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I'm a second year M&A associate at a v20. My group was somehow super busy this year. I was staffed on a bunch of PE/M&A deals and have been buried in diligence since March. I just realized I hate M&A and really need a break. Would it be a bad decision if I take gap for a few months and start to look for a different practice? I'm from a T6 with decent grades. My biggest concern is that the firms would just assume that I was fired. I'm under the impression that you're not supposed to have more than three months of gap on your resume if you want to stay in this industry.

If you're struggling with mental health, you should always prioritize that first. But if you're just dissatisfied but otherwise doing OK, I wouldn't quit without something new lined up. It always looks better to come from a job, especially if you're switching practice areas. If you need a break from big law and want to change areas, can you clerk? Take some sort of fellowship? If you're on the verge of quitting anyway, what if you just schedule a 10 day vacation (who cares if it ticks people off if you're thinking about quitting with nothing lined up). Spend some of the vacation looking for a new job, and some of it just recovering from your year. I think you should explore other options before just quitting, unless your mental health requires it (but even then, ask for FMLA leave first).

Just need a good narrative. As long as you're not going to yale in between yobs most people understand.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 30, 2023 3:20 am

I'm a second year M&A associate at a v20. My group was somehow super busy this year. I was staffed on a bunch of PE/M&A deals and have been buried in diligence since March. I just realized I hate M&A and really need a break. Would it be a bad decision if I take gap for a few months and start to look for a different practice? I'm from a T6 with decent grades. My biggest concern is that the firms would just assume that I was fired. I'm under the impression that you're not supposed to have more than three months of gap on your resume if you want to stay in this industry.

Leaving without something lined up is not a good idea. You should just become a shittier worker at your current firm while aggressively looking for something.

OP here. I don't have mental health issues (not that I'm aware of), but just need like half a year to focus on my own things. I have a band and we really need some time to practice and record songs together. Even if I have a new employer lined up, it would be impossible for them to give me six months before betting on board.

So about this.

A resume is a marketing tool. There are no rules.

I left off a firm, my second one, in which I "voluntarily separated from" off my resume. I worked there for 8-12 months. When I had this firm on my resume, I didn't get any interviews. When I took it off, and reapplied, I got tons. I did disclose this firm on my background check and no one mentioned a thing. I got an offer at a V20. Play the game hard.

As others have said, there's no rule against taking a break, but obviously it's better if you don't. But think logically about it.

If you have a gap, someone is going to ask why. They do that for two reasons. First, they want to make sure you aren't intentionally hiding something concerning. More often than not, I've seen people try to hide a non-legal role because they failed the bar. That's not necessarily terrible, but trying to hide it ruins my trust.

Second, they want to make sure you're not a flight risk. If you took time off to care for a sick parent or because you had a health issue, you're probably not a significant flight risk (and you can't make a hiring decision on the later). If you took time off to play in a band though... well you fill in the blanks. You should probably find another plausible reason.

Anyway, recession fears seem to have subsided somewhat, but I'd counsel against taking a break when the economy is unpredictable. Have you considered a reduced schedule?

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 30, 2023 11:22 pm

OP here. I don't have mental health issues (not that I'm aware of), but just need like half a year to focus on my own things. I have a band and we really need some time to practice and record songs together. Even if I have a new employer lined up, it would be impossible for them to give me six months before betting on board.

Lol ok. Best of luck.

LittleRedCorvette wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 01, 2023 10:33 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 30, 2023 11:22 pm

OP here. I don't have mental health issues (not that I'm aware of), but just need like half a year to focus on my own things. I have a band and we really need some time to practice and record songs together. Even if I have a new employer lined up, it would be impossible for them to give me six months before betting on board.

Lol ok. Best of luck.

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