Dr Zuleyka Zevallos

But many applicants are told NOT to include this type of thing. If it really matters then you should ask them.

Agreed, I was being a bit sarcastic. I definitely wouldn't advise people to put it on their CV but maybe work it into a sentence in the essay in regards to work ethic and experience.

I put ALL my customer service experience on my CV throughout my early career. Used it to get my first research leadership role in a science organisation. Used examples of my management, interpersonal & conflict solving skills working as waitress, retail & in delicatessen/ seafood

I'm a first-gen, poor, working class migrant #WOC & these roles were the way I wholly supported myself through university, without family help given our financial position. I'm proud of this work & the skills gained helped my career development, including my path as a scientist.

I hear you. I worked retail and other minimum wage jobs through HS and college, too. But I think many now are getting advice not to share that. And the honest truth is that sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s bad. Hard to give universal guidance.

If students are getting this advice, I would question where it comes from and to what aim. The fact is that few students from underprivileged backgrounds can afford to do unpaid internships or have connections to get into early research programs to have "pure science" experience

I was definitely told to take anything not related to my field off my CV even other research experiences. Any part time jobs I held or leadership positions I was told to remove as well.

Grrr this makes me really angry! If you can share this - was it careers advice workers at your university or senior academics/ supervisors or the job advertisers/recruiters saying this? The gall of telling ECR to omit part-time jobs & leadership roles from their CV!