<p>Hey guys, some advice would be appreciated:</p>
<p>I just graduated from a top 25 school and a top 10 biz school. Got a nice offer from Merrill Lynch and MSSB.</p>
<p>I also got an offer from Southwest Airlines, but it is for a customer rep. position. I know, why waste my education on that, right? However....</p>
<p>Yes, the pay would be nice as well as the position at ML and MSSB, but I can't see myself with them long term and me actually wanting to get up every morning and be "excited" to go to work.</p>
<p>With SWA, I can work my way up as they love to promote from within and it has a culture that no other company can match. I can definitely see myself working for them for a long time and I would enjoy doing it.</p>
<p>So, I ask, graduating from a top school and having solid offers from ML and MSSB, should I take up SWA?</p>
<p>Also, a bit curious, do airlines help pay for grad school? for example, if i wish to get an mba later.</p>
<p>Having an offer doesn’t have any value when you are applying for a top business school. They are interested in your experience. </p>
<p>If you are really interested in SWA, go on the corporate side.</p>
<p>Also, mot people don’t stay with their first position for long. They hop after 2 years to gain a variety of experience</p>
<p>There aren’t many corporate postings for SWA and I’ve been browsing their careers website for quiet a while. However, as mentioned, they like to hire from within and I figure I can get to corporate that way.</p>
<p>It is rare for someone to work as a customer rep and then move to corporate. That is like someone working as a cashier at Mcdonalds and then moving over to corporate to do accounting. It can happen but very unlikely.</p>
<p>If you really want to work for SWA, then by all means go ahead but I think you will have gain more relevant experience for a top MBA if you go to MS or ML. Not only will move up faster after your first 2 years, you will be around people with similar ambitions. Rarely do people becomes an airline rep for SWA want to get their MBA.</p>