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Does it look good having a summer job on my resume even if it is unrelated to my professional goals.
I'm in high school hoping to go into either a health or law profession after college. I am currently undecided about which university I want to go to and what my major will be. #job #resume #college
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25 answers
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James’s Answer
It's a great idea to start building work experience in high school. Even if the job isn't related to the field you're looking to go into, having prior employment experience and showing that you can hold down a job will be important when you go to apply for the job you want in a few years. My first job in high school was for the town DPW where I mowed lawns and picked up garbage. That experience helped me get my next job, which was still unrelated to my field, but ultimately helped me build experience for when I applied to accounting jobs.
You will likely be able to use responsibilities from a summer job that translate to your field, whether it's communicating with customers or handling money, that you can highlight on a resume.
You will likely be able to use responsibilities from a summer job that translate to your field, whether it's communicating with customers or handling money, that you can highlight on a resume.
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Jay’s Answer
Like all of the posts have mentioned, work experience is ALWAYS viewed positively. That being said, the fields you have indicated interest in - Medicine and Law - require an advanced degree and have pretty well established career paths.
As a result, you have to balance your priorities. For example, medical school and law school both require top GPA's and while a high GPA won't guarantee acceptance, a low one definitely has the possibility of ruling you out for the top schools.
Learn about MCAT and LSAT
As a result, you have to balance your priorities. For example, medical school and law school both require top GPA's and while a high GPA won't guarantee acceptance, a low one definitely has the possibility of ruling you out for the top schools.
Jay recommends the following next steps:
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Aicha’s Answer
Hi!
Having job experience on your resume looks so good even if it does relate to what you want to do. It shows that you are gaining new skills and you are keeping yourself occupied by working. There is nothing wrong with not having the experience in the field of choice at the moment because you can still reflect on the things that you have done. Then you can slowly start building your resume up with jobs that you will receive in the future that relate to your career.
I hope this helps!
Having job experience on your resume looks so good even if it does relate to what you want to do. It shows that you are gaining new skills and you are keeping yourself occupied by working. There is nothing wrong with not having the experience in the field of choice at the moment because you can still reflect on the things that you have done. Then you can slowly start building your resume up with jobs that you will receive in the future that relate to your career.
I hope this helps!
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Gina’s Answer
A summer job displays good worth ethic-- I would highlight some general skills that you may have obtained like customer service, sales, computer work, billing, communication-- also if you worked a decent amount of hours, that will show your dedication.
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Katie’s Answer
Hi Harry, You learn skills in all jobs. When adding your summer job to your resume, try to think about what skills are transferable to your future career. Many summer jobs allow you to grow your communication skills, time-management skills, leadership skills, and organization skills. The summer job will also help you grow your network.
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Daniel P.’s Answer
Absolutely, there are so many benefits to getting onto the workforce - not the least of which is the contacts you will make. Looking back on my career path many of the very positive milestones for me were not planned, appeared to come out of nowhere but were actually the result of direct interaction with co-workers, customers, and folks that knew folks that knew me and matched me with a new better role. Oh and you get paid!
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Paula’s Answer
I agree with the other posters, work experience is always viewed positively so it's definitely worth including that information on your resume.
Thanks for jumping in here Paula!
Any experience you can share of working somewhere that was unrelated to your professional goals?
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Elana’s Answer
It can help you look responsible and mature, even if not related to career goals.
Ideally if you're interested in law, you can find a law firm that needs someone to do basic office tasks or even a little research. It will give you a chance to see what the work environment is actually like, and to meet other lawyers and associates.
Ideally if you're interested in law, you can find a law firm that needs someone to do basic office tasks or even a little research. It will give you a chance to see what the work environment is actually like, and to meet other lawyers and associates.
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Richard’s Answer
It will look good on your resume. But you should look for jobs in your intended field to help you have an idea if that field is right for you.
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Allison’s Answer
Hi Harry,
Great question!
You should absolutely put any work experience you have on your resume! You can always find ways to describe actions you did in your job that fit a job description you are applying for. For example, if you work as a cashier and you are applying for an internship in law, you could describe your ability to keep things organized in your cashier job and how that could translate into your law career. Any experience is good experience!
Good luck!
Alli Raddant
Great question!
You should absolutely put any work experience you have on your resume! You can always find ways to describe actions you did in your job that fit a job description you are applying for. For example, if you work as a cashier and you are applying for an internship in law, you could describe your ability to keep things organized in your cashier job and how that could translate into your law career. Any experience is good experience!
Good luck!
Alli Raddant
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Simeon’s Answer
Agreed with the other commentors. Work experience is always a highlight and shows that you're able to commit to the responsibilities of a paid position. Recruiters tend to be hesitant about picking up people with zero work experience, partly because they're concerned the recruitee might quit under the pressures and responsibilities of their first job.
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Estelle’s Answer
Yes! Summer jobs show your diversity and desire to stay busy and productive. Even if not necessarily related to your occupation of choice, jobs show dedication and reliability.
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Michelle’s Answer
Hi, Harry! Great question! Any experience is better than no experience, and like many on here have mentioned, a diverse set of experiences will always benefit you in the long run. Yes, focus on the requirements you have to achieve for attaining either one of those degrees (medicine/law), but if you're able to fulfill relative experiences, then going outside of these areas for now is perfectly fine. Think about the transferrable lessons/skills you can develop from those experiences and apply it to your respective field.
For example: In high school, I worked at a beauty salon. When applying to physician assistant school, I did not leave it off my application just because it was non-health related. It's still extremely relevant. I developed skills in communication, customer service, and team work. These are vital skills in medicine and the admissions committees value that.
Good luck! You'll do great!
For example: In high school, I worked at a beauty salon. When applying to physician assistant school, I did not leave it off my application just because it was non-health related. It's still extremely relevant. I developed skills in communication, customer service, and team work. These are vital skills in medicine and the admissions committees value that.
Good luck! You'll do great!
Elizabeth Giacobbi
Strategic Business Partner | Technology Enthusiast | HRIS Guru | Relationship Manager | Experienced HRBP
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Elizabeth’s Answer
It absolutely looks good to have a summer job for resume building, even if it is not related to your field of study. I do suggest though, once you get into college and truly figure the path you want to take, secure an internship or a part-time job in the realm of what you want to major in. This will teach you what you do and do not like and give you the credibility to snag that first real-world job. However ~ as someone who dual-enrolled in high school at college and finished a 4 year degree early - take time for yourself and enjoy your younger years! I 100% believe an internship / job related to your field is important, but it is a balancing act. Take that spring break vacation, make new friends, join the club you want to join! You have the rest of your life to work!
Good luck!
Good luck!
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Christy’s Answer
Any sort of work history will help you to build a resume'. It also allows for you to build professional relationships and network with people who can provide a reference letter in the future. Even a temporary summer job will assist you in developing "soft skills" (communication, problem-solving, teamwork, adaptability, leadership, etc.) that will be valuable in your future career.
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jamie’s Answer
Hi Harry,
Thanks for your question. And my answer is yes, of course yes.
No matter what you do in summer job, it helps you get more experiences in social life.
You can know more and you will be outgoing that it is a good way for you in the future.
Thanks for your question. And my answer is yes, of course yes.
No matter what you do in summer job, it helps you get more experiences in social life.
You can know more and you will be outgoing that it is a good way for you in the future.
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Dustin’s Answer
It absolutely will look good. There are certainly skills and responsibilities that you can demonstrate through work performed in any job setting. Further, many jobs (even in the professional world) boil down to customer service and personal or "soft" skills. As either a doctor or lawyer you could be catering to and working with clients/patients and thus picking up some of these customer service related skills at a young age can help down the line.
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Darin’s Answer
Absolutely, especially being in High School. It shows that you have had work experience of some kind. On a side note, you mentioned you don't know what university you wanted to go to or what you wanted to major in. May I recommend to you speak with your teachers about setting you up with an appointment with your school guidance counselor. You know the field you want to go into, the health and law profession, they will be able to guide you into some sort of direction and what kind of classes you'll need to take. Even point to you to some colleges and universities you could look into and maybe even schedule an appointment to visit the campus
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Jamie’s Answer
It would look good on your resume and interviews, especially if you highlight the soft skills you were able to improve and/or gain from the said experience. Soft skills is important on the resume and for your own self development, whether you'll be pursuing health or law profession.
The summer job can also give you concrete examples of how your own skills manifested while on the job and how you deal with stress at work.
The summer job can also give you concrete examples of how your own skills manifested while on the job and how you deal with stress at work.
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B’s Answer
It sure does! Slinging pizzas, hawking lotion and babysitting all of which I did as a teen had no relevance to my career, but they taught me work ethic and the basic skills to survive in life. Employers love to see when young applicants can demonstrate a great work ethic. I always select resumes to review with lots of random summer jobs over those who don't. If you can demonstrate you can hustle before you're a professional, than I know you're going to do it for my company when you become a professional.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
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Nadine’s Answer
Yes! On your resume make sure you list the transferrable skills and quantify what you did. Instead of saying you operated a cash register..... you can say you operated a cash register for 100 customers per 3 hours with 100% accuracy. Focus on accomplishments instead of just stating what you did. You also worked as a team, learned time management, etc. When you get to college, visit the career center and they will help you with wording your resume.
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Katya’s Answer
Hi Harry, of course- any job you have -always look at it as an experience- weather believe it’s related to your future career or not- I recommend to view any experience as another skill you learned, developed, or got better in it.
If you think of a part time job- you still able to provide examples on the job experience related to client experience, problem solving, handling difficult situations, maybe working alone or in a group on a team project,ets.
All these skills and I like to call them competencies that we as humans develop come from all life experiences.
So, if you do have a summer job- don’t hesitate absolutely put it on your resume. It all depends how you will word it- a simple tasks could sound so professional and have so much meaning. For example- worked with clients or you could state as :” delivered on exceptional customer experience all the time and was recognized by the organization”
Remember, every experience builds your character-you might not think about it at this very time- but in the future you will be able to share about your accomplishments . Every job matters then you choose which one had most value and add it on your resume.
Good luck
If you think of a part time job- you still able to provide examples on the job experience related to client experience, problem solving, handling difficult situations, maybe working alone or in a group on a team project,ets.
All these skills and I like to call them competencies that we as humans develop come from all life experiences.
So, if you do have a summer job- don’t hesitate absolutely put it on your resume. It all depends how you will word it- a simple tasks could sound so professional and have so much meaning. For example- worked with clients or you could state as :” delivered on exceptional customer experience all the time and was recognized by the organization”
Remember, every experience builds your character-you might not think about it at this very time- but in the future you will be able to share about your accomplishments . Every job matters then you choose which one had most value and add it on your resume.
Good luck
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Matthew’s Answer
Hi
A summer job is amazing. Even if it does not directly relate to your field, you can learn many soft skills ranging from communication, organization, time management, etc. Good luck!
A summer job is amazing. Even if it does not directly relate to your field, you can learn many soft skills ranging from communication, organization, time management, etc. Good luck!
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Richard’s Answer
Yes! It shows work ethic and that you are staying busy.
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Kei’s Answer
Hi Harry. It sure will! Any type of job experience prior to you pursuing your career will help. This will make you highlight that you already know how to handle more tasks or a bigger responsibility even at a young age.
When you finally pursue what you want and find a job, look back at these experiences and make sure that you talk about your learnings. That will make you more mature and help you become a better individual.
Good luck!
When you finally pursue what you want and find a job, look back at these experiences and make sure that you talk about your learnings. That will make you more mature and help you become a better individual.
Good luck!