How to search for a job when you are sitting on waitlists

[TheShaker]

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Hi everyone,

So it looks like I'll be playing the waiting game this summer and I would like to secure a gap year job to have my bases covered when none of the schools decide to take me. I have some questions since it's kind of an awkward situation.

What will I tell the employers? If I tell them that I'm sitting on waitlists then that will likely kill my chances at getting a job since no one wants to train somebody who will potentially jump ship. If I lie then I'd be lying...

If there are any reapplicants, past and present, out there, how did you do it? I really hope I can get in this summer but I really don't want to end up jobless without school in August.

 

[cookiemonsters]

I think the best thing you can do is say on your cover letters that you would be willing to start in July 2013. That is when the last few people get accepted off waitlists, right? If you haven't heard anything at that point, than you can probably feel confident in starting a job And if you need to reapp, you should have at least 3 months of work experience by the time interviews roll around.

 

[dnovikov]

hi everyone,

so it looks like i'll be playing the waiting game this summer and i would like to secure a gap year job to have my bases covered when none of the schools decide to take me. I have some questions since it's kind of an awkward situation.

What will i tell the employers? If i tell them that i'm sitting on waitlists then that will likely kill my chances at getting a job since no one wants to train somebody who will potentially jump ship. If i lie then i'd be lying...

If there are any reapplicants, past and present, out there, how did you do it? I really hope i can get in this summer but i really don't want to end up jobless without school in august.

+1

 

[1289]

Hi everyone,

So it looks like I'll be playing the waiting game this summer and I would like to secure a gap year job to have my bases covered when none of the schools decide to take me. I have some questions since it's kind of an awkward situation.

What will I tell the employers? If I tell them that I'm sitting on waitlists then that will likely kill my chances at getting a job since no one wants to train somebody who will potentially jump ship. If I lie then I'd be lying...

If there are any reapplicants, past and present, out there, how did you do it? I really hope I can get in this summer but I really don't want to end up jobless without school in August.

I was in this situation last year... I left out the fact that I was on wait lists at the time for 2012 entry to medical school but was honest about the fact that i would be applying the following cycle. I dont condone lying but you gotta do what you gotta do ya know? It's really a horrible situation to be in.... I should add that my wait list prospects last year were not at all promising so I was fairly certain I wouldn't be getting an offer. If the schools you're wait listed at are able to tell you where you stand and it looks like your chances are good I might just look for a temporary position or something just to get money in your pocket while you wait it out but make sure you keep up volunteering and other ECs in case you do reapply

 

[TheShaker]

I was in this situation last year... I left out the fact that I was on wait lists at the time for 2012 entry to medical school but was honest about the fact that i would be applying the following cycle. I dont condone lying but you gotta do what you gotta do ya know? It's really a horrible situation to be in.... I should add that my wait list prospects last year were not at all promising so I was fairly certain I wouldn't be getting an offer. If the schools you're wait listed at are able to tell you where you stand and it looks like your chances are good I might just look for a temporary position or something just to get money in your pocket while you wait it out but make sure you keep up volunteering and other ECs in case you do reapply

Well I'm planning to take a whole gap year to just work before I apply again. Just because I don't have the savings to support another application cycle and because I guess I have some growing up to do anyway. Unfortunately, the schools I'm waitlisted at are unranked or extra secretive with what goes on in their offices so I really have no clue where I am.

 

[xffan624]

Hi everyone,

So it looks like I'll be playing the waiting game this summer and I would like to secure a gap year job to have my bases covered when none of the schools decide to take me. I have some questions since it's kind of an awkward situation.

What will I tell the employers? If I tell them that I'm sitting on waitlists then that will likely kill my chances at getting a job since no one wants to train somebody who will potentially jump ship. If I lie then I'd be lying...

.

Tell them nothing. You are under no obligation to discuss this information unless you are signing a contract or something. You are a newly graduated student who is looking for a job, simple as that.

If they specifically ask about it I'm not sure if I would advise lying as that can be grounds for termination at some places should they find out you did so, but if they don't ask and you don't prompt the information then you are fine. Also, since you have no idea where you are on the waitlist, then if the employer asks about it, you can admit you are still waitlisted but say you perceive your chances of acceptance as extremely low (which is why you are looking for a job). It's an opinion, not a fact, so not really a lie.

As some of the older non-trads have made clear on this forum, employers can fire or lay you off on a whim, you owe them no loyalty beyond what is stated in their policy (two week notice of quitting, etc.) and what professionalism dictates. A professional does not immediately handicap their application by telling an employer that they may or may not be available long-term. A professional acts within bounds of ethical and moral behavior but without handicapping themselves with undue loyalty or sentimentality

 

[syoung]

Tell them nothing. You are under no obligation to discuss this information unless you are signing a contract or something. You are a newly graduated student who is looking for a job, simple as that.

If they specifically ask about it I'm not sure if I would advise lying as that can be grounds for termination at some places should they find out you did so, but if they don't ask and you don't prompt the information then you are fine. Also, since you have no idea where you are on the waitlist, then if the employer asks about it, you can admit you are still waitlisted but say you perceive your chances of acceptance as extremely low (which is why you are looking for a job). It's an opinion, not a fact, so not really a lie.

As some of the older non-trads have made clear on this forum, employers can fire or lay you off on a whim, you owe them no loyalty beyond what is stated in their policy (two week notice of quitting, etc.) and what professionalism dictates. A professional does not immediately handicap their application by telling an employer that they may or may not be available long-term. A professional acts within bounds of ethical and moral behavior but without handicapping themselves with undue loyalty or sentimentality

I was in a similar situation as OP. Last year I applied to a research position at Stanford, and probably would have been hired if not for the fact that the PI was a newly minted MD/PhD and wanted someone 3-5 years (her current tech was leaving so she needed someone who was gonna stay, understandable). But I think for employment other than research you truly don't have to explain yourself.

Other thing you try out: tutoring, working in a doctor's office, government work. One thing you could say is you plan to apply to medical school in the future... But you don't know when that may be...