<p>Hi :). My question is, if you work (at home) for a parent, can you still include it as work experience? My dad is a professor at a local university, and I've done a significant amount of work in helping him prepare for classes, since I've got much better computer skills than he does. (Create lesson powerpoints, seating charts, excel spreadsheets, etc.) </p>
<p>Also, as a side note--I babysit my little brother (7 years younger) throughout the week. About 6-8 hours a week of it is unpaid while my parents work, while every Saturday night is paid. Again, does this (and how does it) relate to "work experience". Thanks!</p>
<p>Btw, I really don't know the answers to these, so please don't bash me if you think I'm just trying to excuse beefing up my resume for the heck of it. If you think that none of this should be included on an app, please tell me, but be nice about it :P</p>
<p>It sounds like your stretching it a bit, anybody and everybody can say they worked for their parents, are their parents going to deny that? Of course not.</p>
<p>Idk but its really annoying because I have to be home on weekdays anytime after 4pm because both my parents don't come back until 11/12ish so I have to watch my younger brother from about 4-10pm every single weekday, and this stops me from being able to be as involved in my ECs as I'd like to be. Plus even if I can find someone to watch my brother some days, I need to find rides because I can't drive until the end of junior year. But then I feel uncomfortable listing it as a "job" (babysitting) because I don't get paid, and I do my homework and stuff. He's 8 so it's not like I have to be with him the whole time, it's just that I need to be home to make sure he does his work, doesn't watch TV the whole night, and to make him dinner.
SUCKS.</p>
<p>idk, personally, I don't think familial obligations cut it for a resume-- everyone does them, it's an expectation. For instance, I weed the yard, wash dishes, do my own laundry, and for a large portion of my life babysat my younger brother... did I put this on my application? Nope. </p>
<p>You could maybe put the lesson plan thing on there-- maybe write it up as follows--</p>
<p>teacher's aide (9-12)- 2 hours/week-- used computer skills to create lesson plans and spreadsheets.</p>
<p>this could be stretching it though-- if it's one of those things you do just for fun as opposed to your father actually requiring your help, you might just want to throw it into an interview or include it in one of your essays, though not in a cliche way...</p>
<p>i work at my mom's office doing filing, paperwork, organizing, etc.<br>
do you think colleges will look down on that? it was the only job i could find that has hours that i can work with</p>
<p>I noticed when touring Ivies that several went out of their way, when discussing ECs, to say that caring for a younger sibling counted as work and that they would understand why this limited other ECs. I think it would be very good to mention working for a parent, as long as it seems like a real responsibility that you took seriously.</p>