Making non-relevant work experience more relevant?

[Beckert]

Hi everyone, 

 

I have been out of school for approximately three years now and i'm in the process of applying to MA programs.  I have been working to pay the bills in non-relevant jobs (mainly retail & admin support in law offices).  I have heard that graduate programs like students with a little bit of real world experience but I am  worried about making these last few years relevant.  I done alot of personal growth and self discovery but I have also that graduate schools do not care about non-academic or non-related parts of your life,.  Any advice? Especially from others like me....

 

Thanks!

[czesc]

I went to professional school for three years in an unrelated field and then worked for another two in that field before applying for my PhD, so maybe I can help. Adcoms will be able to judge from the fact that you've been out of school for a few years that you're probably used to working in a professional environment, which will be an asset. What may will help you to do in order to augment that asset is to make sure you reassure them that you haven't compromised other aspects of a high quality applicant in order to do so. Writing an SOP that indicates you have a firm grasp on the most up-to-date historiography in your field will help. Indicating whatever you've done in the interim while you've been working that has helped to build your research or speaking skills or anything else you can think of related to being a history graduate student/professor will also be useful. If you've done anything relevant to the profession of history at all in the last three years -attended conferences, worked for an organization that deals with historical scholarship, anything - highlight that as well. 

 

Overall, I wouldn't spend too much time justifying your last three years of work experience, though. It's increasingly typical that a successful applicant will have been several years away from undergrad before applying.

Edited September 30, 2013 by czesc

[Bactrian]

Like czesc I worked in a barely related field for a number of years before going back for my PhD in history.

 

I wouldn't try to spin or oversell any of your experiences. If they're relevant then they're relevant. If not, then not. I think you risk coming across as fake or desperate if you try to bend your past work to sound relevant. In my SoP I had two sentences mentioning how my background gave me first-hand experience with some of the themes I hoped to work on and left it at that.

Edited September 30, 2013 by Bactrian

[MsDarjeeling]

I too have a ton of unrelated work experience prior to applying for my Master's and am still working in that field as I apply to PhD programs.  Instead of trying to justify my unrelated work experience I chose to highlight all of the other things I did outside of that which were relevant to my field of study.  Volunteer work, job shadowing, research experience, public speaking, etc.  In the interview for my Master's program I was asked if I had a day job and said something like "Yes and it is an unrelated field to what I want to study and ultimately do.  I'm grateful that it allows me to maintain a basic standard of living, but it is not fulfilling and I'm interested in transitioning into a completely different field because of xyz." 

 

As I've reached out for LOR's or general advice on the PhD application process I have been asked why I'm not working in my current field because there are some opportunities.  I've responded to this question by saying something like "I would love the opportunity to work within my field in a paid capacity.  I've enjoyed all of the volunteer opportunities that have broadened my skills and so far the right paid opportunity has not come along yet.  Until that happens I will remain in my current position."  I have not had any negative reactions to either of these responses.  If I'm asked more about the unrelated field I work in I'll keep my responses brief and redirect the conversation to what I want in the future.

 

In my SOP and CV I didn't even mention unrelated work experience.  I kept the focus entirely on what is relevant to the field I want to be in to avoid confusion.

[Beckert]

I'm just nervous since I don't have any real relevant expirence from the last three years (volunteer work etc) but I appericate all the advice. 

[Bactrian]

I don't think a few years of non-related work experience will hurt you. Admissions committees know that people have to work to eat and it's not always possible to find something directly related to what you ultimately want to do. While some experiences might make you stand out from the crowd (having been a working economist might make you more attractive if you want to do economic history, for example) SoP, writing sample, and letters are what count the most.