Worked for family company- do I have to say that?

[hrastio24]

I worked for my family's company for a number of years in college and I want to put that in the work/activities section. Would it be better to not mention that it's my dad's company though and list the accountant as a contact person? I heard adcoms think less of work experience if it's a family business.

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[To be MD]

I worked for my family's company for a number of years in college and I want to put that in the work/activities section. Would it be better to not mention that it's my dad's company though and list the accountant as a contact person? I heard adcoms think less of work experience if it's a family business.

I say to put your dad as the contact. He was your boss. Here's my situation and what I did:

I've worked for my family business since I was 8 years old. I worked there during summer and winter vacations to help finance my education and to build savings.

I don't see why an adcom would think any less of me for working for my dad. I'm putting him as the contact. He's the owner & founder of the business, and I put in 2,000 hours working with him. Obviously, an adcom wouldn't be able to call and ask, "Is your son a suitable candidate for medical school?" But, my dad can still attest, if called, to my work ethic, to what I've learned, and to the fact that I'm willing to make sacrifices for the sake of my family.

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

If it were a family business but you had an immediate supervisor id almost be inclined to list that person instead but still mention it was family owned.

 

[Catalystik]

I worked for my family's company for a number of years in college and I want to put that in the work/activities section.
1) Would it be better to not mention that it's my dad's company though and list the accountant as a contact person?
2) I heard adcoms think less of work experience if it's a family business.

1) Mention it, or don't, as you feel most comfortable. The most objective person who can attest to your dates/hours of involvement is best. If that's your dad, fine. If it's the accountant who cut your pay check, fine.

2) I've never heard that suggested among our adcomms.

 

[hrastio24]

1) Mention it, or don't, as you feel most comfortable. The most objective person who can attest to your dates/hours of involvement is best. If that's your dad, fine. If it's the accountant who cut your pay check, fine.

2) I've never heard that suggested among our adcomms.

Well that's exactly it then. How can someone's parent be "objective" in any way? Wouldn't that make your hours and dates claimed less credible? That's why I don't want to mention it's a family company.

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

Well that's exactly it then. How can someone's parent be "objective" in any way? Wouldn't that make your hours and dates claimed less credible? That's why I don't want to mention it's a family company.

So who's your contact? In the event that someone is contacted will you have them lie about his/your role in the company?

 

[LizzyM]

Maybe I'm biased. I worked in my family's business from the time I was old enough to put items on the shelf. Several other adcoms grew up in family businesses too. In fact, I never got a paycheck, I got meals and a roof over my head. Pulling together was what we did.

You need to account for how you spent your time whether it was paid or "other" (don't say "volunteer"). List someone who can vouch for you, even if it is a family member. No one who ever grew up with a small business will believe you are not telling the truth.

 

[hrastio24]

Maybe I'm biased. I worked in my family's business from the time I was old enough to put items on the shelf. Several other adcoms grew up in family businesses too. In fact, I never got a paycheck, I got meals and a roof over my head. Pulling together was what we did.

You need to account for how you spent your time whether it was paid or "other" (don't say "volunteer"). List someone who can vouch for you, even if it is a family member. No one who ever grew up with a small business will believe you are not telling the truth.

Yeah I wasn't "paid" a salary either. I worked hard for my parents and they helped pay for school and room/board. Would this be considered Paid Employment - Non Medical/Clinical? Or should I list it as Other?

 

[LizzyM]

I'd call it "other" based on my own experience. I didn't have set hours but worked when I was needed and I didn't get paid. I would think that "paid employment" means you were paid.

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

I worked in managing a property that was family owned, I didn't note that it was family owned in my work and activities section but of course I discussed it freely in interviews. It seemed like a real non-issue either way.

 

[Catalystik]

Yeah I wasn't "paid" a salary either. I worked hard for my parents and they helped pay for school and room/board. Would this be considered Paid Employment - Non Medical/Clinical? Or should I list it as Other?

I think you'd be fine listing this experience as Paid Employment or Other, since you were compensated in other ways than by a salary.

I concur that listing your parents' small business should be listed as employment. Even if you did not draw a paycheck, you contributed to the business which in turn provided your family with the income needed to pay your expenses.

 

[aldol16]

Write it down. Don't worry about what adcoms "might" think. I mean, who in their right mind would look down on someone just because they had to help out at their family business?? If an adcom really did look down on that, you probably wouldn't want to go to their school anyway.

 

[PB&Jam]

I have a similar situation–my father is an optometrist, and I have spent several summer and winter breaks working for him as a technician. That makes it paid medical/clinical employment. I figured the best way to list it would be to put his office manager as the contact, because she is both objective and can attest to what I did in the office. If ADCOMs contact her via the email address I listed, my dad can help her answer their questions if she doesn't know how to describe what my role was exactly.

Of course, I'm not an expert, and that might not be the best way to do it. But it is one option.

 

[Crayola227]

keep in mind adcom could ask you questions like, "how did you get involved with this company?" etc and it could get awkward/lying if you're trying to hide it's a family business

 

[Catalystik]

I have a similar situation–my father is an optometrist, and I have spent several summer and winter breaks working for him as a technician. That makes it paid medical/clinical employment. I figured the best way to list it would be to put his office manager as the contact, because she is both objective and can attest to what I did in the office. If ADCOMs contact her via the email address I listed, my dad can help her answer their questions if she doesn't know how to describe what my role was exactly.

Of course, I'm not an expert, and that might not be the best way to do it. But it is one option.

I think it's an excellent option.