Supervisor References & Frequent Job Change Query

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Hi there,

I work in new technology research at a large British media company and am hoping to apply to LBS, Oxford & NYU this autumn. The problem is I have just started in my current role (joined May 09), so by the time I submit my application in November, I'll have only have been there 6 months.

Is this long enough for any supervisor reference to be taken seriously?

There is also a second issue, which is that I have moved career fairly frequently since graduation:

Graduated in 2002

Traveled all of 2003
Marketing Exec for a British Museum (Jan 04 - Apr 05)
Strategic Planner for a major British newspaper (Apr 05 - Aug 07)
Senior Strategic Planning for another major British newspaper (Aug 07 - Mar 08) (left as the job was not as it was advertised to be)
Research Manager for a commercial British broadcaster's website (Mar 08 - May 09) (company ran into financial difficulties & was placed at risk of redundancy)

With this work history and limits on the length that my supervisor will have known me, do you think I have any chance of getting into a top b-school?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

J
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by Lisa Anderson » Sat Jun 20, 2009 6:38 pm
Dear J,

I'm not overly concerned with the number of jobs you have held as you were in most of them at least a year. As long as you have legitimate reasons for making the changes, which it seems you do, then it is not a big concern. I do think 6 months is long enough for a reference from your current supervisor. However, if you would prefer not to ask for fear of your job being in jeopardy, then it is certainly reasonable for you to ask a previous supervisor instead.

Good luck,
Lisa
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