Should I Quit?

I’m currently about 6 months into my job. It’s my first job out of undergrad. I have another one lined up that starts this summer. I don’t think I can mentally/physically take doing what I’m doing now until my new job starts, especially with WFH. How bad will it look if I decide to quit and have a gap of a few months on my resume. I’ll be using that time to do something productive like working on this app idea I’ve had for a while, and preparing for my new job (different industry) while also taking some time to mentally unwind and reflect (2020 has been a long year). I’m mainly concerned if this will come back to bite me when I apply to top MBA programs like H/S/W.

10 Comments
 

Even though it's difficult, I'd recommend sticking it out mate. While you may be using the time productively, employers / MBA programs might not see it that way. Since you've only been working for ~6 months (plus you had a few months break before starting and now looking for another break) they may question your work ethic and ability to handle stress. Also, your new job will be expecting someone with a full year of experience as opposed to only 6 months, thus also potentially complicating that situation. My best advice would be to start coasting to lessen your workload, or to see if your new job would be interested in bringing you on earlier.

 

I'd leave - as long as you stay long enough at your next place, it won't really matter. MBA programs look more for progression anyways and it would be something you could explain away i.e. you wanted to spend time with family before being fully committed to your next role, etc. Can't ding you for that.

Why stay in a horrible environment just to be burnt out before starting at your next job. It makes no sense. A small gap is fine as long as you have something lined up. 

 

I would quit as long as you have the savings and your next job is okay with it. No reasonable person is going to hold leaving banking in the current environment against you. As long as you have a story down and do something productive, go for it. When else will you be able to focus on your app full time? Devote yourself to that rather than being miserable and turning comments 90 hours a week. Have also spoken to career coaches about leaving in current environment and haven’t received much pushback. 

 

At some point you learn less the busier you are. When you’ve been working 15 days straight, not sleeping and getting crushed by multiple projects, you just go into output mode and try to process all the work assigned. It’s also tougher to learn the qualitative / strategic aspect (arguably more important IMO) without being able to interact with senior bankers. Being busy is good, but when you pass a certain point, it’s counterproductive. 

 

this is exactly why I left. In a virtual environment, you can't experience that steep learning curve that made me excited to join IB in the first place and instead you're sitting in your NYC studio turning mind-numbingly dumb comments for 16 hours straight and feeling anxiety that your VP might call when go for a run to the convenience store to get a can of soda ...

 
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