Quitting job in December - How will it impact R2 applications?

Question

Hi,

I am planning to leave my current job in November / December - I can delay this to January end. The reason for this having to relocate back to my parents who are in another city - I have been away with periodic visits annually for more than 5 years. I understand that the timing isn't ideal here but it is what it is.

I am planning to take up another role in a similar industry and at a bigger firm.

Where I am with MBA apps:

GMAT is done and I have a good score! (just took it) 
 I have 2 recommenders ready to go. 
 I will apply to 1-2 schools in R1 (running very late with apps)  
 I am planning to apply most of my target schools (M7) in R2

On the professional front - I have spent 5+ years at this firm and I was promoted at work around a month back, so this is most definitely not a case of me being fired or due to any competency or behavioral issues haha. Both my recommenders are from my current company.

My questions are:

How will this move be perceived by the adcoms at M7 schools given its right in the middle of application season? 
 Would schools perceive me not having a recommender from my new job as a negative? (can't really ask someone who I would have known for ~1 month for a recommendation)  
 Assuming I can stretch my current employment to January end (post R2 application submission deadline), would this job change be viewed negatively at the interview or post interview stage?  
 Is there any difference in switching jobs in December vs January?

Thank you!

bb · Answer

Hi. Congratulations on your new role and new position. People change jobs all the time and it really does not matter all that much, especially if you are moving to a bigger firm and not taking a pay cut and demonstrating something that may be perceived this weakness.

When you fill out the application for R2, they will ask you about your job jobs and reason reasons why you switched so it will be perfectly explained there.

There’s absolutely no issue with not having a recommender from a job where you only worked for a few months. They would prefer having your old recommends actually. For someone to write a recommendation after an employee has left is a much bigger testament - so here you have some sort of strength assuming you commanders don’t hate you 😂

I would say there is very little NEGATIVE difference in terms of timing of change. I would look at it mostly as a perception question - which job looks better on the résumé - if the new one looks better, then you may want to switch beforehand, so you can apply with a large brand-name and potentially craft a story that you’re making more money or have a better role showing career progression. If it’s the same role and same everything and it’s not a good story, it’s still probably better and easier to show it on your application rather than having to send an update in January or February, but I kind of feel like it doesn’t really matter all that much.

So I would just do what’s better for you and not worry about the applications. Maybe someone smarter has better ideas? 😬

GyanOne · Answer

Hi  LeafyRest5 ,
Thanks for posting. Here is our assessment:

The practical decision in front of you right now is whether the job change happens before or after R2 submission, and the answer matters more than the December versus January question in isolation.

- A promotion a month before leaving a five-year tenure reads cleanly to any admissions reader; the concern isn't the departure itself but whether the gap between "left current role" and "application submitted" creates ambiguity about what you're doing during evaluation. If you submit R2 while still employed, your application is a snapshot of an upward-moving professional, and the pending move is just context in the optional essay, not a flag that needs managing.

- On recommenders: both letters coming from your current company is standard and will not raise questions, especially since one of those people presumably oversaw the recent promotion. Asking a one-month manager for a recommendation would actually work against you, so the instinct to skip that is right. What you should address briefly, somewhere in the application, is why the move is happening, framed around family rather than dissatisfaction.

- Here's where the timing calculus actually turns: if you leave in November or December and R2 deadlines pass before you've started the new role, you will likely interview as someone between jobs. That's manageable with a clear explanation, but it hands the interviewer an obvious question and asks you to spend credibility answering it rather than advancing your narrative.

Staying through the end, if possible, keeps that out of the interview entirely, and your strongest angle remains what it already is: a promoted professional with a stable, coherent story.

Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with more queries as needed.  Contact us directly - submit a query here .

MBADecoder · Answer

HI, 1. I have helped people apply to M7 b-schools with a career gap. It may not be optimal, but in many cases it is what it is. You will have to clarify to the adcom why you have that gap. So if you can delay quitting the job until January end, that leaves you in a very comfortable position. you will have nothing to explain and don't have to mention it during interviews which usually take place in February -March. Also note, that many applicants quit jobs early when they secure admits so they can be with their families/ travel/ pursue activities before they join b-school. If the goal is to be with your family for some time, this may also be a route. If your family needs you urgently then you can justify leaving now. In that case, you must explain any career gap via the optional essay. As you have had a stable career working in the same org for 5 years, i would not be very concerned about the career break if you explain the reason and your intention to get back into a job. 2. Regarding recos- a recommender at a new job will know nothing about you to make any valuable insights on the recommendation. You can get 2 recommenders from your current company even if you were to join a new one. 3. Its ok to change a job in between the application. You would want to connect it to your career goals and show that you have been intentional about your career choice. Also remember, that your new company would be a valid data point on your resume for internship hiring. Hope that helps, Namita Garg, Founder, MBA Decoder Email: contact@mbadecoder.com Reach out to us for a Profile Evaluation Testimonials: https://mbadecoder.com/testimonials/ 650+ Admits to M7/T15 b-schools |15 years consulting experience | work directly with Founders

Quitting job in December - How will it impact R2 applications?

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