Would you NOT tell your employer about leaving for bschool?

Question

Is there a situation when you would NOT tell your employer you were leaving to go to bschool and instead tell them something else (leaving to explore other opportunities, moving closer to family, etc etc)?

Background: I haven't been at this particular company for a long time, and I've gone back and forth about telling them the "real" reason I'm leaving. Sure, it would be great to go around saying I'm getting an MBA, but sometimes I'd rather just leave quietly and not look back. I don't intend to come back to my current industry, but I do realize that cutting all ties could be a risky move if the job market were to spiral downward again.

Thoughts, wise Gmat Club members?

kingfalcon · Answer

No, I would (and did) tell them. Unless your coworkers hate you, they'll probably be very happy that you're taking the effort to better yourself. If anything, it will probably make you look better in their eyes.

Admissionado · Answer

Wouldn't you at least want to tell the people you were a bit "closer" with?

highwyre237 · Answer

Agreed, I can honestly say that once my coworkers found out about my plans (coming from an un-traditional function to boot) people were both happy for me, and impressed. Sure there is some resentment here and there, but overall telling everyone was a good experience.

Why are you worried? Are you coming from an industry where MBAs are looked down on (i.e. creative)? If this is the case, it's all about how you present why you are going back.

If you are worried they'll be aware that you were planning on leaving when you took the job... well, there isn't a real way around that... Its best to be a bit up-front about it, but play up how uncertain you were about any of it working out.

IDK, I'm curious as to why you are so apprehensive about going public with this info, especially at a company where you're considering cutting all ties anyway.

CriticalSquare · Answer

The world can be an awfully small place. At the end of this, you will be a stronger person and have much more to offer. Even if you don't go back to them, you never know when you might run into someone from there again. Being forthcoming (especially when you're not concerned about coming back) will serve you well.

Good luck!

Bhavik

Good luck!

Bhavik

Dakells · Answer

Plus, could be sort of awkward if any of them LinkedIn you are internet stalk you after you leave and see that you ended up at Bschool when you said you were leaving for some other reason. You never know, a colleague now could end up at a company you want to work for in a couple of years. Even though you're leaving your current industry, you never know.

PaulLanzillotti · Answer

Hey mbaquestionasks:

Intriguing question ... Thanks for asking it.

Leaving without telling one is not very professional. The reality is that you are not just going to leave "and not look back." That is, your former co-workers are going to figure it out eventually, and possibly feel stupid. That's bad, by the way.

Now you may not care now, but careers tend to be a bit longer than anyone would like to believe. Your former co-workers won't remember anything you did well, just the fact that you pulled a fast one. For example - what happens if you ever need a reference in the future? That is, a future employer really wants to talk to you boss at this firm? That's a bad thing.

I agree with the general consensus on this thread -  Don't do it if you don't have to.

Respectfully,
Paul Lanzillotti

mbaquestionasks · Answer

Wow, thank you for all the responses.

I feel like telling them is my business to tell if I want to. Yes, through LinkedIn they'll find out eventually, but that's if they want to stay connected (and not all of them will). I work in an industry/environment with high turnover so no one really notices when another desk is vacated. While I don't want to draw attention to my leaving, I do understand that some bridges shouldn't be burned and I will be telling a few people I am close with. Given everyone's responses, I may actually tell my entire immediate team; you've given me something to think about.

splash · Answer

I don't understand why you don't want to tell them? what's the problem? are you afraid of their reaction?

kasonhills · Answer

I'm trying to understand your reason for not wanting to tell them. Why be all sketchy about it, they'll find out one way or another, better to hear it from you. So yes definitely tell your team and immediate managers. You don't need to go publish it or make an announcement to the whole company, but tell those you work directly with and I'm sure they will appreciate that much more than realizing after you're gone that you lied to them.

bb · Answer

Another reason I could see is that it is perhaps a bit too late to tell so they will feel weird that you have been applying and planning to leave them for over a year now.

I don't think it matters frankly. I have hided a lot of things from my co workers. Eg most don't know about GMAT club. LOL. And if one day I were leaving to work for GMAT club full time, I may be embarrassed to admit I have been late on assignments and not paying attention in meetings because I was hanging out on the forum. I would not want it to reflect negatively on my integrity... Or the illusion of it at least.

Anyway. Interesting situation. Curious what you end up doing and what the real reason is. (Mine would be guilt for not being honest from the beginning)

Posted from my mobile device.

dinho · Answer

i'm not telling my employer that i am applying, but if/when i get in i will tell them that i'm leaving and why

dtse86 · Answer

Hey All,

There hasn't been activity on this thread for a while, but I think it relates to my current situation very well.

I do ultimately plan on telling my boss that I am applying to business school as I need his recommendation to complete my application. However, I don't know if anyone could contribute a story about how they approached their manager regarding such a sensitive subject.

My situation:
My boss hired me into my current role just about a year ago. He admitted to me that I was definitely on the younger side of all the considered candidates, but that I reminded him of himself when he started 15 years ago. Over the last year he's definitely hinted that he expects me to be here for a long time. When I first started he introduced me to people by also adding the length of time they've been here (which oftentimes was around 10 years). He also mentioned to me the other day that he would be at my "10 year reception" when the time came.

I'm hesitant to talk to him about leaving and getting out of engineering all together, but I know this is definitely one difficult conversation that I  must  have. Does anyone have any good ideas about how to approach him on this? I was thinking about asking him if he wanted to get lunch and then introduce the news then.

ShoeBunny · Answer

Be honest. If you're leaving the industry you're in now, you must have a reason for doing so, right? Isn't it some reason of personal value? Your supervisor should understand that. Like he said, you're young, so wanting to change your career should not come as a surprise to him. When you do have the conversation, just be frank about your goals in life, and why an MBA is more important than the job... or just say why the MBA is important, in case you do end up staying.

How to bring it up? Ask him to do a 6 month/12 month/18 month whatever review. Be prepared. This is what I did and it really helped as I was able to talk my boss through all the recommendation questions before even telling her why my questions were so specific. Guide him through the conversation. Rate and describe yourself, then ask for his feedback on that. Basically walk him through a recommendation letter, and give him content for it, too. At the end of the conversation, talk about your goals. You're not leaving tomorrow, so you should have goals for when you're at the company and in the future. The future plans would involve getting your MBA. Then let the conversation flow naturally.

When I did this with my supervisor, I had a six-page document that touched on every point in the recommendation letter, with details and examples to support it. When I told my boss I wanted my MBA, she asked to hold onto my writeup (all part of the plan). This not only made my goals clear, but it gave her material for the letter she wrote.

Good luck!

balki1867 · Answer

When you don't give a reason people will assume the worst (you left for a competitor, personal issues, you were asked to resign, etc).

Leaving for B-school is actually a great reason to leave a job and your coworkers will be excited for you. Unless you're in a particularly unique situation, I don't know why you wouldn't tell people.

Would you NOT tell your employer about leaving for bschool?

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