Employment Question

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Employment Question

by andybfg » Tue Jun 08, 2010 8:48 am
Hello,

I have a few questions but thought I would provide you with some background. I was laid off January of last year from a large media conglomerate (was offered multiple positions to stay on after being laid off). I then traveled abroad for a little over a month. When I returned to the U.S. I enrolled in GMAT courses and dedicated my time solely to this endeavor for about 5 months. I took the gmat in September last year and then got a dismal score. To balance out my resume, I took a volunteer position at a non-profit in September in addition to volunteering at a few other institutions.

I finally hit an acceptable GMAT score around a month ago, but have continued those aforementioned activities to this point. It should also be noted that I started off as an associate at the non-profit but have progressed to a managerial role. While the position at the non-profit is unpaid, it has definitely afforded me the opportunity to explore areas that I would not have explored had I gotten a job at a larger corporation.

My questions:

1) Does it make sense to apply for jobs now as I am planning on applying to b-school this year? how would this impact my application?

2) Would i need to get a recommendation from my boss at the non-profit even though it's technically not a full-time position?

3) Could I use my time at the non-profit as work experience on my application/resume?

4) Based solely on my work experience, does it make sense to apply this year? Assuming I can use the non-profit as work experience, I would have around 3.5 years of experience...

Thanks!
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by Lisa Anderson » Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:23 am
Dear andybfg,

Since you would not actually be starting school until fall 2011 (assuming that is the case if you are applying this year), then it would make sense to look for a job as you have about a year you can work between now and then. Schools will be concerned with what you have been doing since you were laid off and your plan until you start the program, as well as how all of your activities relate to your career goals and rationale for business school. I think a recommendation from your boss at the non-profit is a great idea since he/she is your current supervisor. Likewise, this work should be on your resume as work experience even though it is unpaid. You do not want a large gap of timeon your resume. Whether or not to go ahead and apply for school is up to you and whether you feel you are ready. Just like you need to have a good answer for your b-school interviews on what you have been doing with your time since you left your job last January, you will need to be prepared to explain that to recruiters and other companies when you are interviewing for those b-school internships and post-MBA opportunities.

Good luck,
Lisa
Lisa Anderson
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