I’ve been at Yahoo for two years now and turning 27 in March. I think it’s time for me to move on and I just took the GMAT and scored well. I need two letters of recommendation for my application. Before Yahoo, I haven’t been at a company long enough to get solid recs. So I want to ask two people at Yahoo. But I’d feel bad going behind my boss’s back and it would be way worse if she found out secondhand. I don’t want her to be upset that I’m looking to leave and I don’t want it to put potential promotions or raises in jeopardy. But I want to be transparent with her and ask her for a letter of recommendation. Should I tell her I’m applying for business school? TC: 145k
I think if you phrase it positively they’ll be happy for you
Things I learned hard way in my life cause of my upbringing (always wanted to see good in people and ends up in disappointments). 1) Never tell anyone your next move. 2) Your boss is your colleague who you report, not your friend. 3) your org/boss won’t think for a second, if they want to remove you. 4) Companies offer severance, not cause they have empathy but rather than care about legal implications/brand value etc. 5) Always be professional, respectful but put yourself first, no matter what. 6) someone hiring you or training you at workplace should be rewarded in your performance but not loyalty. Thank me in future!
My big fear is that I ask people around her and it gets out that I’ve asked everyone except for her. I don’t want to hide things from her, especially because getting found out is worse
That’s the thing! You are not obliged to tell her at all. Do your thing, get accepted for MBA and notify org/boss on you want to pursue further academics.
You’re early in your career. Unless your boss is a an absolute narcissist, they’ll be encouraging and supportive that you’re growing. As a long-time, people manager, I actually get excited about this stuff and am thrilled to write letters of recommendation.
True. I know it will be kind of awkward since I’d ask her like next fall for a recommendation and then if I get in, I’d just be working there for another full year before quitting to attend business school I know this is somewhat common, but still
I get it but hopefully your manager is a bit older than you and has supported some other people through similar big transitions. People have babies, move across the country, plan surgeries, get opportunities to work on cool projects outside of the team, and lots of other things. While it may be one of your first big pivots as someone who is relatively early in their career, I can almost promise you that it’s not particularly awkward for your manager. This is just life. Us old folks generally know this is the way things go and it’s much more fun (and productive) to celebrate the wins and milestones than to lead through a culture of secrecy and fear.
If your manager doesn’t support your growth then they’re a shit manager and you’re better off without them.
True. I think she’ll support me, it’ll just be kind of awkward to work there for another year knowing I’ll be out the door soon
my company will pay 100% of the costs for any accredited top EMBA program, but in return, you have to stay for an additional 3 yrs. So most people apply to M7 schools
I don’t think saying anything could hurt but also 2 years is plenty of time to have a solid rec.
are you in a business unit or central? your boss may be looking for names to put on a list for the next layoff, so consider how likely that is in your org and decide your timing accordingly
What's your GMAT score?
685
@Yahoo that’s a solid score, but if this was your first attempt at the GMAT you could very likely get yourself in the 700s and have a much better shot at T15 if that’s the goal!