MbaConfucius wrote:
Hello all,
I am in a serious dilemma right now. I currently work in FP&A (financial analyst title) for a F50 company, pretty well known by just about anyone. I make OK money (55K+) and I currently live with my parents in the Bay Area so I am saving a ton of money and having lots of fun. I just got offered a position in the Northwest (Seattle) as an Actuarial Analyst (pretty technical job, with great pay in the long run) and if I accept would be making 60K+, with plenty of opportunities to make more in the long run. The thing is, this company is not well known outside of the city and I would be in a new city where I don't know anybody. So upsides on this new position: higher base salary, more technical work, more interesting work, chance to see a new city. Downsides: won't be saving as much money for b-school, will be far away from family and the company is not as well known. Also I am currently just 1 year and 5 months into this job, following a short job of 5 months before this one... am I job hopping too much?
I am thinking of applying to B-school next year or the year after (2017 or 2018 intake) and I would like to know if ad-coms take into account how famous your company is, or if they view smaller companies in a negative light?
Which option would you choose? Stay or Go for the new job?
MbaConfuciusGreat question. The prestige of the company does matter for admissions, as well as the number of job changes you have had. That said, depending on the different responsibilities, leadership opportunities and areas in which you could grow, the new job may make sense. If your goal is to get into a good B school, don't consider the current salary difference because it is minor in the long run (with or without the cost of living / living at home adjustment). Its hard to say exactly what you should do without knowing the specific company names, your background and your post MBA goals. You should try to create a logical story now and do the things along the way that make sense and prepare you for your post-MBA goals. Does that sound more like staying at your current company or switching? With just seeing what you wrote, I would lean toward staying where you are, but it really depends on everything else.
Feel free to send me a note if you want to chat further and I can be more helpful once I know a bit more.
scott@personalmbacoach.com
close
19 Aug 2015, 16:32
