Asked to leave at 2 year mark at MBB - Sabbatical or getting a job first?

Hi there, 

this is of course a very personal decision, hence, we can only provide some food for though and perspective. Below my considerations: 

1. You are in the prime position and time of your life to take some time off. Doing it later will be harder, especially with other commitments increasing

2. Taking a full year off now, will definitely make it a little harder in finding a new job, since you do not have the support network from the MBB you are currently working for and you will be more "out of it" after travelling for a good while. Recruiters will definitely ask you about the gap but you can easily explain it. Will there be some employers who will not like it? Most likely yes. 

3. Have you though about recruiting now, securing a job offer and pushing back the start date so that you can travel for 3-4 months? That would be my preferred choice. Then you can travel with peace of mind and enjoy to the fullest. 

Best, 
Sebastian

Hey there,

While it is your choice to make whether to go on sabbatical or keep working, you can use the following questions / reflect on the following topics as part of the process:

1. If you really want to take a sabbatical, do you believe there will be a better time to take it later down the road? E.g., if you become a manager / have a girlfriend / family / etc.
2. Explaining the gap should not be a problem, given that you can say you always wanted to take a sabbatical and this was the perfect time (as you said, you have savings, no specific responsibilities, lots of energy to travel)
3. Maybe some additional things to consider are: Where do you believe the economy is going (i.e., better environment to find a job now or later; difficult to predict, but good to give it some thought)? What would your ideal next step be once you come back (job / MBA / etc.)? What are your long-term plans and can you use the sabbatical for that too (e.g., learn something useful for that; this will also make it easier to explain why you took the sabbatical)?

All the best!

Maria

Hi there,

Think about worst case scenario in case you take the sabbatical and the new job scenarios.
That being said, I find hard to believe that you would be unemployed for a lot of time coming from a 2-year experience at MBB after taking this time off, specially because you have the perfect opportunity to do so. Also, a lot of people find themselves in the same situation you are now, don’t overthink it, that is more common than one thinks. If you travel, have a plan for when you get back and make sure to have strong contacts to help you when the time comes (which will probably not be difficult considering the alumni network and job opportunities in MBB websites to former employees).

Alternatively, you could aim for a remote first job that allowed you to work from other countries, so you don’t have to chose between one or the other.

Good luck,

Mari

Let me put some things into perspective.

1. It's probably easier for you to do a sabbatical now than later. 

2. A lot of people are counseled to leave out of MBB every year. This doesn't mean that they are not capable professionals, particularly because very often even strong performers are asked to leave. What would worry me as an employer would be if you left after 6 months or 1 year. That would mean that there was a good possibility that you had relevant performance issues. In this case, they let you stay for 2 years. That means you were good enough to stay for the 2nd year. As such, you are still perceived as a valuable asset.

3. However, you won't get the same level of support from MBB (outplacement resources) in order to get a job. But some level of MBB support will still be there.

4. Also consider that you may be able to do a 2-3 month sabbatical and then look for the job. You have diminishing returns here, and as such, do you really need it to be 9-12 months, or would 3 months now (and do the rest a few years later) be sufficiently valuable to you?

Honestly, given that you can do a lot of remote interviewing right now, I would check if there are any interesting opportunities out there, and kickstart a search process - and go on a 2-3 month sabbatical at the same time.

hi there, 

I might be biased because I am in a different region and also I have seen many juniors taking similar bold moves (which I personally admire their energy and courage) - from my point of view, this is not a big issue if you want to pursue your dream now.

You are still very early in your career. 9 months to 1 year really doesn't mean much if you think about the long term. It won't slow you down much. Plus, gap year is quite common nowadays and can be easily explained. 

The question is whether it would be easier to find a job now or later, which to a large extend depends on the macro economy, which can go either ways and you would not know at the time of decision...

Best,

Emily

Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about your negative experience with your current employer!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your situation:

• First of all, I would advise you to take the sabbatical if it is something you really want. You have no personal commitments, you have saved up, and this could be a unique window of opportunity. Many employers will understand a gap year after consulting, especially if you can frame it as personal development or a well-deserved break.
• Moreover, I would advise you to keep an eye on the job market while you travel, maybe even do some light networking. This will help you stay connected and shorten the job search when you are ready to re-enter the workforce.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

Very personal advice: You will never regret taking this trip and there are tons of opportunities that will come up during that time - go for it! 

You might even develop a new perspective on priorities. There is still plenty of time for work or whatever awaits afterward.

All the best,

Florian

Hey there 😊,

This is a really common dilemma—and honestly, you’re in a great position to design your next chapter intentionally. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide:

✈️ If your heart says “sabbatical”

Go for it—but plan the narrative. A 9–12 month break is not a red flag if you frame it proactively: – Emphasize it as a conscious gap for personal growth, not as a result of performance
– Use the time to also reflect, upskill lightly (e.g. short online course), or volunteer, so it doesn’t look like a total void
– When asked why you didn’t take official leave, you can say:

“I finished my MBB chapter and made the intentional decision to travel before jumping into the next high-intensity role.”
Plenty of ex-MBBs do this—it's all about framing it as purpose-driven.

🧑‍💻 If you feel anxious about re-entering later

Start applying now, and if you land a great role, take 1–2 months to travel before starting. Or do a shorter sabbatical (3–6 months) with the same intention, then job hunt in a fresher market.

💬 If you’d like to talk through how to position the sabbatical or prep your narrative for post-MBB roles, I’d be happy to help 😊

Best,
Alessa 😇