jasonc wrote:
You may also be able to take some stats/accounting classes at a local college to both help your GPA and give you something to do during unemployment - take this with a grain of salt, being an 09 applicant who is still relatively new on this forum, I don't really know what I'm talking about
It's not so much about the tenure of your participation as it is the quality of it and you make a lot of good posts so I definitely take your suggestions seriously! I've considered enrolling in a statistics and/or calculus course to take a little pressure off my undergraduate marks but my current employment uncertainty makes me a bit uneasy about commiting. I just don't want to get half way through a course only to have to discontinue because I take a job that makes attending class impossible. Plus, taking classes makes my unemployment benefits go poof
jasonc wrote:
I'll also need to explain a similar unemployment issue - I have an 8 months gap between college and my first job - I have a few things I did during that time that I'll be using to show initiative - volunteer work, taking care of my mother's injuries (she was in an accident) and also exploring/researching for industries/jobs I'd actually enjoy - and holding out for the right job instead of taking whatever came along.
I don't think your gap is a big deal because it was so long ago and before you began your professional career. Plus, you can spin it as a positive that you were holding out for the right job and not just one that you took because you were bored. You can stress how you had a plan for your career and how important it was that you eventually took the job that you did.
solaris1 wrote:
Your perceived weakness doesn't sound to be *that* bad a problem at all! It seems like you did some really interesting travels during that seven month hiatus, I think that makes for a good story if you spin in right. And I bet admissions committees are more understanding of layoffs anyway, I had a similar 3 month period between jobs, however I just took it real easy and at least you have your travels and extracurricular involvement to talk about. You haven't found a job in line with your short- and long-term goals, it's a tough economy out there and that sounds like it could be a pretty concrete explanation in itself. Just keep up your interests outside of work, so the adcoms know you are pursuing something you feel truly passionate about, and keep looking for jobs. That's just what it is.
All very valid points and ones I will consider when trying to explain my employment gap. The biggest challenge I forsee will be picking the angle that is the most resilient. Even though the economy is down, Bay Area big pharmaceuticals especially, there are still plenty of jobs out there and plenty of people who find those jobs. An adcom can easily get the impression that I have some sort of performance deficiency if I cite the poor economy as my primary obstacle.