With all due respect, college admissions have drastically changed over the past forty to fifty years!

How? And why wouldn't a job look good? A job shows a person is capable of being responsible, independent, and deferred gratification.

A job might look good, but not good enough to offset poor test results or grades due to hours spent working instead of prepping and studying.

Nothing's perfect. But a job will look good.

BTW, admissions officers do look for diamond-in-the-rough applicants. Those whose test scores are lower, but have a solid reason for why. An example could be a significant accomplishment at their job.