling in your essays/interview.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

My biggest regret of my gaps years was not getting a cooler job haha. I was between working for a local brewery (as a microbiologist/brewer) or doing research at a med school. Obviously research looks better on the app so I took that, but dangit I would kill to work for a brewery at least once in my life.

Pick something you love, that you can be passionate about, and that gives you good money.

 

[AlteredScale]

My biggest regret of my gaps years was not getting a cooler job haha. I was between working for a local brewery (as a microbiologist/brewer) or doing research at a med school. Obviously research looks better on the app so I took that, but dangit I would kill to work for a brewery at least once in my life.

Pick something you love, that you can be passionate about, and that gives you good money.

I'm super jealous about that brewery job dude.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

I'm super jealous about that brewery job dude.

I have gone on a couple brew tours there and with glossy eyes I think "that could have been me..."

Haha jk, its all good. My job is solid, and especially if its only for a single gap year, just do whatever brings in the most money.

 

[AlteredScale]

I have gone on a couple brew tours there and with glossy eyes I think "that could have been me..."

Haha jk, its all good. My job is solid, and especially if its only for a single gap year, just do whatever brings in the most money.

Same here. Though I've seemed to endlessly transition from job to job this gap year. Perhaps my newly found pickiness is because I know it's all temporary work haha.

 

[asdf123g]

@Awesome Sauceome :how long is your commute to work??

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

@Awesome Sauceome :how long is your commute to work??

I live roughly 2.5 miles from my work. When its above 50 I walk or bike.

 

[Major]

Might as well kill 2 birds with one stone

 

[polylux]

You can have your cake and eat it too. I work at a dermatology practice part time as an MA currently and fill in extra hours working at a rock climbing gym.

 

[asdf123g]

@polylux whats your commute like??

 

[polylux]

Depends. Our derm practice is very large, so I bounce between locations. Commute is anywhere from 10 min to 30 min, give or take some for traffic/weather. The rock climbing gym is about 15 min away.

 

[PIacebo]

Only do if your app is lacking. Otherwise make the most money you can that year!