<p>Hello, I have a situation that I would like some advice on. I graduated from my undergraduate institution a semester early in December. At the end of December, I applied to graduate programs for a Master of Social Work. After graduating and while waiting to hear back from my applications, I decided I wanted to gain more experience within my field. I quickly interviewed at a profit, nonprofit institution in January. The hiring process took some time, but I finally received a job offer in February, with a starting date in March. I have been working at this institution since then, roughly four months. The commute is long and the job is different than advertised, but I make more than I could have expected for my age and work experience. Since working there, I heard back from my applications and was able to get into my top choice school, which happens to be located in the city my long-distance boyfriend of two years resides in. Going back to school seems to make the most sense for me both professionally and personally, but I'm concerned about how to leave my current job without burning bridges. The hiring process took much longer than anticipated and they're currently understaffed, which I'm afraid will breed resentment. I plan on telling my boss at the beginning of July and staying through until early August, but is there a tactful way to resign from a job after only being there a cumulative of five months total? Is a month's notice a good or bad idea in this case? Also, while I have some money saved up and have secured housing (I'll be moving in with my boyfriend), I will still need to at least work part-time. Will this five-month stint look bad to a potential employer? Also, would it be rude to ask my current employer for a reference in this scenario?</p>
<p>Any and all thoughts would be most appreciated!</p>