When do most people quit their job before matriculation?

Question

I'm sure there are many other people in the same boat, but for me a large driver for going to business school is getting out of my current job. I'm curious - once a person is accepted, when is it considered "ok" to quit a job before going to b-school? And when I say "ok", I mean that your next potential employer/interviewer will not raise an eye to your leave date.

I've researched this a bit and assuming school starts in August, leaving June-July (1-2 months beforehand) seems fairly standard, May seems okay but might be cutting it close, and anything before that you would probably have to do some explaining?

I know each person's situation is unique, but all else equal, hoping to get some insight here. Thanks!

cheetarah1980 · Answer

It really depends. There are people in my class who quit in December. There are others who didn't quit until the week before classes started. In terms of whether a long break will look bad to future employers....I don't think so. You're recruiting from bschool so it's simply assumed that you took time off prior to attending school. If that's 2 months or 9 months, I don't think it really matters given the context. I doubt that my classmates who quit in December/January are going to have any issues with recruiting because of it.

jumsumtak · Answer

I attended the Fuqua info session and someone raised this question. The adcom member answered that you might have trouble explaining your stance to your future employers if you quit early.

According to me, its one of those 50-50s that might come up. It would also depend on how much time you have been in the work force. If its too less then obviously it might turn out to be negative.

dwinters · Answer

@ Jum: could you throw out some figures? What would you say is too early for the avg applicant with 4-5 years of work exp? Thanks.

jumsumtak · Answer

it really depends on your priorities. I personally would like to take a break to rest/network/intern before the course.

What I meant was for an applicant with 2-3 yrs of experience it does not make much sense to leave too early because it will place him/her at a disadvantage compared to his/her peers.. but for 5 yrs or so it should not matter a great deal... it should not be very important for employers because they see both kinds year in year out. I think you should just go on that vacation you are planning :-)

anyways next 2 yrs would be hard on you!

Posted from my mobile device

anyways next 2 yrs would be hard on you! Posted from my mobile device

ManhattanReview · Answer

This is a question that almost every successful MBA applicant faces. From what I can tell from the hundreds of candidates who I have worked with, most quit their jobs around May 1st. The biggest reason that people give for quitting around this time is that they want to spend time traveling and getting their mind and energy ready for school. A few candidates work until the last possible minute as they really do need the money and a few extra paychecks really makes a difference. For a few lucky first round candidates who hear from schools around Christmas, a surprisingly large number quit in mid-January (or right after they receive their bonuses).

In short, each person knows the ideal time for them to quit given their individual life circumstances. No matter what your decision is, it will not impact your ability to get a great job after business school as recruiters will focus on your newly minted credentials instead of the fact that you quit your job a few weeks early.

Kimberly Plaga
Senior Admissions Consultant
Manhattan Review

In short, each person knows the ideal time for them to quit given their individual life circumstances. No matter what your decision is, it will not impact your ability to get a great job after business school as recruiters will focus on your newly minted credentials instead of the fact that you quit your job a few weeks early.

Kimberly Plaga
Senior Admissions Consultant
Manhattan Review

mrsjonstewart · Answer

I have thought about this as well as I am VERY ready to leave my job. I am lucky that my boss already knows this...in fact, she is in the same boat so we've decided that if we haven't both moved on to new ventures by June 1, we're getting some nightlock and making a Hunger Games-style exit. But still, I wonder when I would actually leave. I think I'll want have some extra paychecks to tuck away, so I'll probably stay through the late spring. If money weren't important, I wouldn't think twice about leaving a little earlier as long as I felt like I could explain what I did with that time. I'm sure a future employer would understand taking a little time to travel, doing some volunteer work, brushing up some language skills, etc.

As others have said, there isn't one right answer -- you'll figure out what is right for you.

As others have said, there isn't one right answer -- you'll figure out what is right for you.

Admissionado · Answer

Yep, I agree that's the key "figure out what is right for you". Since you already got in, a few months here or there won't make that much of a difference to potential future employers, so if you have an idea (like say you wanna give six months to take a shot at some entrepreneurial idea before you get into classes), why not?? although, as several others have mentioned above, leaving before the summer is most common. It just makes sense for most people, who want to pull in as much pay as possible before they quit and then still leave them enough time to get set up with all the practicalities and necessities of life.

jlgdr · Answer

Have a quick question, somewhat related to this

Is there any issue if you quit working after receiving the admission decision? I plan to work until Jan 4th and my decisions will come on the week of Dec 15th. I already know that if I'm dinged by both school I'll be heading to CBS, but I was wondering it there would be an issue when the guys from the BG check call and HR tells them that I no longer work there because I left in Jan 4th. (I'll try to do the BG check as quick as possible after admission but these guys take their time). The reason I'm leaving soon is b/c I want to start a Pre-MBA internship asap.

Thanks for the thoughts,
Cheers, J

EnigmaD · Answer

It does not matter. Also, please do not resurrect THREE SEPARATE threads just to ask one question.

jlgdr · Answer

I thought not everyone reads this thread so that's why I ask. I'd like to hear from people that are going to provide some useful information though but thanks for your comments.

EnigmaD · Answer

Ok

jlgdr · Answer

Get a life

fbpointgod10 · Answer

hahaha, agreed. jlgdr's infamy continues. always entertaining. keep it up.

engineer1234 · Answer

What kind of pre-MBA internship are you going for? I think you posted PE but not sure. Are you looking for one through your network/cold calls? I'm interested in leaving work early as well since staying at my current job an extra x months won't do much for my career.

Re your question: I think if you're really concerned you should just tell the school. It's not like you're quitting early to chill so if any flags do come up they'll already know it's not an issue. Maybe just a quick email to whoever the admissions office contact is to cover yourself. Personally I think the BG check will be fine but it'll just make u worry less.

EnigmaD · Answer

I really hope you get into your other schools, Julien.

politricks · Answer

I have to kudos this because I love the sass/attitude. Dude just had what was a really important question to him. Should he have posted on three different threads at the same time? maybe not. should people have called him out on it? probably not. LET HIM LIVE.

angelfire213 · Answer

so just ANYBODY can be threadmaster?

abdc99 · Answer

wow I really hope that's not a sincere wish. Seriously though, let the man live.

jumsumtak · Answer

I'll get this back on track: Having gone through the whole cycle of quitting early and coming to business school, I'm quite certain that no one gives 2 sh** about when you quit. Go, do what you want to!

P.S. - Just make sure you take WL decisions into account. I had to stall my move because I was WL'd at a couple of schools.

When do most people quit their job before matriculation?

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