The Application Process

I'm a 26 Y/O white male with good-but-not-great stats (3.4 GPA, 760 GMAT). Since graduating college, i've spent roughly 1.5 years at 3 jobs. I've worked at the leading IT research company, leading EMR vendor (the EMR of Stanford, UChicago, Northwestern, and many other leading institutions), plus a healthcare revenue cycle consulting company.

I just received an offer I'd have a hard time refusing. It is for another (smaller and lesser known consulting company). I'd be getting a massive raise and a big upgrade in benefits and work/life balance, but will this help or hurt my chances? It's an EMR consulting company, so it fits with my overall career goals of healthcare management, however it is not a prestigious company and I do not know how Adcoms view serial job-hoppers.

Typically, adcoms will consider serial job-hoppers as folks unable to settle down. However, if your movement can be explained vis-a-vis career goals, advancement, raises etc., I don't think it's really that bad. Just be honest about why you switched positions. Though, less than 2 years at a position doesn't look that great since the MBA itself is 2 years.

jahbless101 wrote:I'm a 26 Y/O white male with good-but-not-great stats (3.4 GPA, 760 GMAT). Since graduating college, i've spent roughly 1.5 years at 3 jobs. I've worked at the leading IT research company, leading EMR vendor (the EMR of Stanford, UChicago, Northwestern, and many other leading institutions), plus a healthcare revenue cycle consulting company.

I just received an offer I'd have a hard time refusing. It is for another (smaller and lesser known consulting company). I'd be getting a massive raise and a big upgrade in benefits and work/life balance, but will this help or hurt my chances? It's an EMR consulting company, so it fits with my overall career goals of healthcare management, however it is not a prestigious company and I do not know how Adcoms view serial job-hoppers.

Hi JahBless101 (awesome username BTW!),

As long as you can show career progression, deliver compelling (and true) reasons why you moved from each company to the next, I think taking that job is a good idea (as long as you have researched the culture to make sure it fits your work style and made sure you can have a good relationship with your boss, all important things since these will be the folks writing your rec).

A few of my sectionmates at HBS were serious jobhoppers before school, and I've helped a few restless clients weave together a compelling story to tie it all together.

Don't be too discouraged about your stats (I wouldn't blink twice at those if you were my client) as long as you are willing to invest some serious time into working magic with your essays. You want to really focus on sounding clear, mature, and self-aware in your essays since these are things the AdCom will worry regarding your candidacy.

Good luck!
Kaneisha