Great article! Another couple of tips are to ask well in advance and don't limit your discussion to your immediate supervisor. When I finish law school two years from now, I intend to take an eight-week hiatus from work to prepare for the bar exam. Maybe longer. My employer is well aware that I attend law school at night. I've already discussed with him the importance of my taking the time off to prepare. But I've also discussed it with many others in my company who outrank me in the chain of command, and with co-workers who may have to pick up some of the slack while I'm out. By not limiting the discussion to my immediate manager, I'm hoping to diffuse some of the risk that a personnel shift could pose by asking too early.
Yvonnella Janesof CA3:40PM February 05, 2012
Great article and fabulous advice, Alexis! I love the important note about being prepared to quit. You have more power if you are willing to walk away from the table!
Keep it up!
Laura
Laura Labovichof MD2:13PM August 03, 2011
Great stuff, Alexis! As one who used to hire people, who was more intriguing? The candidate proud of his cube-farming experience? Or the worldly individual who takes leaps without fear? Perhaps it's a myth that employers don't want their people to be well-rounded and savvy. Or might it be an excuse for the comfortably numb? Thanks!
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Yvonnella Janes of CA 3:40PM February 05, 2012
Laura Labovich of MD 2:13PM August 03, 2011
Kirk Horsted of MN 2:52PM July 28, 2011