As you prepare to enroll in graduate school, think about these issues affecting your current employment:

• If you stay employed and do not get a graduate management degree, where is your career path likely to take you? Will you stay with the same employer or face a job transition anyway?
• If you continue to work during your management program, will you have enough flexibility to adequately pursue your studies, especially around exam times? Do you travel for work? Will that cause conflicts with your school schedule?
• Be careful about giving official notice to terminate employment or hinting about your plans for an MBA before you are ready.

Give notice to your employer, but not too soon. Do not feel obligated to give months of advance notice. Two weeks is the standard amount of time, but you should check your employer’s policy on giving notice.

If possible, leave on good terms with your employer. You may wish to ask for a reference for future employment or even return to the company in a new role. You may also want to stay in touch with your employer and co-workers to continue to cultivate your professional network.

Do not overlook factors outside of your control, such as the economy. Is now a good time for you to leave the job market for school?

There are two ways to consider this question:

• The cyclical argument is to attend school when the economy is booming and jobs are plentiful.
• The countercyclical argument is to attend school when the economy is down, retool your skill set, and be ready when the economy rebounds.