Successfully Navigating a Job Change While Applying to Business School

Originally published on March 21, 2024. Updated on April 17, 2025.

What You Need to Know

• A recent job change doesn’t mean you have to abandon or postpone your plans for applying to business school.
• Instead, successful applicants implement several key strategies to get accepted in the wake of a job change.
• Proactive efforts such as organizing events or leading initiatives at work or in your community can highlight growth and leadership skills in the absence of a promotion within your company.
• Since MBA programs prefer letters of recommendation from your current supervisor, planning ahead by cultivating relationships with potential recommenders is crucial.
• Communicating career transitions positively is essential, focusing on personal and professional growth rather than dwelling on setbacks.

Are Job Changes and MBA Applications Mutually Exclusive?

Not at all.

Whether you left your last role because of a disappointing bonus, continued layoffs in the finance or tech sectors, or an unexpected opportunity, it’s normal to wonder how the change will affect your MBA applications.

If you’re planning to apply in the next six months, the timing might feel off. You might worry that the admissions committee will view your candidacy less favorably—either because you haven’t been in the new role long or because there’s a gap on your resume.

Here’s the good news: with a few smart steps, you can still get into a top MBA program. We’ve helped many clients do exactly that.

If that sounds like the support you need, we’d love to learn more about your goals and help you create a strong, strategic path forward.

Proactively Address Career Progression

It’s a common myth that you need multiple promotions at one company to show upward momentum. That’s not true.

A new role at a new company can demonstrate growth in several ways—like building new skills, leading larger teams, or managing more complex projects. Your resume should spotlight that growth.

If those opportunities aren’t immediately obvious, create them. For example, share your expertise by leading a “lunch & learn” series. This shows initiative and leadership—even if you’re still ramping up in your new role.

You’ll also be learning quickly, collaborating cross-functionally, and demonstrating value early—all things that admissions committees love to see.

Position Yourself for Strong Recommendations

Recommender selection may give you pause if you’ve recently switched jobs. Most top programs prefer that one of your letters of recommendation comes from a current supervisor.

The key is to plan ahead. Identify someone at your new job who could eventually write a strong letter. That might be a manager, client, team lead, or partner. Work closely with them for a few months before making the ask.

Don’t limit your relationship-building to the office. A casual lunch or shared interest—like golf or a favorite sports team—can help you build rapport quickly and authentically.

Entrepreneurs can apply this strategy too. A co-founder, customer, or vendor can write a great letter if they know your work well and can speak to your strengths.

Still unsure? Talk it through with someone—an admissions consultant, mentor, or trusted colleague who can be a helpful sounding board.

A quick note on your second recommender: it’s perfectly acceptable to ask someone from a previous job, as long as they know your work well and can speak highly of you.

Learn to talk about your job change positively

This part takes practice—but it’s important.

We get it. If your job change wasn’t entirely your choice, it can feel hard to talk about. But how you tell the story matters.

Admissions officers understand that careers aren’t always linear. What they’re listening for is how you handled the change, what you learned, and how it’s shaped your goals.

The most successful applicants are honest, thoughtful, and forward-looking. They don’t dwell on what went wrong. Instead, they emphasize how the experience made them stronger—personally and professionally.

Unless a setback is specifically asked about, there’s no need to bring it up.

Ready for support?

If you’re looking for expert guidance on how to navigate a career change within your MBA application—whether in your essays, resume, short answers, or interviews—we invite you to request an initial consultation with our team.

We firmly believe there’s no single blueprint for a successful professional path. If your journey feels unique or nontraditional, stay focused, think strategically (easier said than done!), and seek support when you need it. We’d welcome the opportunity to connect and help you move forward with a clear, thoughtful plan.

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FAQs

How can I effectively demonstrate career progression on my resume after a recent job change?

If your new role comes with a higher title than your previous job, you’ll want to make sure your resume is formatted to bring that to the forefront. But title aside, managing a larger budget, leading larger deals or transactions, and growing your impact are all great ways to show career progression. Alternatively, if your career move got you closer to your dream role or industry, highlight that in your essays and application short-answers.

What steps can I take to ensure I have strong recommendations for my MBA applications, especially if I’ve recently switched jobs?

You can identify one or two individuals, ideally your new manager, who would be in a position to write you a strong letter of recommendation. Then, proactively build a relationship with them. That will likely mean going the extra mile to take something off their plate, to anticipate what they need, or to fix a process that was unnecessarily manual. In addition to impressing them on the job, make an effort to build a personal connection. Ask them about their kids or how their recent vacation was. Or learn about one of their hobbies and show a genuine interest in it.

Are there specific strategies for entrepreneurs to secure strong recommendations for their MBA applications?

Yes, there are! Absent a boss or supervisor, we’ve had entrepreneur clients get great letters of recommendation from a co-founder, an investor, a vendor, or a customer. The key to a strong letter of recommendation is how well the person knows you (the applicant) and how closely you have worked together. As long as your recommender can speak knowledgeably about your professional strengths and accomplishments, then you’re in good hands. Once you’ve identified the right person, nurture and build the relationship. Just be sure to minimize any impact on your business.

How can I communicate recent career transitions positively during MBA interviews or application essays? 

The first step is to think about the recent career transition positively. Focus on what opportunities you can now pursue more freely or what you’ve learned from navigating uncertainty. Once you feel more positive about it, it will be easier to authentically talk about it more positively. It’s OK to admit that it was a challenging time, if that’s the case, but then quickly pivot to addressing the outcome that was for the better and how you’ve grown from it. Resilience is an important leadership quality and business schools are looking for future leaders who can navigate the uncertain world we live in.

Should I address any gaps or setbacks in my career trajectory in my MBA applications, and if so, how should I approach it?

Yes, but only if it’s evident from your resume timeline and work history. You never want to leave anything to question in your profile and hope that the admissions committee will assume the best. Instead, you want to assume they will notice everything and proactively address any gaps or setbacks (like taking a pay cut from one job to the next) to alleviate their concerns. This also shows self-awareness. That said, some setbacks are more subtle and if you were able to overcome them without any impact on your external record then there’s no need to bring attention to it.