Tade Fayomi for Work & Careers
Tade Fayomi asked her first boss at Goldman Sachs to write a letter of back up to go with her MBA application, which she believes was crucial in securing her a place at Insead business organization school

When Tade Fayomi secured her identify on the MBA form at Insead's Fontainebleau campus, her bosses at Goldman Sachs were not surprised.

The 29-year-former vice-president in the asset management division had been talking to her managers about her plans to go to business schoolhouse for six years. When information technology came to applying, Ms Fayomi got her outset dominate to write a letter of back up to go with her application, which she believes clinched her place on the MBA course.

"Nosotros had a very good relationship, and so information technology seemed only natural to tell her," Ms Fayomi says.

Prospective MBA students have many things to consider earlier they start concern school. Making certain they quit an incumbent task in the right mode tin can be just equally important as the choices they make when they arrive on campus, says Chris Lecatsas-Lyus, manager of career management for Europe, the Center East and Africa at Chicago's Booth School of Business.

"Employers tend to view everything in a pipeline," she says. "They volition react less positively if they don't get enough observe to create a transition plan."

A recent tendency among successful MBA applicants has been to find internships that can be completed later quitting their chore, but before beginning their full-fourth dimension studies.

Pre-course internships are particularly useful for those taking one-yr MBA courses, who oft take no time before graduation to cram in piece of work experience, according to Chioma Isiadinso, co-founder of Expartus, a business school admissions consultancy.

Some of her clients are keen enough to complete two internships before starting their studies. "These folks are a lot more open to exploring things," Ms Isiadinso says.

Rule ane: Stay apprehensive

Timing is important when leaving a task. One "very, very self" client of Ms Isiadinso quit her job on the basis of bagging interviews for MBA courses at five prestigious business schools — only to be rejected by all of them.

"You have to stay absolutely apprehensive," Ms Isiadinso notes. "Assume that nothing is ever in the bag."

Those heading for business organisation school must not simply be articulate about why they desire to become, but also exist able to explain their reasons to the colleagues they are leaving backside.

This is not just a sensible manner of keeping the door open in instance you want to return to the company. It will also be a useful network to assistance y'all notice other job opportunities, according to John Lees, an independent career coach.

"The classic trouble is that MBAs don't take a clear message about why they did the course, what information technology is they desire to get out of it and what they want to practice next," he says.

Cull a positive reason for going to business school because that is what people remember, Mr Lees adds. "Make certain that information technology is more than just your career."

Rule 2: Get your story straight

The way you communicate this message is also important, according to Mr Lees. Rather than sending out a blanket email to colleagues across the company to keep in touch on, he advises writing a list of a few primal contacts and targeting them.

"Seek support for your decision considering then people will not come across you lot as a threat," Mr Lees says. "They might fifty-fifty think they are beingness helpful."

For those people who are not in your core network, social media is the best tool. "Improve to requite a very good LinkedIn profile so people tin see for themselves what you are doing," Mr Lees says. "And then maintain relationships so people will log on and run across it."

Rule 3: It's non all about work

Business school admissions departments are too wise to the importance of students leaving jobs well before arriving on campus.

Insead included in its awarding form this year the essay question: "If y'all quit your employer earlier the start of the programme, what practice you intend to practice?"

Amongst the more interesting responses was one applicant who was leaving her job six months early to pursue photography in Africa. Taking a break like this from a decorated career is applauded by Virginie Fougea, Insead's admissions director.

"Given the global nature of the MBA at Insead we think information technology is beneficial that people become a little more international exposure before joining u.s.a.," she says.

"This is particularly of import for those who have not had the reward of travel in their jobs."

Staying on practiced terms with a previous employer is not only sensible, it is often taken by the admissions team as a sign that a student would make a good MBA candidate, Ms Fougea notes.

"Part of what makes an bidder interesting is their capacity to build long-lasting relationships," she says. "Our primary tip would exist to keep the communication lines open so y'all tin leverage that network."

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