WS-

I just wrote an entire fired-up response, than hit backspace, which backed my browser up one window, subsequently losing my entire post. FOTRUNATLEY, I am in your position, and have nothing better to do with my time in the office than to re-type the damn thing!

SO - As mentioned, I am in your similar boat (I'm not married and don't own a home, this becomes relevant)

Too often, we find ourselves so concerned with finding the best/highest paid/most hours job we can. Unfortunately, I see this concept exemplified with MBA students! You are in a unique position, you have been accepted to an obligation (be it work or school) with a significant prior notice. Essentially, you can do whatever you want this summer, and you will be in the same role this fall - act on it!

By your description of your current job, you have little to no gratification (sounds like my job!) So get the hell out of there!

Is there anything you have really wanted to do? Anything crazy? Go hitchhike across the country (ok, at your own risk, and with your wife's approval), write a book, learn to cook, learn a language, travel to some foreign land, put some time into your business idea, train for something, do some gratifying volunteer work. During that job interview after your MBA graduation, what do you think a potential employer would rather hear about, how you stuck it out at your shitty job, or did something truly unique/risky/inspiring? I wouldn't want to work for a company who values the prior more than the latter...

My plan:

Libtery Day (Last day): May 2nd
Move to school (UC - Boulder): Mid Julyish
Classes: Mid August

May 4th: Using 35,000 air miles (thanks current employer!), fly roundtrip to Lima, Peru. Meet up with my girlfriend in La Paz, Bolivia (she'll be working for Engineers Without Borders, helping develop a wastewater treatment facility - she rocks ). Over the next 18 days, I plan to bike down the "death road", climb Huayana Potosi (19,900 feet), hike around Machu Pichu, and explore some seriously different and rich cultures.

June-July, train for some Tri's, bike across Michigan, do the things I've always wanted to do.

When I'm old and gray, will I regret these decisions? I can't imagine so. Many of my friends and co-workers think I'm crazy, but crazy is sticking with an unsatisfying job when you don't have to.

Live NOW, you'll make money later (you're going to have an MBA right!?)

Reason,

J

I was thinking about leaving end of May, but after that, only end of June:

Credits for nick_sun:
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Graduates lose special status in jobs market
By Neil Courtis
Published: March 30 2008 16:27 | Last updated: March 30 2008 16:27
Under the latest UK immigration rules, MBA graduates from outside the European Union face a new series of hurdles before they can work in the UK.
MBAs from leading business schools had qualified as highly skilled migrants under a special provision. But this is being withdrawn, meaning MBAs who want to work in the UK will have to provide proof of previous earnings, age and ties to the country.
Under the "MBA provision", introduced in April 2005, MBA graduates from the 50 top business schools were automatically eligible for work permits. Partly as a result, the UK was the destination of choice for many graduating MBAs.
The new rules, introduced with the aim of making the immigration system fairer and more transparent, eliminate the provision in favour of a uniform, points-based approach, which puts the MBA on a par with any other masters degree. Applicants need 75 points to qualify. A masters degree now counts for 35 points. Five bonus points are given for degrees awarded by UK schools. A further 20 points are available on the basis of youth (those under 28 score the maximum 20, falling to five points for 30- and 31-year-olds). The balance of points must be acquired by showing previous earnings.
A 32-year-old MBA without UK ties would need to demonstrate annual earnings of more than £35,000. These must be current earnings and must have been acquired within the 15 months immediately before starting school. Previous earnings are adjusted to account for lower wage levels in different economies. So, for instance, Indian salaries are multiplied by 5.3 to generate equivalent UK wage levels.
But incoming MBAs with a gap in their earnings pattern may find doors closed to them. These cases are already starting to crop up, according to Sarah Buttler, an immigration consultant.
"We have already seen a case of a young woman who had left a job early to travel before studying who now finds she cannot use some of her evidence of previous earnings. If you dig a bit below the surface, I think you would find many cases of people who won't be able to qualify as they previously would have done," she says.
MBAs going to larger companies will probably still find a way in. Businesses can still sponsor staff but have to show they have tested the labour market and cannot find suitable local candidates. However, such visas are tied to the job for which they were granted.
In future, MBAs planning to graduate and move to London to job hunt may need to rethink.
The new rules require applicants to demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves. A family of four will have to show disposable funds of £5,600.
For those already in the UK, these rules came into force on February 29. For those applying from abroad, the Border and Immigration Agency plans to roll out the new system this year.
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As soon as I sell my house but no later than mid julyish. If my house sells fast then I am going to be quitting right afterwards. I am hoping to enjoy at least June and July without working. My wife will quit too and then we can travel for a few months before settling in Evanston.
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Kellogg Class of 2010...still active and willing to help. However, I do not do profile reviews, don't offer predictions on chances and am far to busy to review essays, so save the energy of writing me a PM seeking help for these. If I don't respond to a PM that is not one of the previously mentioned trash can destined messages, please don't take it personally I get so many messages I have a hard to responding to most. The more interesting, compelling, or humorous you message the more likely I am to respond.
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I am totally dying in my job right now. All I want to do is rent out my condo and find one in Evanston - then pack and get out of dodge. Should have quit April 1st.

My current employer asked for recs when I joined, and they are a pretty small, regional company (150 employees). I guess they are called "references" and they talk to them on the phone rather than writing a letter, but it was pretty similar. (one of my references filled me in after the fact). I guess that is one part of this - how common is it for them to ask for references? So far I havebeen asked for references for 1 of 2 full time jobs i have held, and I know they did contact them.

I agree with the food, not the people though. I'd like to work at an Iberian desk .

The thing with UK, is that it is the easiest (at least it used to be) place to get a VISA. I'm not an european passaport holder, so the MBA provision would be perfect.
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LOL - and congrats on the 1000 posts!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSMP
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If it is some point in your career, it won't pose much a problem if you join a major company and they agree with your aspirations. My immediate impression is that it is H1-B lite.
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Also, a lot of peoples exposure to the UK is London... London is completley different to the rest of the UK.
People are friendlier outside of London, I've found this to be the same in most countries i've been. e.g. Tokyo is unfriendly compared to Kumamoto etc.

It's also a case of attitude, self-fulfilling prophecies and integration. If you don't make the effort, or you approach people in a certain way, the repsonse will be negative. Certainly, if you go into Central London, you will be hard pressed to find an English accent, because there are so many foreigners working in London. If you're working in London, the main place to find friends is through the workplace and via hobbies.
NB: I'm a British passport holder (born in the UK, Liverpool)