<p>I'm considering taking off one school session (a few months) to take on a job in a field I've always been interested in. (It's finance, similar to but not exactly investment banking. It's a pretty unusual field, so I don't want to describe it further here.) It's not the very top firm in this particular field, but it will pay very well. I'm a bit worried, though, that I'll get worked to death and will become a very unhappy person. </p>
<p>I've been advised by people further along in the field not to take it, just because it won't really matter that it's on my resume and that I should "relax" and enjoy school. I'm not a super-relaxed person, though. I'm always afraid of missing opportunities. I come from a rough background and have worked really hard to make the most of what I've got. I'm afraid to be offered something like this and not go for it.</p>
<p>Can you still graduate on time? Can you take a night class in your job location to make sure you have enough credits to graduate on time?</p>
<p>If so, then I think it is a good idea. My son took a semester off in junior year--made good money in a great job on Capital Hill--and made enough connections to get his friends into goo d internship jobs the following summer.</p>
<p>One nvestment you might have to make that you haven't thought about--suits etc.</p>
<p>If you do take the job, be sure to ask your bosses for all kinds of advice. That can be the start of your network. Keep everyone's phone and email numbers/addresses. </p>
<p>Hmmmmmm....I'm not sure a 100 hour a week job in a small office is the best choice for a 20 year old. Limited networking. Limited CV appeal. And I don't like the fact that you can't graduate on time--it will put you out of sync with the real job market. </p>
<p>Offer your services for the summer only and see if they bite. </p>
<p>What you should take away from this offer is that you are very very marketable.</p>
<p>Cheers, thanks for the input. You've given a lot of good advice to a lot of people. Here are some more facts to grind through the mill.</p>
<p>Yeah, that's pretty much the situation regarding hours. Not 100/week (it definitely isn't banking), but probably 70. The CV appeal is moderate---it's a great name in a slightly different field, but not top in this particular field in which I am interested. Also, I already have a full-time offer for after I graduate (at a consulting firm), and they would not care if I take an extra few months to graduate (I've already asked). </p>
<p>I can't do the summer there because I already have a summer internship lined up at another company. Sorry to be so oblique, but it's a unique situation and I don't want to be outed.</p>
<p>Yeah, I can't believe how marketable I am these days. It's kind of crazy and makes me a bit uncomfortable.</p>
<p>Private equity is not unusual so I doubt that's what it is. It's the top destination for top MBAs now. I would do it. In any aspect of finance, I think you'll have a leg up for having the internship against others who don't. After spending 8 months at a Wall Street firm, I know I'll always be more marketable than most peers. I delayed college a year to do this.</p>
<p>kid..you've done a great job of lining your career up. Really. If you have the consulting job and the summer internship in your pocket, tell me again why you wanna work in this offshoot firm for three months? If it's just for the money--I don't think it's a good choice. If there is something about the experience that will enhance your job at the ocnstultin gfirm or your grad school app--then let it rip.</p>
<p>You don't have any bad choices. It's all gravy.</p>
<p>I hope you agreed to join a consulting firm which will throw money at you when you go for your MBA.</p>
<p>As you move through these jobs, keep formulating your dream job. Keep looking at your bosses' lives. Ideally, you want to line yourself up to pinch that dream job after grad school.</p>
<p>AS for taking time to chill--recent top 10 MBA grads tell me that the hardest bit is getting in. The second year of MBA is basically one long interview process. </p>
<p>I hope you are proud of the position you've put yourself in. What a goer you are--no wonder employers are salivating over you! Keep dreaming rs, keep dreaming.</p>
<p>I'm not an MBA student, but am hoping to earn my MBA soon. </p>
<p>Cheers---</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. It's kind of for the experience, but the idea of the money is very tempting. However, I'm kind of an "experience junkie", in that I really like to try different things. I'm kind of curious to experience this field and see what it's like. On the other hand, I'm kind of curious to experience most things. :P It may, in some ways, enhance my consulting experience (since I'll be learning more financial skills), and my grad school app, since it is work experience in an interesting field.</p>
<p>Yeah...but what are you giving up? For example, since you've got the internship and the post grad job sewn up--what about taking a semester in London at LSE--or a semester at HEI in Geneva? Why don't you put yourself in a position to see a more global network?</p>
<p>The most successful financier that I know did a stint with a newspaper in London before going into finance. Rumour is that London is surpassing New York as the center of the financial world--becase it is so difficult to get visas for the US and because folks are tired of the hassle at the borders. The Chinese and Russian and Indians are more comfortable in London--is the rumour.</p>
<p>Personally, I'm not completely sold on skipping a semester for this job when you have the money/debt/future angle covered so well. These years don't come around again. You don't get a chance to study and 'think' and 'ponder' to your heart's desire again. When you are a working guy/gal, you're busy grappling with the real life problems of your chosen work, you're busy enjoying your marriage and you're busy raising children to the best of your ability. Sure, there is time to read and to travel and to take a class or two--but it isnt' the same.</p>
<p>I laugh when I think back to architecture school. I thought I was busy? Hah! I had no idea.</p>
<p>Anyway, bottom line for you--even though you've had ti rough and may have a hard time believing this--there is plenty of time to make money for a goer like you. Plenty. Gobble up all the educational 'experience' now, while you truly have the time.</p>