Laid off before applying to business school: how to handle?

My significant other was recently let go from her consulting job (long term fit concerns--they don't have an up or our policy) in December and is sending in the last of her round 2 Bschool apps now.

How do you guys suggest she handle this when it comes up in Bschool interviews? How much of a black eye is this in the admissions process? She was there for several years and was promoted a few times, and has some good recs from managers there.

My suggestion was to be upfront about being let go and to do some productive volunteering/traveling in the meantime.

(And yes, this is really is about my SO and not me).

12 Comments
 
karyptoShit. In a situation like this it's best to spend three months on 'me' time and hopefully she gets in to bschool after doing an sa (one can find internshs before bschool) or volunteering. You are right.

She's just wrapping up her round 2 apps right now, and just listed "Consulting Firm X: Start Date - Dec 2012" on the resume.

I guess that will raise eyebrows, but she won't need to explain it until she has interviews and stuff. I'm hoping that her positive recs from former managers will balance this out. She was going to apply in this cycle anyway so I don't see the point of putting it off for another year.

 
Best Response
Hayek She's just wrapping up her round 2 apps right now, and just listed "Consulting Firm X: Start Date - Dec 2012" on the resume.

I guess that will raise eyebrows, but she won't need to explain it until she has interviews and stuff. I'm hoping that her positive recs from former managers will balance this out. She was going to apply in this cycle anyway so I don't see the point of putting it off for another year.

Why not list ""Consulting Firm X: Start Date - Current"? Sounds like a better idea to me:

  1. Looks better on the CV, and she can explain stuff later during interviews, AFTER her application enjoys stronger chancces of being selected for interview.
  2. Many consulting firms allow laid off consultants to list their employment with the firm as current on the CV and in interactions with potential employers for 3 months after laying them off unless they were fired for something nasty. She could probably ask if that is the case with her firm.
 

yeah, your so can plan some volunteering job for NGO or student organizations and also, s/he should have a plan about post-MBA career when interviewed since 'long-term fit' is a tricky issue

 

As a disclaimer, I applied to MSF programs which emphasize work experience to a lesser degree, but for other reasons, I was unemployed when I applied, but I made sure to go heavy with the volunteering.

The thing is, with volunteering, it's not a 9-5 gig, so your significant other should be able to help out at about three different places. After reconstructing my resume, I realized having those three volunteer organizations on there actually looked pretty nice! Depending on where you volunteer, they should be able to take anyone in right away so there won't be a gap on the resume.

 
Zargo"Long term fit concerns"? Is that HR speak for "We don't like you"?

The next step up the ladder involves more client stuff, developing business, etc. She was basically at an "engagement manager" type of role. She had been promoted several times over the last few years so I don't think they didn't like her. The company hasn't been doing well financially either so this may have been an excuse to get rid of a mid-manager type of position.

 

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