Never employed, but worked at family business

[BlueScar]

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I started working at my Dad's store when i was a sophomore in High school. By the time I was a sophomore in college, I basically took over the managerial position and ran the store for 3 years following (30-40 hours a week). This had a HUGE impact on my life (positive for experiences, huge negative for academics), so I need to include it some how.

However, I was never paid a salary, nor was I an "paid employee". I live with my parents, so any cash that came in was automatically due for regular stuff (groceries/ house/ education for my siblings and me). How do I put this on my applications for Med school? Would it be under employment? Volunteering? Other?

 

[medicalchimp]

Do you have any clinical hours/volunteer experience? I would recommend putting those first. As for working at your dad's store, you would simply put "Manager at [store name]" and put your employer contact information as your dad. I don't believe they ask for how much you were paid, so there's no need to go into salary, etc. One could argue your "payment" was your dad supporting you through school, or letting you live at home .. whatever the case may be.

 

[Catalystik]

I started working at my Dad's store when i was a sophomore in college. In 1 year, I basically took over the managerial position and ran the store for 3 years following (30-40 hours a week).
However, I was never paid a salary, nor was I an "employee". How do I put this on my applications for Med school?

Many applicants have worked for a family business. Did your parents feed, cloth, or house you during that time? Or did they pay for your educational expenses? Then you can list it under Employment-Not Medical/Clinical.

Though you did not receive a cash salary, you were an employee. And to your credit, it was a position with responsibility that will add luster to your candidacy.

You also need volunteer experience. Do you have some of that to list?

 

[BlueScar]

Do you have any clinical hours/volunteer experience? I would recommend putting those first. As for working at your dad's store, you would simply put "Manager at [store name]" and put your employer contact information as your dad. I don't believe they ask for how much you were paid, so there's no need to go into salary, etc. One could argue your "payment" was your dad supporting you through school, or letting you live at home .. whatever the case may be.

I went ahead and edited my post a bit. My volunteering list for clinical/ nonclinical is great, it's just that I don't know where and how to put this information.

 

[BlueScar]

Many applicants have worked for a family business. Did your parents feed, cloth, or house you during that time? Or did they pay for your educational expenses? Then you can list it under Employment-Not Medical/Clinical.

Though you did not receive a cash salary, you were an employee. And to your credit, it was a position with responsibility that will add luster to your candidacy.

You also need volunteer experience. Do you have some of that to list?

Yes to the first few questions, but should I not put this information under "Other"? The employment was nothing official for tax purposes, because I'm a dependent under my dad. So I don't want to cross in legal boundaries in that regard.

 

[Catalystik]

should I not put this information under "Other"? The employment was nothing official for tax purposes, because I'm a dependent under my dad. So I don't want to cross in legal boundaries in that regard.

For AMCAS purposes, your position as your family's business manager would be considered "Employment." AMCAS and adcomms don't care about the lack of cash compensation. Using "Other" is an option, but if screeners are specifically looking for past jobs (and the resulting responsibilities), they might miss it.

 

[LizzyM]

Call it employment. Be open about it being the family business. I've seen applicants that grew up working in dry cleaners, Chinese take-out restaurant, and a dentist's office. Many of us on the adcom started out in similar positions. At one time there were three of us on the adcom who had grown up in a a candy shop, a grocery store and a lingerie shop. We get it.