Hey everyone! So I’m an incoming freshman that is going to be majoring in computer science in the fall. I come from a fairly high income family so there never was any need for me to get a job and my parents always told me school should be my priority (super thankful to have such giving parents). Despite this, I have looked for part time jobs throughout the summer. I applied for jobs the summer after sophomore year but nobody hired me and after junior year I was traveling a bunch with my family so I didn’t apply. This year, after graduating high school, I applied to a bunch of places and even had a few interviews, but ultimately no one would hire me because I will be leaving for college in the fall. The popular seasonal job around here is life guarding but I can’t swim very well so that’s out of the question. Obviously I’m going to try for internships and such once I’m in college but I still, I was wondering if having no work experience (other than volunteering) will put me at a major disadvantage. Also, the major reason why I want to work is because I don’t want to be considered an entitled spoiled brat. I’m grateful for all my parents have given me and in return I’ve maintained a 4.0 throughout high school and don’t really ask them for much just the necessities. Would the fact that my parents provide for me, pay for my college and the fact that I don’t have a job make me a spoiled brat? And does having no work experience put me at a disadvantage for the future? My brother is telling me not to stress because he never had a job until his internships in college and things worked out just fine but I wonder if he was an exception or something.
No not having a job would not make you a spoiled brat. Being spoiled is about lacking insight and understanding about the privilege you have, taking it for granted and considering yourself more important, or better than others, who may be less fortunate. Being spoiled is a state of mind and can happen even if someone has a job and is not from a wealthy background, although it is less likely. It is about feeling entitled to privilege, good fortune and advantages over others and feeling that others deserve their misfortune. Thoughtfulness, consideration, kindness and perspective taking (empathy) are a preventative for spoilage.
You don’t need a job to develop those positive attributes. You’ll have plenty of time in your life to work. A focus on academics is a positive thing. Colleges won’t hold it against you. Your brother is correct.
Agreed. Plenty of my college classmates never had jobs in high school or in college until they got internships. Some went all the way through college without a proper job of any kind, though they typically spent their summers taking courses or volunteering. Lack of jobs didn’t seem to hurt any of them!
I never had a job in high school, but the summer before college I started volunteering regularly (every other week) at my local art museum. Then, fall semester, I got a part-time job at a fast food chain. That didn’t last long (the hours were killer), but it was something! I’m still volunteering, though, and I was actually offered a paid position over this summer! I wasn’t able to accept because of my study abroad, but I definitely recommend volunteering.
You’ll be able to network, it gives you something on your resume, you’ll learn something, and you might even be able to get a scholarship or two out of it.
“Obviously I’m going to try for internships and such once I’m in college but I still, I was wondering if having no work experience (other than volunteering) will put me at a major disadvantage.”
Honest answer: you will be at a disadvantage for top internships. I’m doing one at a top cs company right now, specifically aimed at freshman and sophomore candidates, and yet everyone on my team has already had an internship or two (or more).