Should I get a job?

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USNAhopeful2023

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Hi I’m 16 and planning on applying to all the academies, and hoping to be accepted at the Naval Academy specifically. My question is this, I want to get a job to be able to pay for swim meets, driving places, and for some extra-curricular competition math classes that my parents have refused to pay for in the past and that I believe will help me improve at the AMC12 math competition.

However my dad insists that if I get a job at somewhere like my local grocery store, the academies will look down on that because that job isn’t very respectable, he says. He also says that I couldn’t handle both the job and schoolwork, though I take entirely online classes and have a 3.95 unweighted gpa; not to mention it’s summer currently and I wouldn’t continue to work into the school year unless I was sure I could handle it.

So could anyone with admissions knowledge tell me if working at my local grocery store would be looked down on? I’d appreciate some advice here because I want to listen to my father but I also feel that there couldn’t be anything wrong with working over the summer.
 
You won’t be judged or “looked down upon” by any job. That’s just wrong. A humble servant attitude wouldn’t judge any kind of honorable work.

What will be important, no matter the kind of work you do, would be to show incentive and leadership. Responsibility. Be somone your employer trusts with responsibility. And if you have enough time, working your way into positions where you maybe train others. Or a shift leader. Look for opportunities to shine.

Maybe your dad meant something other than what you took from his comments. Idk. But the academies won’t judge you for working at a grocery store.
 
USNAhopeful2023 said:
Hi I’m 16 and planning on applying to all the academies, and hoping to be accepted at the Naval Academy specifically. My question is this, I want to get a job to be able to pay for swim meets, driving places, and for some extra-curricular competition math classes that my parents have refused to pay for in the past and that I believe will help me improve at the AMC12 math competition.

However my dad insists that if I get a job at somewhere like my local grocery store, the academies will look down on that because that job isn’t very respectable, he says. He also says that I couldn’t handle both the job and schoolwork, though I take entirely online classes and have a 3.95 unweighted gpa; not to mention it’s summer currently and I wouldn’t continue to work into the school year unless I was sure I could handle it.

So could anyone with admissions knowledge tell me if working at my local grocery store would be looked down on? I’d appreciate some advice here because I want to listen to my father but I also feel that there couldn’t be anything wrong with working over the summer.
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I was told by my BGO one of the bigger aspects of my application WAS the fact I had a job. It showed the ability to commit to and juggle multiple varying tasks along with people skills and time management. I certainly can’t see it being a bad thing.
 
Navy_Simp said:
I was told by my BGO one of the bigger aspects of my application WAS the fact I had a job. It showed the ability to commit to and juggle multiple varying tasks along with people skills and time management. I certainly can’t see it being a bad thing.
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Any job is viewed as a positive by USNA Admissions. Your BGO is correct. All jobs are an opportunity to learn about leadership, communications, responsibility etc.
 
If I remember from DS' experience, there was a question/flag about 10+hrs a week job? DS was only able to work 1 day/week due to sports, etc so he was only at 8-9 and couldn't mark that. But, like above, he felt having that job was a cherry on top of the grades, sports, scouts, etc.

My personal take is that everyone should be encouraged to work in a retail setting at least once. It is life changing once you see how folks outside your bubble live, interact, etc. Not sure what your town has, but look for places that might offer you the best situation during school year as well. Will they work with you on 1 day/week if that is all you can do?
 
B&G Officer shared the story of a mid who didn’t sign 2-for-7. Mid said they were turned off by their summer training cruise, where their running mate spent a lot of time in the belly of the ship. Mid said they couldn’t see themself working in a blue-collar, industrial setting like that. Insinuation was that it was beneath them. So they opted out.

B&G Officer told this story with disdain in his voice. “Just as well,” was his tone.

So no, the Navy does not look down on the type of work you’re considering. It actually appreciates that experience, as would the sailors you may someday lead.
 
My personal opinion is that a job is very valuable life experience for high schoolers, NO MATTER WHAT THE JOB. Not everyone can do it but if it fits in with your busy schedule, I think it is valuable, regardless of what USNA may think. My DS's employer during HS was contacted as part of his security clearance.
 
USNAhopeful2023 said:
However my dad insists that if I get a job at somewhere like my local grocery store, the academies will look down on that because that job isn’t very respectable
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No offense to your father but he's simply wrong. And no offense to you, but as a 16 year old there aren't many "respectable" jobs available anyway, whatever that means in this context. You're looking to apply to an elite institution that certainly is Ivy League / white collar in prestige but has the wherewithal to know we all start somewhere. USNA teaches respect, honor, integrity, and diligence -- all traits that can exhibited in any job, menial or not. And besides, if USNA looked down on blue collar / menial work, the officers produced there would look down on the hard work performed by junior enlisted in many situations -- but they don't.

Whether you can juggle the job and your other endeavors to remain as competitive as possible is a separate conversation, though having the job in and of itself is a boon to your resume.

Anecdote: my first job was at a kennel. I literally cleaned dog poop every day. Now I'm a post-Command Commander and will likely be one of your professors in a couple of years. Again, we all start somewhere and I started about as low as you can. Good luck!
 
My DS got a job at Chick Fil A his senior year in high school. He started at the bottom and got two promotions first to shift leader and then to manager. He starts college in January. He is getting great leadership/management experience. He doesn't have the grades for USNA, but the work/life experience has been fantastic. By the way, he got his first leadership experience in NJROTC, which I think was a big part in his getting hired and then promoted at Chick Fil A. One thing leads to another. Whether he does NROTC in college or not, he has turned out to be a real leader. So I think working is great experience and looks great on a resume if you can still get good grades.
 
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DD has worked since she was 14. During both her congressional nomination panel interview and her interview with her Blue and Gold officer , it was pointed out she had a job and she felt it was seen as a positive. If anything, I think it highlighted that she was able to multitask and handle her responsibilities academically with her extracurriculars and her employment . Not quite sure what a “respectable” job is for a 16 year old. DD was lifeguard and swim instructor plus worked in a bakery prior to her certification as a lifeguard . When I was first starting out in my career I had a supervisor tell our squad that he would never ask us to do anything that he hadn’t already done himself . He was one of the best supervisors I ever worked for and was widely respected .
 
DS was a janitor for 2 years during high school at a local community center, while playing varsity and club baseball and maintaining the academic profile to be accepted. He was asked about this choice specifically in his CA senator nomination interview. He received that nomination which was surprising due to the level of competitiveness. I assume that his rationale for why he chose to do that job could only have helped in that context.
 
Don't Give Up the Ship said:
Any job is viewed as a positive by USNA Admissions. Your BGO is correct. All jobs are an opportunity to learn about leadership, communications, responsibility etc.
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+100 to @Don't Give Up the Ship and @Navy_Simp and all the rest.... BGO in my son's interview specifically commented on the fact that DS was working part-time at a fast food chain - that it showed he's willing to be responsible, to get good at prioritization, and to time manage, etc. I'm paraphrasing, but the BGO conveyed the sentiment that he looked more favorably toward those that are willing to take on the responsibility of a part-time job, no matter what the job is - all assuming it doesn't interfere with school.
 
Adding to the several great examples above re work: DS got a summer job at his favorite fast-food joint. Could’ve worked the front of the house, but was assigned to the back of the house because he showed a knack for it. So there he was, a cook working for not much more than minimum wage.

It was stressful, hot, fast paced and demanding. It required great teamwork, patience, empathy and leadership. He had to be cool under pressure. Many were depending on him and it was easy to see if he messed up. He learned to push others respectfully and to take accountability for his actions.

If you ask me, I believe all that was great experience for someone who aspires to lead our fighting men and women. Take all the things he faced and put them into a battlefield context, and I’d say he has a dang good base to build on as he pursues an officer’s commission.
 
No one will ever look down on you for working. Many USNA applicants don't have the luxury (aka ..."priviledge") of spending all of their HS time focused on resume building, ECA, sports, etc. It really doesn't matter what you do, as long as you try to be the very best at whatever job you do. A letter of reference from a supervisor attesting to your leadership, reliability, work ethic and responsibility probably goes a lot farther than an internship at Goldman Sachs.
 
Working part time while you continue with other activities, your focus on excelling academically will serve as a great preparation approach for your years ahead. I would argue my DS working 20 hours a week in HS while being a leader on the athletic field, classroom, our community and civic organizations only greatly strengthened his applications, not detracted as it showed he was able to multi-task and manage time - skills you'll need as you prepare to serve as an officer. Good luck.

When I hire and retain people I look for those who aren't afraid of work/ who have a strong work ethic. Those "allergic" to scut or non-glamorous tasks that they seem to see as below them, however intelligent and otherwise capable, are candidates I'll pass on. A former employee I had inherited during a merger, from Paris, said in a perfectly snooty tone during his review "My employer sees fit to utilize my MBA and bachelors degree from a top US university on menial tasks", I guess his goal was to avoid being obligated to do such tasks for us in the future. He succeeded.
 
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I agree with all of the above, but as an online schooler you're going to need all the leadership opportunities you can find. Be sure that you keep your eyes open for chances to train others, become a shift lead or whatever else can display leadership. The job itself shows time management but you still need to check the other boxes.
 
I worked at a grocery store and I was a farmhand. Now I’m at the academy and I absolutely loved those jobs despite the hard labor.
 
USNA_STEM_Prof said:
No offense to your father but he's simply wrong. And no offense to you, but as a 16 year old there aren't many "respectable" jobs available anyway, whatever that means in this context. You're looking to apply to an elite institution that certainly is Ivy League / white collar in prestige but has the wherewithal to know we all start somewhere. USNA teaches respect, honor, integrity, and diligence -- all traits that can exhibited in any job, menial or not. And besides, if USNA looked down on blue collar / menial work, the officers produced there would look down on the hard work performed by junior enlisted in many situations -- but they don't.

Whether you can juggle the job and your other endeavors to remain as competitive as possible is a separate conversation, though having the job in and of itself is a boon to your resume.

Anecdote: my first job was at a kennel. I literally cleaned dog poop every day. Now I'm a post-Command Commander and will likely be one of your professors in a couple of years. Again, we all start somewhere and I started about as low as you can. Good luck!
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When my college students talk about their work in retail or fast food, I refer to those jobs as motivators toward being focused on succeeding in college. My experiences working in a McDonalds and scooping Ice Cream showed me what I DIDN'T want to do with my life.
 
OldRetSWO said:
When my college students talk about their work in retail or fast food, I refer to those jobs as motivators toward being focused on succeeding in college. My experiences working in a McDonalds and scooping Ice Cream showed me what I DIDN'T want to do with my life.
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I didn't want to clean dog poop the rest of my life. :)
 
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