Getting rejected by jobs during gap year

[eyebrowdoc]

WTF! getting rejected from all these hospital receptionist positions and other companies. I graduated w/ honors in a top public university with 3.66 and don't even get a interview. all jobs like 2 years experience for entry level positions. How am I suppose to have all these experiences when I was busy studying and volunteering. Apparently volunteering don't mean anything when getting jobs 😡

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[yehhhboiii]

welcome to the real world where no one cares about school name or gpa. they just care about if you have relevant experience and that you work hard

 

[eyebrowdoc]

welcome to the real world where no one cares about school name or gpa. they just care about if you work hard and well

doesnt my gpa show that tho?

 

[Planes2Doc]

Because they likely don't want someone with a high GPA and all this stuff that shows that they want to go to medical school. They likely want someone who won't quit once they get an acceptance to medical school. Some people do have ambitions of working as a secretary, tech, phlebotomist, and other positions as a CAREER. Therefore I wouldn't take it personally.

Through the whole song and dance pre-meds put on for ADCOMs, they fail to realize that some people see these entry level jobs as actual careers. A great example are the daytime TV ads with people getting super excited about medical assisting. I don't think employers were established to cater to pre-med needs either. So look elsewhere in that case.

 

[yehhhboiii]

doesntmwey gpa show that tho?

well it shows that you can do well in class but it doesn't say much about how well you work. also the job market is bad with a lot of people looking for work so the idiots at hr ask for unnecessary qualifications.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Experience trumps education in most of the real world.

 

[StephanieZ]

OP that sucks but its life. Have you tried getting CNA certified? Depending on the area, CNAs/techs/sitters can be in high demand and they usually will take people without experience. Alit if nursing students fill these positions so they're used to hiring students who they know won't be able to commit long term.

 

[487806]

Experience trumps education in most of the real world.

This is a very crucial point here and the precise reason why college degrees are worthless (except in comp sci, engineering, business and of the sort).

 

[lovemango]

WTF! getting rejected from all these hospital receptionist positions and other companies. I graduated w/ honors in a top public university with 3.66 and don't even get a interview. all jobs like 2 years experience for entry level positions. How am I suppose to have all these experiences when I was busy studying and volunteering. Apparently volunteering don't mean anything when getting jobs 😡

That was my problem as well during my gap year - are there any scribe jobs in your area? Being a scribe was great experience for me, and the company I worked for didn't require any experience. You just needed to be pre-health professional and be able to type a min WPM.

You can also get a CNA certification in about 6 weeks and look for PCT/CNA jobs that way.

 

[ZezKaiEll]

OP that sucks but its life. Have you tried getting CNA certified? Depending on the area, CNAs/techs/sitters can be in high demand and they usually will take people without experience. Alit if nursing students fill these positions so they're used to hiring students who they know won't be able to commit long term.

+1. I encountered this while volunteering in a few places.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Please tell me your major wasn't biology...

 

[cyaneidae]

Please tell me your major wasn't biology...

Is there a problem with bio as a major and getting a gap year job? That might explain my own predicament if so, because I'm having the same problem as the OP (although I have gotten a couple of interviews)...

I would love an answer to OP's problem too, although at this point I'm thinking I'll end up in a completely non-research/non-medical job because neither (of medicine and research) are panning out (no scribe company nearby, no research lab has offered me a job...).

 

[doritos4lyfe]

Idk it could take a while. I started applying during the school yr and it took me four months to find something.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Is there a problem with bio as a major and getting a gap year job? That might explain my own predicament if so, because I'm having the same problem as the OP (although I have gotten a couple of interviews)...

I would love an answer to OP's problem too, although at this point I'm thinking I'll end up in a completely non-research/non-medical job because neither (of medicine and research) are panning out (no scribe company nearby, no research lab has offered me a job...).

In my experience (anecdotal and talking to professors), the job market isn't as forgiving for biology majors when compared to some of the other more specialized sciences. I graduated from a school with strictly science majors, and it is glaringly apparent that my bio friends are having trouble finding jobs while my friends in pharmacology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics, and the like had jobs lined up before they graduated or shortly thereafter.

 

[cyaneidae]

The job market isn't as forgiving for biology majors when compared to some of the other more specialized sciences. I graduated from a school with strictly science majors, and it is glaringly apparent that my bio friends are having trouble finding jobs while my friends in pharmacology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics, and the like had jobs lined up before they graduated or shortly thereafter.

Sigh. =( The thing is, I wouldn't have majored in any other science (and at my school the only other options were biochem, chem and physics) even if I'd known that--bio's my passion and favorite and I would've hated my life majoring in anything else.

It should be just for one year tho--I'm applying this year and if I can get into medical school it won't matter I had so much trouble finding a gap year job.

My only problem with the whole thing, really (besides my quickly decreasing bank account), is all the secondaries asking what I'm doing now that I've graduated--I'd really rather not have to write "still searching for a job." =/

 

[Doctor Strange]

Sigh. =( The thing is, I wouldn't have majored in any other science (and at my school the only other options were biochem, chem and physics) even if I'd known that--bio's my passion and favorite and I would've hated my life majoring in anything else.

It should be just for one year tho--I'm applying this year and if I can get into medical school it won't matter I had so much trouble finding a gap year job.

My only problem with the whole thing, really (besides my quickly decreasing bank account), is all the secondaries asking what I'm doing now that I've graduated--I'd really rather not have to write "still searching for a job." =/

It's also a little difficult to find a job for just a year, because most employers would want more of a commitment.

 

[inycepoo]

Sadly, this is what premeds face when they spend their college careers prepping for med school and doing little of anything else. This is understandable given their academic rigor, personal circumstances, etc. Too many focus all their energy on being preprofessional and HR can easily see through that and think that they have "no skills" (i.e., the skills they want, as we're all skilled at something). If more premeds went out and got non-medical work experience through internships or the like throughout college, we'd have a better advantage in the regular job market. Alas...

Much condolences, man.

 

[cyaneidae]

It's also a little difficult to find a job for just a year, because most employers would want more of a commitment.

Oh I completely agree. It's frustrating though because I worked for 2yrs in a med school bench research lab and yet can't even seem to snag *one* offer from over 55 research lab positions throughout the Chicago area. >:/

A friend and I have come to the conclusion that many research lab tech positions are being taken by people with masters degrees, or people who went there for undergrad. Because it's just boggling both of us can't find a research tech job after years of experience.

 

[cyaneidae]

Sadly, this is what premeds face when they spend their college careers prepping for med school and doing little of anything else. This is understandable given their academic rigor, personal circumstances, etc. Too many focus all their energy on being preprofessional and HR can easily see through that and think that they have "no skills" (i.e., the skills they want, as we're all skilled at something). If more premeds went out and got non-medical work experience through internships or the like throughout college, we'd have a better advantage in the regular job market. Alas...

Much condolences, man.

The thing is, I worked a full summer (and had 40hr weeks) in a medical clinic as an intern (every front office task you could possibly imagine--phones, fax, forms, charts, data entry, convos with doctors, etc) and have two years bench research experience *and* I'm looking for jobs in Chicago (which has a number of great universities with open jobs).

I have administrative experience, research experience, and a BS degree--and just can't get a job in the sciences. It's beyond frustrating. =( I appreciate the kind thoughts, though.

 

[Doctor Strange]

The thing is, I worked a full summer (and 40hr weeks) in a medical clinic as an intern (every front office task you could possibly imagine) and have two years bench research experience *and* I'm looking for jobs in the Chicago area.

I have administrative experience, research experience, and a BS degree and just can't get a degree in the sciences. It's beyond frustrating. =( I appreciate the kind thoughts, though.

Hm. Are all your skills outlined clearly in your resume? Perhaps take a trip to career services at your school and have them take a look or offer tips.

 

[cyaneidae]

Hm. Are all your skills outlined clearly in your resume? Perhaps take a trip to career services at your school and have them take a look or offer tips.

I think so (got two research lab tech interviews a month ago) but maybe not...I'll email my career center my resume and ask for their opinion.

Thanks for the thoughts; sorry to the OP for hijacking your thread! Just in a similar place and the thread brought up my own anger about the job market...

 

[circulus vitios]

I thought medical students and doctors were martyrs because "all of their friends are making $100k/year and taking vacations and having families in their 20s." Huh, I guess the real world really does suck.

 

[Postictal Raiden]

I thought medical students and doctors were martyrs because "all of their friends are making $100k/year and taking vacations and having families in their 20s." Huh, I guess the real world really does suck.

My thought exactly.

It took me more than 3 weeks of active searching and applying to land a lab assistant job that pays $10/hr while working a graveyard shift. All of the other jobs I applied to required at least 1 year of non academic experience.

Thanks God, this week I was fortunate to find a better laboratory job with a much better pay.

 

[inycepoo]

I thought medical students and doctors were martyrs because "all of their friends are making $100k/year and taking vacations and having families in their 20s." Huh, I guess the real world really does suck.

Wait, I don't see how this contradicts the general gist ITT. "All of their friends" surely refer to those not in the medical field and are thus making decent money in their 20s. Here we have premeds saying they can't find jobs because they lack "skills" that the aforementioned other population has.

Isn't this consistent with the idea that OP and others are the "martyrs" because they have difficulties finding a job in the interim of med school and a better job in the long run?

 

[StephanieZ]

Wait, I don't see how this contradicts the general gist ITT. "All of their friends" surely refer to those not in the medical field and are thus making decent money in their 20s. Here we have premeds saying they can't find jobs because they lack "skills" that the aforementioned other population has.

Isn't this consistent with the idea that OP and others are the "martyrs" because they have difficulties finding a job in the interim of med school and a better job in the long run?

This is what I was thinking. I see people I knew in high school who frankly were never the brightest working as pharmacy techs, LPNs, CPAs, etc., making more money than me and starting their lives with (and here's the clincher) the understanding that these mid-level vocational school type jobs will be their careers for the forseeable future. It sucks on my end right now, but it's not martyrdom so much as it is delayed gratification.

 

[inycepoo]

This is what I was thinking. I see people I knew in high school who frankly were never the brightest working as pharmacy techs, LPNs, CPAs, etc., making more money than me and starting their lives with (and here's the clincher) the understanding that these mid-level vocational school type jobs will be their careers for the forseeable future. It sucks on my end right now, but it's not martyrdom so much as it is delayed gratification.

Right, but still consistent with the opinion given above. The statement of the contrary was what confused me lol

 

[circulus vitios]

Wait, I don't see how this contradicts the general gist ITT. "All of their friends" surely refer to those not in the medical field and are thus making decent money in their 20s. Here we have premeds saying they can't find jobs because they lack "skills" that the aforementioned other population has.

Isn't this consistent with the idea that OP and others are the "martyrs" because they have difficulties finding a job in the interim of med school and a better job in the long run?

The vast majority of recent college graduates are not making decent money.

 

[Lucky Louie]

Here's a few suggestions:
* go to your career center; they should help
* consider volunteering
* network … you never know who can help
* consider this gap year may extend to two. Never say never
* look for internships: what used to be entry level jobs are now called internships (hopefully you did some)
* what did you do for Work study and/or summers? do some of the same for a while
* take classes, stay busy. it takes work to get work!
* contact companies where you'd like to work; don't wait for them to post a job
* consider your area: is there much employment there, or do you need to relocate?
* what skills are you missing? How can you improve those skills? Ask those who are rejecting you.
* be careful about putting down a receptionist job. Consider your attitude is the area that's making you unemployable. They have something you want; remember that.

 

[music2doc]

WTF! getting rejected from all these hospital receptionist positions and other companies. I graduated w/ honors in a top public university with 3.66 and don't even get a interview. all jobs like 2 years experience for entry level positions. How am I suppose to have all these experiences when I was busy studying and volunteering. Apparently volunteering don't mean anything when getting jobs 😡

So... you lack skills relevant to a job and have an entitled attitude...and you wonder why you're not getting a job? Think from the employer's perspective for a moment. Would you hire you? (I wouldn't.)

 

[amazing tekkers]

So... you lack skills relevant to a job and have an entitled attitude...and you wonder why you're not getting a job? Think from the employer's perspective for a moment. Would you hire you? (I wouldn't.)

No need for the blast. People are just frustrated and it's understandable.

 

[starlight15]

Try tutoring (for a company)... they pay decently, have flexible hours usually, and don't mind that you only work for a year or two. Currently tutoring high school students....

 

[music2doc]

No need for the blast. People are just frustrated and it's understandable.

It's a life lesson. Sometimes those are tough, but if you want something, you need to think from the perspective of the person whose help you are seeking. OP's question answers itself and some self-awareness will do him/her some good in medical school (if she/he makes it that far; if not, it'll be important in other careers as well). If you're applying for a job, you have to ask what that person wants. If I were hiring for a medical receptionist, I would want (at minimum):

• Experience (because I don't want to have to teach everything to a new person from the ground up if I don't have to)
• Longevity (because it saves money; someone like the OP is clearly going to lack longevity in this position)
• Excellent interpersonal skills and communication (not exactly something science majors are known for; "BS, Biology" certainly would not leave a positive impression...)
• Spanish skills (we have lots of Spanish-speaking patients in the area and it's nice to have someone who can step in as an interpreter or at least answer questions in Spanish readily available)
• Relevant trade education (i.e., an MA cert)

 

[ZuluHotel]

Because they likely don't want someone with a high GPA and all this stuff that shows that they want to go to medical school. They likely want someone who won't quit once they get an acceptance to medical school. Some people do have ambitions of working as a secretary, tech, phlebotomist, and other positions as a CAREER. Therefore I wouldn't take it personally.

This is 100% the reason. Someone hiring a receptionist wants a reliable person who will stick around after learning the ins and outs of the job and might actually enjoy working there. They aren't looking for a premed student who will quit within a year and is just using the job to fill some time before med school, no matter how well they did as a premed.

Try looking for positions that are more catered to people like you, maybe doing research or something that is more explicitly temporary.

 

[notbobtrustme]

Tutoring man. I been tutoring over this summer after M1 and I'm pulling in close to 3k/month doing this **** at about 45 hours a week.

It's a bit tedious sometimes, but w/e, cash is cash.

 

[aspiring20]

WTF! getting rejected from all these hospital receptionist positions and other companies. I graduated w/ honors in a top public university with 3.66 and don't even get a interview. all jobs like 2 years experience for entry level positions. How am I suppose to have all these experiences when I was busy studying and volunteering. Apparently volunteering don't mean anything when getting jobs 😡

OP, what's your undergraduate major? since you got a great GPA, consider tutoring in that aspect. you can work for a company, or just do it on your own. the hours are flexible, and the pay is decent.

for example, i graduated with honors in the fine arts, and i just finished roughly a year of semi-full time teaching with my old high school art teacher.

EDIT: if possible, try to get a job that has at least SOME relevance to either medicine OR your undergraduate major. chances are, you'll enjoy those jobs much more than something like a receptionist or cashier, not that those jobs aren't respectable.

 

[MedGrl@2022]

Oh I completely agree. It's frustrating though because I worked for 2yrs in a med school bench research lab and yet can't even seem to snag *one* offer from over 55 research lab positions throughout the Chicago area. >:/

A friend and I have come to the conclusion that many research lab tech positions are being taken by people with masters degrees, or people who went there for undergrad. Because it's just boggling both of us can't find a research tech job after years of experience.

Try applying to the NIH for a post-bac position. Have you looked into that?

 

[spleencakes]

Yep, sounds like life 🙁 I have tons of college friends who graduated with degrees in fields that typically landed good jobs, but almost all of them are currently working in unrelated fields. OP, I don't think you're being self-entitled at all. I understand it can be frustrating to not be able to find a job, and it can be even harder if employers know you aren't looking for something long-term. Have you tried scribe work? At least it's related to medical stuff. If not, what about tutoring? Private tutoring can pay very well, or you can decide to work for Kaplan or something. At least in my area, it seemed Kaplan was really desperate for ACT/SAT help, and they didn't seem to expect people to stick around long. If you can't find anything medical-related, maybe try to pinpoint what your skills and strengths are and go from there, targeting places with high turnover rates.

Best of luck, op.

 

[Loveless]

well it shows that you can do well in class but it doesn't say much about how well you work.

Why do these two things have to be mutually exclusive? High GPA requires a lot of work, determination, patience, passion, and critical thinking, all skills that should be highly desirable at most, if not all, entry to mid level positions. If showing you can do well in class doesn't at least somewhat translate to how well you can do at a job, then why are the masses of youths encouraged by all facets of society to get an undergraduate degree in the first place?

 

[MadRadLad]

Tutoring man. I been tutoring over this summer after M1 and I'm pulling in close to 3k/month doing this **** at about 45 hours a week.

It's a bit tedious sometimes, but w/e, cash is cash.

Do you do it freelance or through a company (TPR, Kaplan, etc.)?

 

[music2doc]

Why do these two things have to be mutually exclusive? High GPA requires a lot of work, determination, patience, passion, and critical thinking, all skills that should be highly desirable at most, if not all, entry to mid level positions. If showing you can do well in class doesn't at least somewhat translate to how well you can do at a job, then why are the masses of youths encouraged by all facets of society to get an undergraduate degree in the first place?

Because a lot of people want their children to be successful and it is well-known that college grads (on average) make more money. The problem is that when everyone and their mother tries to take advantage of that opportunity, the market becomes saturated. It's basic economics, supply and demand. 20 years ago, a college degree mattered. Now everyone has one.

 

[Brownshorts]

If OP is this frustrated this early into a job search, I can only imagine when he starts getting med school rejections.... haha

But on a serious/ helpful note. Unless you're looking at hospital jobs specifically targeted at premeds (scribes) then stop looking for a hospital job. For the most part they want someone who will be sticking around and who views their job as a job, not a med school application booster.

Craigslist is your friend. Look for jobs in doctors offices. A lot of times they will even say they are looking for premeds or people in a gap year looking to go to medical school. Many doctors enjoy being mentors so take advantage of that. Look for jobs like "medical assistant." Even so it took me three months of sending out multiple resumes every day (to be fair I was looking for a part time job while I was MCAT studying). You will be frustrated. You will get down. You will start to think a job will never come. Be patient and be persistent. Be straight with people, tell them you (hopefully) aren't in the job for the long haul, but that you're psyched to become immersed in medicine and hit the ground running.

 

[jadedenvy]

I know this feeling well. Babysitting can be a good job. I just got my EMT certificate, and while I've yet to apply (waiting on my actual state certification), at the lower levels being an EMT is a very transitory job so I'm hoping that plays into my favor. Working on an ambulance also typically requires no experience as well. So you might want to look into that, but be aware that if you take it through a community college it's going to be a semester, though I think you can take it through a private company and be done with it faster.

I also really enjoyed my EMT class - I was a biology major and while I knew the physiology and stuff, EMT kind of brought it back to more real world applications, like symptoms and treatments and the like, as well as actual hands on skills like splinting and manual stabilization.

 

[Omppu27]

Try tutoring (for a company)... they pay decently, have flexible hours usually, and don't mind that you only work for a year or two. Currently tutoring high school students....

Tutoring man. I been tutoring over this summer after M1 and I'm pulling in close to 3k/month doing this **** at about 45 hours a week.

It's a bit tedious sometimes, but w/e, cash is cash.

Yes and Yes.

Look at jobs working at schools and maybe even libraries. Also, see if you can land a TAing job at your UG or another local UG (although i think your UG would be a little easier). I also had the same issue as you but that was with getting an EMT job. I was 19, just got my cert. and had little work experience. Many people sorta laughed at my application (literally in one instance) but I did eventually get an opportunity. Keep lookin' around, you'll find something.

Also, look at catering jobs for places like subway, chipotle, etc. You're hours aren't too bad and they make decent money. You could do this while you're looking for something a little more "serious."

Good luck! 👍

 

[Omppu27]

I know this feeling well. Babysitting can be a good job. I just got my EMT certificate, and while I've yet to apply (waiting on my actual state certification), at the lower levels being an EMT is a very transitory job so I'm hoping that plays into my favor. Working on an ambulance also typically requires no experience as well. So you might want to look into that, but be aware that if you take it through a community college it's going to be a semester, though I think you can take it through a private company and be done with it faster.

I also really enjoyed my EMT class - I was a biology major and while I knew the physiology and stuff, EMT kind of brought it back to more real world applications, like symptoms and treatments and the like, as well as actual hands on skills like splinting and manual stabilization.

I loved my EMT class as well.

Look at Fire Departments and your local hospitals. I got my cert. at a hospital and it was great. We even got to do clinicals through their ED (AWESOME!).

 

[ToldYouSo]

Yes and Yes.

Look at jobs working at schools and maybe even libraries. Also, see if you can land a TAing job at your UG or another local UG (although i think your UG would be a little easier). I also had the same issue as you but that was with getting an EMT job. I was 19, just got my cert. and had little work experience. Many people sorta laughed at my application (literally in one instance) but I did eventually get an opportunity. Keep lookin' around, you'll find something.

Also, look at catering jobs for places like subway, chipotle, etc. You're hours aren't too bad and they make decent money. You could do this while you're looking for something a little more "serious."

Good luck! 👍

This is what I have been doing, highly recommend it.

 

[dnovikov]

Not to take any of the attention off of the OPs post but I am applying this year and got a job in a real estate office with a salary thats decent enough for me to support myself. Will an office job be frowned upon while I interview? I am a re-applicant btw.

 

[music2doc]

Not to take any of the attention off of the OPs post but I am applying this year and got a job in a real estate office with a salary thats decent enough for me to support myself. Will an office job be frowned upon while I interview? I am a re-applicant btw.

No, but you need to do something else in addition that makes you a viable applicant since you're reapplying. You're not going to get in this yr if you failed to get in last yr without some significant changes. If you didn't make those changes 6-12 months ago, you should probably need to take a year off before reapplying.

 

[milkphlegm]

Someone may have said this earlier, but I only skimmed the posts.

Usually, I'd say the places you would apply are well aware of what a medical school applicant's resume looks like. Even if you don't tell them that you're planning on applying to medical school in the near future, they can tell that that's probably your end goal by the recipe of activities we all tend to have. Therefore, they'll take someone who looks like they're looking for a career, as opposed to just some experience.

Just keep trying and someone will bite. The job market is just plain difficult.

 

[deleted307836]

No, but you need to do something else in addition that makes you a viable applicant since you're reapplying. You're not going to get in this yr if you failed to get in last yr without some significant changes. If you didn't make those changes 6-12 months ago, you should probably need to take a year off before reapplying.

With the exception of a poor school selection the first time around (which seems more common than I would have expected from looking at some failed MDApps...)

Agree this type of job won't hurt you though.

 

[notbobtrustme]

Do you do it freelance or through a company (TPR, Kaplan, etc.)?

mix of both. I post on Craigslist and get some followups that way. I also work with a tutoring company that's local in the area.