How Work Experience Can Enhance Your College Application

Some high school students get part-time jobs because they need a little extra money for their expenses, and others do it because they want the experience. Either way, a part-time job can be exactly what you need to make your college application stand out – particularly if you don’t have a lot of extracurriculars.

These days, universities take a hard look at the “whole picture” a student presents when they submit their application for admission. Real-world work experience has value and communicates a lot about a student that can’t be found in test scores and school transcripts.

What Does a Part-Time Job Say About You to an Admissions Board?

Top-tier schools want students with diverse backgrounds. While it’s a bonus if you can land a gig that’s somehow related to your field of interest, start your own business or do something that showcases a unique aspect of your character, even a part-time job in a local mall or grocery store says several positive things about you.

Your part-time job adds power to your application for admission because:

1. It shows that you have a strong sense of responsibility. Whether you’re working primarily for the experience or mostly just need the money, you’re demonstrating that you know it takes effort and sacrifice to succeed at your goals.
2. You’re demonstrating that you’re invested in your own success. Nothing is being handed to you – not even your education. You are showing the school that you have a plan for your future and the grit and determination to make things happen.
3. It means that you understand how to work with others. Whatever job you hold, you have to develop your interpersonal skills and understand how to work as a team. That tells the admissions board that you’d be an asset when it comes to helping create a unified, cooperative student body.
4. You’re showing that you know how to stay organized. If you want to successfully hold down a job and keep your grades up, you have to learn to effectively manage your time. That’s an essential skill that a lot of freshman college students lack – simply because time management has always been done for them by their parents and teachers.

What Are the Best Part-Time Jobs to Get When You’re Thinking Ahead to College?

It’s perfectly okay if you have to settle for a job waiting tables or clerking. There’s no shame in that. However, some work experiences definitely speak louder than others on a college application.

When possible, try to:

• Launch your own business. Whether you’re selling your art on Etsy, tutoring other students or running your own home bakery, you can showcase your entrepreneurial skills and ingenuity.
• Get a job that ties into your educational goals. If you want to go into law, for example, even working as a “runner” back and forth to the courthouse can help you make connections and show your genuine interest in the field.
• Take an internship. If you don’t need the money, an unpaid internship can not only help you land a job inside the industry you love the most, it can also open doors to future employment opportunities.

Ultimately, colleges are looking for well-rounded students who demonstrate maturity and commitment. A part-time job is definitely a step in the right direction. Working with an experienced college admissions counselor can also help guide your steps and get you closer to your goals.