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Dilemma: Take a job, or go back to school??

Free advice from the world's top MBA consultants
Expert replies

Should I take the job or continue to study for the GMAT?

Take the job and delay applying to B-school
7
100%
Forgo the job and continue to study for the GMAT, apply this fall
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 7

by MochiMBA » Sun Apr 26, 2009 1:19 pm
Hi Everyone,

This is my first post on this website. I have been studying for the GMAT and have found this site to be a great resource.

Here's my dilemma:

I was laid off from my job at a Fortune 500 company back in February. I had been working there for 2 and a half years, since I graduated from college. I graduated with a BS in Business Administration and had always planned to go back to school for an MBA, but never found the time to study because of my job. Being laid off gave me the perfect opportunity. Since then, I have started studying for the GMAT and was planning on taking the test in August, then applying this fall for the 2010 school year. (Do you think not having a job during this period will be looked badly upon by adcoms when I do apply? )

Well, I have been offered a job with a Korean corporation that is huge in Korea, albeit small (they only have 7 employees at the branch where I was offered a job) and unknown in the US. They are hoping to expand in the American market and have offered me a position with their company. I know if I take this job, it will require a lot of time and I will have to put studying for the GMAT on the back burner. I know that B-schools want applicants with solid work experience, but I am not sure this opportunity will be an enhancement to my application. Even if I did take the GMAT and apply this fall, I would have only worked at this new company for 3 or 4 months. If I end up delaying the application process and putting all my energy into this new job, there is no guarantee that this job will be a "significant" work experience since they are relatively small and unknown. Should I forgo this job, continue to study, then look for a job after I have taken the GMAT? (This may be difficult as there are very few jobs out there.)

Now I am faced with a dilemma:
-should I forgo this job opportunity and continue to study, or
-should I take the job and delay applying to B-school?

Thank you!
Join the discussion
Source: — Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant |

by Paxton Helms - Kaplan » Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:25 am
In my mind there is simply no question: take the job with the Korean company!!

- A position with real responsibility with an international company. You get all of the upsides of the big company with all of the upsides of an international company with all of the upsides of working in a small company (the US operation).

- Your business school application (and, for that matter, experience) will be immeasurably enhanced by your experience. Think that this doesn't matter? Try again: it makes a BIG difference if you get a $20,000 scholarship as a result of this job. (No promises, I'm just saying that this is the kind of cool work that can result in free money.)

- In terms of studying for the GMAT, I wouldn't stress too much about that. My suggestion to you is to postpone an MBA for two to three years to really immerse yourself in this opportunity. In one or two years, you can start thinking about how to study for the GMAT: in my mind, there is no question that getting more and better work experience trumps study time for the GMAT.

This is really a wonderful opportunity for you. I would take it over the GMAT.

Good Luck and let me know what you decide--

Paxton
Keep me in the loop about your thinking and let me know if you have any more questions.

Paxton



Paxton Helms is an MBA admissions consultant for Kaplan Admissions Consulting. He earned his MBA from UCLA and specializes in helping clients that are applying to top twenty and "reach" programs. He can be reached directly at [email protected].

To begin working with Paxton immediately, follow this link and request him specifically: https://www.kaptest.com/GMAT/Admissions- ... lting.html
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by MochiMBA » Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:29 am
Hi Paxton, thank you for the reply. You have definitely shed some new light on my situation. I'm curious as to see how other consultants feel about this.
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by Paxton Helms - Kaplan » Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:20 pm
Do let me know what you decide. And, remember, you can always go down parallel paths: study for the GMAT in your free time, etc.

My sense, though, is that taking the job makes sense.

Good luck and let me know your final decision!

Paxton
Keep me in the loop about your thinking and let me know if you have any more questions.

Paxton



Paxton Helms is an MBA admissions consultant for Kaplan Admissions Consulting. He earned his MBA from UCLA and specializes in helping clients that are applying to top twenty and "reach" programs. He can be reached directly at [email protected].

To begin working with Paxton immediately, follow this link and request him specifically: https://www.kaptest.com/GMAT/Admissions- ... lting.html
Join the discussion

by mixpanda » Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:08 pm
I'm not a consultant, but I think you should take the job! It will show adcoms that you're out there making new contacts and learning new skills. Even if you decide to still go to B-School as planned, you can take the job and work until you have to go to school.

I'm sure it'll be manageable to study for GMAT and work at the same time. It's just a matter of spending time wisely and maybe giving up some small pleasures for a couple of months. Although you'll only have 3-4 months of experience when you are applying, B-Schools will know that you'll continue working until Fall 2010.
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by Joe@VeritasPrep » Fri May 01, 2009 2:28 pm
I would say that the only reason to not take the job is if it is not aligned with your long term goals for your career. Since you did not say that it does not fit where you want to take your career, then I will assume that it's the type of work that you want to do.

So, if I have assumed correctly, I completely agree with the other posters. You should take the job, get the extra experience, and let that enhance your profile for the admissions committees when you are ready to apply to school down the road.
I hope that this was helpful.

Joe Farr | Veritas Prep GMAT Admissions Consultant | www.VeritasPrep.com
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