Advice needed please about switching jobs

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Advice needed please about switching jobs

by tim0thy » Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:46 am
Hi Lisa/Stacy/Amy,

I was wondering if you could please offer some candid advice regarding my situation. I am currently thinking about switching jobs and I was wondering if you could tell me how this move would be looked upon by MBA adcoms. Originally I was planning on applying next year and I hoped to get into investment banking or finance when I was finished.

Right now I am working as a Corporate Development Analyst in the professional staffing industry for a fortune 500 company and I have been with the same company for about 3 years (which makes up all my experience thus far). Furthermore, I mainly deal with corporate strategy and ways to grow the company organically. Also, with this company I have switched jobs once and although this wasn’t a promotion it was definitely a move up and I expect to be promoted to a senior analyst by next year.

The job I am thinking about transitioning to is as an entry level Business Analyst in the healthcare industry also for a fortune 500 company. My responsibilities with this job will include dealing with operational initiatives and some corporate strategy and the pay will be slightly higher than what I am making now. My main reason for switching jobs is to move into the LA area where my fiancé recently moved to and where she is going to school at now.

Lisa/Stacy/Amy, if you can please let me know how you think this move would affect my chances of being admitted to an MBA program I would really appreciate it. Thank you.
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by Lisa Anderson » Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:29 am
Dear tim0thy,

It is not a negative to switch jobs a year before you start business school as long as you have a good reason for the change. If the job is in the industry you want to be in post-MBA or gives you some experience that is directly related to your desired post-MBA job, then that is a good reason. If the job is a promotion for you in terms of amount of responsibility, then that is a good move. Finally, if healthcare is where you want to be after business school, then you should take the job. If you are only looking at the job because it gets you close to your fiancee, I'm not sure that is a prudent decision since you are expecting a promotion. Nevertheless, you need to choose the best decision for you and your life. Think about what is most important to you, prioritize these things, and I think you will have your answer.

Good luck,
Lisa
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by tim0thy » Mon Sep 29, 2008 12:08 pm
Hi Lisa,

Thanks for your input. And just to be clear, you said it is not a negative to switch jobs a year before I start business school, however I was not planning on starting for another two years as I will be applying next year. I'm not sure if that changes anything but thanks I really appreciate your advice.