What counts as work experience? Forum

[krasivaya]

That questions sounds odd, but seriously. What counts as real work experience on a law school application?

I've worked as an administrative assistant at a law office, but it was hourly and only fifteen hours a week. I've also had several political internships, but these don't seem to really be work experience to me either.

What do you think? Does part time, hourly count as long as it's not like Taco Cabana? Does it have to be full time? Salaried? 6+ months? Does volunteering count (ie: Americorps)?

I'd love to know what you think / have experienced in the admissions process Thanks!

[haus]

It is still work experience. It is just not as much experience as someone who has worked full time, or in a position of greater authority/control.

[nonprofit-prophet]

That questions sounds odd, but seriously. What counts as real work experience on a law school application?

I've worked as an administrative assistant at a law office, but it was hourly and only fifteen hours a week. I've also had several political internships, but these don't seem to really be work experience to me either.

What do you think? Does part time, hourly count as long as it's not like Taco Cabana? Does it have to be full time? Salaried? 6+ months? Does volunteering count (ie: Americorps)?

I'd love to know what you think / have experienced in the admissions process Thanks!

someone goes to UT

[Renzo]

All of that is "work experience." But, when people say they value "work experience" they usually mean 2+ years of full-time work. You don't really learn the valuable skills of workplace politics, dealing with responsibility dumped on you, managing difficult coworkers, dealing with work catastrophes, etc. as a part-time or short-term employee.

[MrKappus]

That questions sounds odd, but seriously. What counts as real work experience on a law school application?

I've worked as an administrative assistant at a law office, but it was hourly and only fifteen hours a week. I've also had several political internships, but these don't seem to really be work experience to me either.

What do you think? Does part time, hourly count as long as it's not like Taco Cabana? Does it have to be full time? Salaried? 6+ months? Does volunteering count (ie: Americorps)?

I'd love to know what you think / have experienced in the admissions process Thanks!

Actually it happens more often than you think that people with WE at Taco Cabana are laughing their asses off with their interviewers, telling stories, and getting callbacks. Listening to someone talk about his/her admin assistant days in a law office is as interesting as it sounds.

[skw]

Don't underestimate your experience. Of course what you describe is less experience than someone who has worked full time for two years or more; but that doesn't mean it doesn't 'count'. Part of getting any job is selling your story. Don't lead with I only worked part time and so it probably doesn't count but I did X, Y or Z. Instead lead with I did X, Y or Z and learned (insert some valuable skill) that would help me excel at (insert what you're interviewing for). Don't pretend your experience is something it's not, but don't discount it either.

All this applies equally to law school apps as job interviews.

[BeachandRun23]

Don't underestimate your experience. Of course what you describe is less experience than someone who has worked full time for two years or more; but that doesn't mean it doesn't 'count'. Part of getting any job is selling your story. Don't lead with I only worked part time and so it probably doesn't count but I did X, Y or Z. Instead lead with I did X, Y or Z and learned (insert some valuable skill) that would help me excel at (insert what you're interviewing for). Don't pretend your experience is something it's not, but don't discount it either.

All this applies equally to law school apps as job interviews.

This. I have done similar jobs to you, and some of them I have learned alot from. Others not so much. It really depends on the experience. I dont think a blanket thinking applies here. Did the experience teach you anything? Did you grow from it? If so, then it is meaningful - it is now your job as an applicant to convey that.

[Renzo]

Don't underestimate your experience. Of course what you describe is less experience than someone who has worked full time for two years or more; but that doesn't mean it doesn't 'count'. Part of getting any job is selling your story. Don't lead with I only worked part time and so it probably doesn't count but I did X, Y or Z. Instead lead with I did X, Y or Z and learned (insert some valuable skill) that would help me excel at (insert what you're interviewing for). Don't pretend your experience is something it's not, but don't discount it either.

All this applies equally to law school apps as job interviews.

This. I have done similar jobs to you, and some of them I have learned alot from. Others not so much. It really depends on the experience. I dont think a blanket thinking applies here. Did the experience teach you anything? Did you grow from it? If so, then it is meaningful - it is now your job as an applicant to convey that.

I agree with all of this. It's important to sell yourself, and certainly there are experiences you've had that you can point at to demonstrate your capabilities. But generally when people talk about having "work experience" it means something a bit more substantial.

[lawschool12345]

What kind of work experience does Northwestern look at, i have a 3.7 167 so i know im not close to getting in on my grades alone but for the last 7 years i have worked as a tutor at an after school center, 25 hours a week, every week, and also interned with the Brooklyn District Attorneys office.

[PriOSky]

.

[lawyerkobe]

That questions sounds odd, but seriously. What counts as real work experience on a law school application?

I've worked as an administrative assistant at a law office, but it was hourly and only fifteen hours a week. I've also had several political internships, but these don't seem to really be work experience to me either.

What do you think? Does part time, hourly count as long as it's not like Taco Cabana? Does it have to be full time? Salaried? 6+ months? Does volunteering count (ie: Americorps)?

I'd love to know what you think / have experienced in the admissions process Thanks!

Heh. Work experience. I go to NU where everyone has "work experience". Let me tell you something about all that work experience: not all of it is extremely impressive.

[lawschool12345]

so what i said doesnt count

[esq]

If they were paying you for your work: work experience.

If they weren't: volunteer experience.

Simple.

[kublaikahn]

That questions sounds odd, but seriously. What counts as real work experience on a law school application?

I've worked as an administrative assistant at a law office, but it was hourly and only fifteen hours a week. I've also had several political internships, but these don't seem to really be work experience to me either.

What do you think? Does part time, hourly count as long as it's not like Taco Cabana? Does it have to be full time? Salaried? 6+ months? Does volunteering count (ie: Americorps)?

I'd love to know what you think / have experienced in the admissions process Thanks!

The context for this question matters a great deal. If you are applying to law school (which it sounds is your context), WE can mean that you made time commitments during school other than studying and that is a good soft. If the WE was after you graduated, Taco Cabana would be far less important. However, places like NU want to know that you know the expectations of a professional and are familiar with the rules of engagement in a professional office. People need to be trained "how to work"--play in the sandbox, work on teams and support managers, etc.

[PriOSky]

.

[Renzo]

If they were paying you for your work: work experience.

If they weren't: volunteer experience.

Simple.

I don't agree.

Mine would be: if someone looks at your resume, and can tell without speaking to you that you left college and got a full-time job to support yourself, you have work experience.

[firemed]

What kind of work experience does Northwestern look at, i have a 3.7 167 so i know im not close to getting in on my grades alone but for the last 7 years i have worked as a tutor at an after school center, 25 hours a week, every week, and also interned with the Brooklyn District Attorneys office.

From everything I have heard Northwestern wants real, full time, non-school related, not in school, generally post school, work experience.

IMO, you need to ED to a T7-14, and forget Northwestern.

[09042014]

3.7/167 isnt getting NW even if you had a baller career. Well, unless you applied to Jd/mba.

Northwestern has three hard factors: LSAT/GPA/Years worked fulltime post grad

The quality of the work is just a soft factor. One they value heavily, but still a soft factor. Northwestern is one of the least holistic t14.

[lawschool12345]

What school from 7 to 14 do I have the best shot at ed and getting in?

[Patriot1208]

What school from 7 to 14 do I have the best shot at ed and getting in?

The only one you have a legitimate chance at is cornel, which has no ed.

[lawschool12345]

Would early action help with cornell, what about if I ed with Ucla or gtown, no shot?, I kno I'm out at uva and penn

[Patriot1208]

Would early action help with cornell, what about if I ed with Ucla or gtown, no shot?, I kno I'm out at uva and penn

Early action is essentially just applying early, which always helps. And i'd bet on you being out at both of those even with ED. But UCLA is more likely.

[lawschool12345]

Lawschool numbers and lawschool calculator make it seem like I have a good shot at ucla rd

[Patriot1208]

Lawschool numbers and lawschool calculator make it seem like I have a good shot at ucla rd

I see mostly WL's this past year and mostly denies the year before. I'm not saying you have no chance, just that they aren't great. And the calculators, IMO, are useless. Anyways, if you want your chances at schools start a thread in the "What are my Chances?" forum and stop clogging up this topic.