Well, I am going to be a senior in high school and this summer I literally don't have time for a job. I am going to NYC and Hawaii to visit colleges. Also, I am traveling to Spain with a college program for a month. This means that I only have two weeks available in the summer, but everywhere I go will not allow me to work this short.
I probably should have gotten a summer job last year. I can not work during my senior year because I have a full schedule of classes (AP and advanced classes), plenty of clubs I'm committed to, a bowling league, and community service.
I noticed that on resumes, there is ALWAYS a spot for employment. Should I skip this section or what should I write instead of "Although I haven’t had a paying job, being a student, participating in a wide range of extracurricular activities, and donating my time to the community has been a job of its own."?
And also, do colleges look for jobs on resumes? Will it look bad if I never had one?
2007-06-05 07:38:18 · 11 answers · asked by Skye R 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
I have been on college admissions committees. From my experience, it demonstrates a sense of committment and time management.
I would not go so far as to say it looks bad if you haven't had one, but it unequivocally looks better if you have legitimate work experience.
mg
2007-06-05 08:21:43 · answer #1 · answered by Matt G 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't need a job. It is one component of a package. A lot will also depend on where you want to go to college. Some of the large state universities will focus on SAT or ACT scores, GPA and class rank, and might not even look at a resume or list of activities.
Your package consists of your test scores, your academic profile, your essay, recommendations, an interview if you have one with an admissions office, and activities including clubs, community service and any sports. It's hard to see how having a job at a fast food restaurant would be weighted by a college more than building houses for Habitat for Humanity, right? The package doesn't have to be 100% complete to make you a very desirable candidate.
On the other hand, if you're looking for discretionary scholarships and grants, a scholarship review panel might decide that you should have gotten a job and tried to earn some money to pay for school instead of being in that anime club...but you're getting into very subjective assessments.
Consider putting your community service in the employment area, as uncompensated employment, or leave it blank.
Neither one should hurt you at all if you have other stuff in your package that looks good.
2007-06-05 08:13:23 · answer #2 · answered by Neonzeus 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Colleges and universities don't particularly care if you've had a job before, mostly because it's rare that anyone in high school has a job relevant to their field of study. The things you're doing now (traveling overseas, for example) are much more valuable for an admission application.
If you're still not sure, just contact the admissions department at the schools who interest you. They're usually happy to tell you about their admission process and can give you some tips.
Be happy you don't work right now. You'll get enough of that sooner than you think!
2007-06-05 07:41:44 · answer #3 · answered by reymarblue 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't need a job to be accepted to a university/college.
However, I would just leave that part of the section blank.
As for that two week period you have free, why not volunteer somewhere? That is doable. Two weeks of sorting canned food at the food bank or whatever.
That will look very good with your other activities.
Colleges and universities really do think well of community service.
2007-06-05 07:43:20 · answer #4 · answered by Shanna S 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You have more than a good enough back story to explain the lack of having a job. A bigger thing to focus on should be your ACT and possibly SAT scores. If you're trying to get into a highly competitive school, a determining factor will be more along the lines of an essay rather than a work history.
2007-06-05 07:43:21 · answer #5 · answered by Mike K 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your volunteering history will help, particularly if you can get a letter of rec. from a supervisor at the organization for which you volunteered. If your extracurricular activities involved competitions or public performance, possibly you can include copies of programs, reviews, articles or awards.
2007-06-05 07:48:08 · answer #6 · answered by nouryture 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it wouldn't hurt to have had a job, but, i guess all you really need are the good grades and stuff.
2007-06-05 07:41:29 · answer #7 · answered by Myka 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's usually the other way around...
2007-06-05 07:40:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
not really, they are more interested in your mommy and daddys money
2007-06-05 07:48:11 · answer #9 · answered by lalone61 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't hurt
2007-06-05 07:39:43 · answer #10 · answered by Jon C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋