How Bad is it to be Unemployed for Several Months After Graduation?

[hugh2012]

How Bad is it to be Unemployed for Several Months After Graduation? I just graduated back in May, took my MCAT towards the end of summer, then visited family, and got back and started applying to jobs in October. I got a few scribe positions at well known institutions but do not want to take them because I think they don't utilize my full potential. I have also interviewed for 5-6 clinical research coordinator positions, all at Mass General Hospital in Boston. They said they would get back to me soon, but after emailing one of the jobs, they told me "soon" means they would notify everyone of their decision early December. I am worried since I am applying next summer and if I do get a job in December and start January, that will look like I am unemployed for 6 months, which I heard medical schools stigmatize(which I don't think they should bc I know a few millionaires from my alma mater who became directors of certain divisions within their companies despite being unemployed for a half a year following graduation but apparently med schools look down upon this). Can I explain to them I took the summer for MCAT and visiting family and that I got job offers but waited until the best one came around? I also am not lounging around, I've committed to running a major US marathon and to raise money for a specific charity in that regard, I have started prewriting my secondaries since I already finished my personal statement and activities description early on,etc. Anyone with this experience please comment and tell me how I can explain this bc I would hate to be rejected from medical school for being "unemployed" for half a year potentially??? I'm applying next summer for medical school.Also, I'm worried because I'm taking two gap years so this is clearly visible whereas with one gap year you already send in your application so they can't see the unemployment blatantly on paper.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Jdp00921]

I was similarly concerned given I had a similar situation just a few months ago. I had just finished my M.S. and I was about to begin applying to medical school. I wanted to find a position relevant to medicine and began looking shortly after graduation but it is indeed not so easy to obtain a job when your CV/Resume screams "I am planning on going to medical school." Many employers want several years commitment which I wasn't able to promise without lying through my teeth. Overall, it took a significant amount of time before I began working at the job I currently have. Anyway, throughout my interviews, it never really came up so I wouldn't worry too much about it. Secondly, isn't there other things that you are doing other than employment? I'm not sure if you volunteer or have many hobbies, etc, but I think the only thing medical schools would look down upon would be someone who just sat stagnant for months - no job, no hobbies, no activities what-so-ever.

 

[lauramae]

How Bad is it to be Unemployed for Several Months After Graduation? I just graduated back in May, took my MCAT towards the end of summer, then visited family, and got back and started applying to jobs in October. I got a few scribe positions at well known institutions but do not want to take them because I think they don't utilize my full potential. I have also interviewed for 5-6 clinical research coordinator positions, all at Mass General Hospital in Boston. They said they would get back to me soon, but after emailing one of the jobs, they told me "soon" means they would notify everyone of their decision early December. I am worried since I am applying next summer and if I do get a job in December and start January, that will look like I am unemployed for 6 months, which I heard medical schools stigmatize(which I don't think they should bc I know a few millionaires from my alma mater who became directors of certain divisions within their companies despite being unemployed for a half a year following graduation but apparently med schools look down upon this). Can I explain to them I took the summer for MCAT and visiting family and that I got job offers but waited until the best one came around? I also am not lounging around, I've committed to running a major US marathon and to raise money for a specific charity in that regard, I have started prewriting my secondaries since I already finished my personal statement and activities description early on,etc. Anyone with this experience please comment and tell me how I can explain this bc I would hate to be rejected from medical school for being "unemployed" for half a year potentially???

I can't really speak to the unemployed aspect, but 1. it's late to start sending in secondaries if you're just writing them now so maybe consider waiting until the next cycle and 2. I am a research coordinator at MGH and interviewed 15 different groups trying to get a one year position. If you are trying to find work from now until next fall, MGH almost definitely won't give it to you over someone who can commit at least a full year if not 2 or 3. If you want to apply this cycle I would just take the scribe job. Happy to answer questions about applying to MGH

 

[Stuck on CCL2]

Don't fret! It takes on average 4-6 months for BS grads to get a job in bio research these days, at least where I am from. It took me 4 months just to get hired and another 2 to actually start after all the paperwork and government bureaucracy. I've been working in this job for two years now and applied to medical school this past summer. I have gone to 5 interviews already and nobody asked about the gap between undergrad and my job now. With that said, I was a manager at a tanning salon and valet for the intermittent time between the two, but I definitely did not put either of those in my app.

 

[buckoh24]

It took me about 3.5 months from graduation til my job started. I was filling out AMCAS and secondaries but also filled out 45 applications at one hospital (I basically filled it out once then would just check the boxes on consent for each app), 15 at another, and some doing retail/food service. Like above, they usually want commitment. I interviewed and they PI said I would be a great fit and was the best interview, but said that due to my lack of commitment (only 1 year), they wouldnt be able to give me a job. Bigger labs seem to be more receptive to high turnover. But they job market is rough right now, especially for short term work as a bio major.

 

[hugh2012]

I can't really speak to the unemployed aspect, but 1. it's late to start sending in secondaries if you're just writing them now so maybe consider waiting until the next cycle and 2. I am a research coordinator at MGH and interviewed 15 different groups trying to get a one year position. If you are trying to find work from now until next fall, MGH almost definitely won't give it to you over someone who can commit at least a full year if not 2 or 3. If you want to apply this cycle I would just take the scribe job. Happy to answer questions about applying to MGH

I'm taking two gap years and applying next summer. I never was going to apply this cycle anyways.

 

[hugh2012]

I can't really speak to the unemployed aspect, but 1. it's late to start sending in secondaries if you're just writing them now so maybe consider waiting until the next cycle and 2. I am a research coordinator at MGH and interviewed 15 different groups trying to get a one year position. If you are trying to find work from now until next fall, MGH almost definitely won't give it to you over someone who can commit at least a full year if not 2 or 3. If you want to apply this cycle I would just take the scribe job. Happy to answer questions about applying to MGH

So I am trying to get a CRC position at MGH for two years basically. I have/had 5-6 interviews there.

 

[Stagg737]

How Bad is it to be Unemployed for Several Months After Graduation? I just graduated back in May, took my MCAT towards the end of summer, then visited family, and got back and started applying to jobs in October. I got a few scribe positions at well known institutions but do not want to take them because I think they don't utilize my full potential. I have also interviewed for 5-6 clinical research coordinator positions, all at Mass General Hospital in Boston. They said they would get back to me soon, but after emailing one of the jobs, they told me "soon" means they would notify everyone of their decision early December. I am worried since I am applying next summer and if I do get a job in December and start January, that will look like I am unemployed for 6 months, which I heard medical schools stigmatize(which I don't think they should bc I know a few millionaires from my alma mater who became directors of certain divisions within their companies despite being unemployed for a half a year following graduation but apparently med schools look down upon this). Can I explain to them I took the summer for MCAT and visiting family and that I got job offers but waited until the best one came around? I also am not lounging around, I've committed to running a major US marathon and to raise money for a specific charity in that regard, I have started prewriting my secondaries since I already finished my personal statement and activities description early on,etc. Anyone with this experience please comment and tell me how I can explain this bc I would hate to be rejected from medical school for being "unemployed" for half a year potentially??? I'm applying next summer for medical school.Also, I'm worried because I'm taking two gap years so this is clearly visible whereas with one gap year you already send in your application so they can't see the unemployment blatantly on paper.

Bottom line is you need to be doing something during that gap time. If you were literally sitting around, preparing secondaries, and just applying to jobs that wouldn't fly if an interviewer asked you about it. Given that you were studying, visiting family, training for a marathon, and doing (hopefully) significant charity work, you're fine. I also wouldn't mention not taking the scribe positions. I'm sure it's not your intent, but it can easily come off as arrogance and you thinking you're "above" that kind of work, which would be a big red flag about your personality if I were talking to you. If you don't get those research positions, I would take a scribe job or something else though just to make sure that gap doesn't get too big. Doesn't matter if it's in a research lab at Harvard or bussing tables while applying for better positions, always be doing something.

As a side note, I wasn't asked about my few gap years specifically during med school interviews, because I included all the activities I did during that time on my application. However, I was surprised that about half of the PDs at residency interviews I've been on actually brought it up and asked what I was up to during that time (as I didn't include it on residency apps). I didn't do anything really prestigious like research at MGH, but the PDs did appreciate the work ethic that came along with the more blue-collar jobs I did during that period.

 

[Catalystik]

1) How Bad is it to be Unemployed for Several Months After Graduation? I heard medical schools stigmatize.

2) Can I explain to them I took the summer for MCAT and visiting family and that I got job offers but waited until the best one came around? I also am not lounging around, I've committed to running a major US marathon and to raise money for a specific charity in that regard, I have started prewriting my secondaries since I already finished my personal statement and activities description early on,etc.

1) Not an issue.

2) Travel and hobbies can be entered in the AMCAS Experiences section, as can any volunteering in which you engage during your downtime.

 

[lauramae]

So I am trying to get a CRC position at MGH for two years basically. I have/had 5-6 interviews there.

Ah gotcha, yea then worth waiting for a position, and just apply to as many as you can on their recruiting page. It's a great place to work and the name definitely impresses. Good luck!