Minimum wage job

[MedWonk]

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So, I've come to a point where I need to work to feed myself. I've searching for research assistant jobs, but they seem to be shorter supply recently, and when something does pop up (my advisor will send out RA gigs when they pop up) the competition for them is incredibly fierce. I've been thinking of just taking a job working at bar or local retail store, because frankly I need to eat, and I don't want to have huge gaps in activity.

Will adcoms be cool with that, or am I going to be looked down on for taking a menial job?

 

[ErrantWhatever]

So, I've come to a point where I need to work to feed myself. I've searching for research assistant jobs, but they seem to be shorter supply recently, and when something does pop up (my advisor will send out RA gigs when they pop up) the competition for them is incredibly fierce. I've been thinking of just taking a job working at bar or local retail store, because frankly I need to eat, and I don't want to have huge gaps in activity.

Will adcoms be cool with that, or am I going to be looked down on for taking a menial job?

Do what you have to do. I have had to work incredibly crappy jobs over the past 5 years (many min wage) in order to eat, and I actually used these experiences as a positives in my interviews (and I got in).

Some advice: I'd go the bar/server route--much more efficient way to make money than retail. Good luck!

 

[Rankik]

Second on the bar/waiting tables job. These are minimum earning jobs with the potential of good income from tips. Also they have the flexibility of working around a school schedule, as the busiest times are during the evening/weekends.

I highly doubt that adcoms would look down on the fact of having to take a job. If anything, like ErrantWhatever said, it would be a positive. The ability to go to school while also working and doing EC (assuming you are doing this) would show how well you are able to manage your time and that you have more on your plate than just "school".

 

[abolt18]

I've worked in customer service the past 3 years. I've moved up the ladder in leadership roles. Schools seem to have actually like that. They don't seem to care WHAT you do, so much as how you do it.

 

[MedWonk]

Do what you have to do. I have had to work incredibly crappy jobs over the past 5 years (many min wage) in order to eat, and I actually used these experiences as a positives in my interviews (and I got in).

Some advice: I'd go the bar/server route--much more efficient way to make money than retail. Good luck!

Second on the bar/waiting tables job. These are minimum earning jobs with the potential of good income from tips. Also they have the flexibility of working around a school schedule, as the busiest times are during the evening/weekends.

I highly doubt that adcoms would look down on the fact of having to take a job. If anything, like ErrantWhatever said, it would be a positive. The ability to go to school while also working and doing EC (assuming you are doing this) would show how well you are able to manage your time and that you have more on your plate than just "school".

I've worked in customer service the past 3 years. I've moved up the ladder in leadership roles. Schools seem to have actually like that. They don't seem to care WHAT you do, so much as how you do it.

Thanks for your replies!

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

Almost every college student works minimum wage jobs at some point, so adcoms certainly aren't going to care if you do. Long after they graduated, half of my fellow history majors are still asking customers if they want fries with their order. I spent years pounding nails in construction jobs back in the good old days when houses were worth money. That caught the attention of one of my interviewers, but only because very few construction workers ever get to the point where they can apply for medical school. I agreed with her that it was unusual, but there wasn't much else I could do with my degree. I got accepted in the end.

 

[Gauss44]

So, I've come to a point where I need to work to feed myself. I've searching for research assistant jobs, but they seem to be shorter supply recently, and when something does pop up (my advisor will send out RA gigs when they pop up) the competition for them is incredibly fierce. I've been thinking of just taking a job working at bar or local retail store, because frankly I need to eat, and I don't want to have huge gaps in activity.

Will adcoms be cool with that, or am I going to be looked down on for taking a menial job?

Accept whatever job, but don't stop looking for the job you really want. Just do so quietly and carefully.