<p>I will probably work in a music shop when I turn 16, is that good?
Do they like to see you working for your high school (our school has a few after school jobs that are paid) ?
Would they appreciate it if I eventually got a job at their school?
Mangement positions?
One Long term employment?
Several different jobs?</p>
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<p>Jobs.</p>
<p>Any job – as long as it’s legal.</p>
<p>guy1234: ask yourself what value would any adult/college admissions officer place in a teen ager having a job. Think about it. </p>
<p>That holds true whether you were a regular volunteer at a nursing home, to washing dishes, to serving ice cream at Dairy Queen, to working pipettes at a research lab.</p>
<p>There’s no “magic hit list” of jobs that make you fabulous. Do what your nose leads you to. Stop trying to do things that make you look good (e.g your “awards” thread earlier). Be confident in your decision making process and stop trying to impress others. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>But there is a difference between the ‘middle class kid’ jobs and those that give exposure to the world of adult work. Being a golf caddie, a summer camp counselor or a life guard are jobs that are typically held by middle and upper-middle class kids for a summer to earn some cash. They are not ‘tough’ jobs in that you tend to be working with/for people ‘like you’ and are understood to be ‘upscale social marker’ jobs. Jobs that require getting dirty, working with the general public, and/or are boring and repetitive (food industry, back office) and often occur year round, are jobs that provide exposure to what much of the world has to do in order to earn a living. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with the former kind of job - it’s honest, and sometimes hard work and you do learn some skills. But I’d recommend that you consider doing one of the latter jobs if you want to really learn something about life - if getting outside of your comfort zone and seeing what work is like for most people is an experience you value. My kids and I have done both types of work - and it’s true that you learn more from the latter than the former. </p>
<p>Do adcoms care? No, not about a specific job - but they are sensitive to social class markers and know the difference between kids who are doing adult jobs because they have to and kids who are earning a few bucks on the side or polishing their resumes with jobs that provide exposure to future professional careers.</p>
<p>That awards thread wasn’t phrased to beautifully illl admit that</p>
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<p>I respect your post M’s Mom, and I’m responding constructively – I do think that these UMC jobs give great exposure to adult work. When you caddy, you’re alongside business guys, learning polish & interpersonal skills, listening in on how big deals are made. Camp counselors are working with kids and have a lot of responsibility. Life guards have a huge responsibility and literally save lives (I saw it happen this past summer). </p>
<p>I think there is (as you say) great value learning from service and “dirty” jobs too. I worked at a gas station for several years and learned more about people there than from any psychology course. I also learned how a small business is run and eventually did some management. </p>
<p>Which jobs are more important for a college app? Who knows. The UMC jobs are kind of pre-professional, and the service jobs are learning about real life. I’d wager it is a toss up.</p>