best resume for mba application

• Exam Prep >
• Prepare for Business School >
• Business School & Careers >
• Explore Programs >
• Connect with Schools >
• How to Apply >
• Help Center >

Every journey needs a plan. Use our Career Guide to get where you want to be. 

Creating an account on mba.com will give you resources to take control of your graduate business degree journey and guide you through the steps needed to get into the best program for you.

• About the Exam
• Register for the Exam
• Plan for Exam Day
• Prep for the Exam
• About the Executive Assessment
• Register for the Executive Assessment
• Plan for Assessment Day
• Prepare for the Assessment
• NMAT by GMAC
• Shop GMAT Focus Official Prep
• About GMAT Focus Official Prep
• Prep Strategies
• Personalized Prep Plan
• GMAT Focus Mini Quiz
• Executive Assessment Exam Prep
• NMAT by GMAC Exam Prep

Prepare For Business School

• Business Fundamentals
• Skills Insight

Business School & Careers

• Why Business School
• Student Experience
• Business Internships
• B-School Go
• Quiz: Are You Leadership Material?
• MBA Return on Investment (ROI) Calculator
• Estimate Your Salary
• Success Stories
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Women in Business

Explore Programs

• Top Business School Programs
• Quiz: Which Post Graduate Program is Right for You?
• Quiz: Find the Best Program for Your Personality
• Business School Rankings
• Business Master's Programs
• MBA Programs
• Study Destinations
• Find Programs Near Me
• Find MBA Programs
• Find Master's Programs
• Find Executive Programs
• Find Online Programs

Connect with Schools

• About GradSelect
• Create a GradSelect Profile
• Prep Yourself for B-School
• Quiz: Can You Network Like An MBA?
• Events Calendar
• School Events
• GMAC Tours Events
• In-Person Events
• Online Events

How to Apply

• Apply to Programs
• The Value of Assessments
• Admissions Essays
• Letters of Recommendation
• Admissions Interviews
• Scholarships and Financing
• Quiz: What's Your Ideal Learning Style?

Help Center

• Create Account
• How To Apply

How to Write an MBA Resume That Stands Out

Writing a winning MBA application resume is your ticket to getting accepted to your dream MBA program.

Your resume is a chance to showcase your business acumen, education, and professional experience, as well as your soft skills.

One thing’s for sure: Putting in the time and effort to craft a strong MBA resume will stand you in good stead for competitive programs at top business schools like Harvard and Stanford.

But figuring out what to include in your MBA resume can sometimes feel overwhelming.

You’re probably wondering how long your resume should be, what you should include, and/or whether you need a different resume than the kind you’ve used for a job application.

This article will explain how to showcase your skills and create a competitive advantage that sets you apart from your peers and gives you the best chance of becoming a successful MBA applicant.

Read on to learn about the best MBA resume format and how to make your MBA application resume stand out, including:

• What to include in your MBA application resume
• How to structure your MBA resume
• How to craft an MBA resume objective
• How to best highlight your work experience, education, and skills
• Real MBA resume example

How an MBA resume differs from a job resume

The first thing you might be wondering is if a resume for an MBA application is the same resume that you use to apply for a job.

The short answer is no.

While a career resume seeks to inform how you can meet a job description or fulfill certain roles and responsibilities, an MBA resume should communicate your value and impact on the business world, today and in the future.

An admissions committee wants to see that you’re a way-shower. They want to see your capacity for leadership and innovation, that you can work well with teams, and that you can use critical-thinking skills to achieve success.

Understanding this goal will not only help inform how you will structure your resume but also what to include and how much time to spend on it.

Why spend time on your MBA resume

Among MBA programs from across the globe, the MBA resume is second only to academic transcripts and entrance exams when it comes to the MBA interview process.

What to include in your MBA resume

When it comes to your MBA application, the MBA resume is your time to shine. You’ll want to focus on including the most relevant information about your past education and professional experience.

Xavier Arola Perez, head of career services and entrepreneurship at GBSB Global Business School, recommends including six basic components in your MBA resume:

1. Contact information

2. Objective/summary

3. Work experience

4. Education

5. Technical skills

6. Achievement/awards

Although you may have worked in a variety of jobs and volunteering roles before applying for your MBA degree, in this short document you’ll want to only select examples that highlight your business leadership, impact, and skills.

“Include specific accomplishments and achievements that set you apart and that are transferrable to the MBA program for which you are applying,” says Jerry Wang, associate director of career and leadership for MBA programs at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Concentrate on examples where you can demonstrate business leadership and growth to help admissions committees see the value you offer their MBA program and easily determine your aptitude for business school.

Get started with GradSelect Elevate - a free tool to practice for future video interviews. Quickly get unbiased feedback on your skills, and confidently stand out to your target programs.

How to structure your MBA application resume

You want your MBA resume to be clear, simple, and easy to read for admissions committees.

It’s best to structure your MBA resume with your contact information and objective at the top, followed by your education and most recent work experiences, and concluding with a desirable skills and accolades section.

List your education and work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent accomplishments first.

Use bullet points, lines, and headers to clearly identify the different sections and articulate your applicable experience.

You can use lines and headers to break up your resume and bullet points can be used to summarize key points and stress important information as well as increase readability.

For example, you may use a bullet point for each of the schools in your education section, or a list of bullet points to highlight business achievements or technical skills.

How to write an eye-catching MBA resume objective

Think of your resume objective as your elevator pitch.

It’s a succinct paragraph (2-4 sentences) at the top of your resume that briefly describes your career history and what differentiates you from your peers.

Essentially a resume summary, your objective should describe the value you bring to an MBA cohort and how your experience will best serve the programs you’re applying for.

Consider adapting your objective for each application you’re submitting and be sure to use any applicable keywords that align with the program.

Overall, see this section as a way to differentiate yourself from the masses and stand out during the application process.

MBA candidate and driven finance professional with over six years of experience designing successful investment portfolios for top-tier clients. Honored as top account executive for last three years based on an average return of 17 percent and a 100 percent client retention rate. Team lead, member of the negotiations committee, and founded sustainability initiative aimed at reducing waste and offsetting carbon footprint.

How to describe work experience on an MBA resume

The bulk of your MBA resume should be reserved to showcase your work experience and the growth of your career.

Start by listing the name of the organization, your job title, and how long you worked there.

Then, for each position, create a bullet point (2-6 bullet points) for each of your achievements in that role. Avoid making your list sound like a job description­—this is your chance to tell your story about the impact you’ve made and share important moments in your career.

“It's not your life story, but a summary of the key, relevant achievements,” notes Margaret O’Neill, head of careers at Cambridge Judge Business School.

Use key metrics and numbers that quantify what you’ve accomplished with the company, voluntary organization, or college society.

Focus on leadership, business administration, and how you contributed to the overall growth and success of the organization and use positive, action-oriented language to describe your outcomes.

“Try to clearly state the action you took, and the results achieved. Begin each bullet point with a strong action verb and be sure to highlight transferable skills and feature relevant keywords,” advises Beth Briggs, associate dean of career services at New York University (NYU) Stern School of Business.

A tried and tested MBA resume strategy is the PAR method , which involves stating the ‘Project’, ‘Action’, and ‘Result’ of each example you include as this can help to quantify your accomplishments.

Try to avoid these common MBA resume mistakes  like including vague descriptions of your experiences that don’t present your talents in the best light.

Oracle – Austin, TX | Product Marketing Manager | January 2018-Present

Increased annual product sales by 10% by designing, executing, and measuring integrated, multichannel marketing strategies that increase awareness, generate new leads, and nurture existing relationships.

How to write an education section of an MBA resume

If you feel that your work experience is less robust than you want, be sure to put your education section at the forefront of your MBA application resume. To start, include the following details:

• Major/concentration
• Any minors (if applicable)
• Graduation date
• Awards/honors (if applicable)

In addition, share any extracurricular activities, college societies, or study abroad opportunities that demonstrate your interests and business leaderships skills.

Discuss your studies and how your experience has prepared you for leadership in the business world.

University of Virginia | Charlottesville, VA | Graduated May 2015

B.A. Economics, GPA: 4.0, summa cum laude

Study abroad: London, United Kingdom, January-May 2014

How to showcase your skills and awards

The final piece of your MBA resume is your opportunity to share the special skills and accolades that make you a desirable MBA applicant.

Discuss any awards you’ve received and how you earned this recognition.

List out any relevant certifications and your mastery level of the systems you utilize.

Make note of any publications that have published your work or quoted you for expertise.

This section can include highlights from either your education or work experience.

Use this section as a place to share the skills and accomplishments that make you unique and help distinguish your application from the pack.

Finally, make sure this section includes details that you’ll want to discuss more during your MBA interview.

• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
• Fluent in English, Spanish, and French
• Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher

How to best format your MBA resume

Once you’ve added your information, it’s time to format your resume.

Since the average hiring manager spends just 7.4 seconds reviewing a resume, MBA admissions committees with stacks of MBA resumes to review are likely to take a similar approach.

The best way to ensure whoever is reviewing your MBA resume catches the most important details about you is to limit your resume to 1-2 pages.

Applicants with less than 10 years of professional experience may opt for a one-page resume, and two pages if you have more than this.

When considering your MBA resume format, remember that clean and concise is always best.

• Font : Choose a legible font like Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial in 11 or 12 point size
• Margins : One-inch margins
• Line height : Approximately 1.0 line spacing
• Details : Avoid complex charts or graphics that divert attention

This approach will stand you in good stead if the business school you’re applying for uses Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) systems or other software tools.

“You don't want the recruiter to spend time trying to orient themselves to your formatting. Boring is generally better unless you're applying for something in design or art,” says Jerry from UNC Kenan-Flagler.

If you want to add a pop of color at the top of your MBA application resume, then choose something that allows for a good level of contrast between the text and the page. Otherwise, a black and white MBA resume works perfectly well.

Differentiating your MBA resume for each business school

An MBA resume should always be specific and tailored to the program you’re applying for, so avoid handing in the same one you’ve used for jobs or other MBA applications.

Every business school has different values and specialties, so weave these elements into each resume to stand a good chance of impressing the MBA admissions committee.

For instance, if you’re applying for a business school that’s known for its strength in marketing, you might want to outline the targeted advertising projects you’ve worked on during your professional career as a marketing manager or how you oversaw a college society’s annual marketing budget.

Meanwhile, if you’re applying for one of the best MBA programs renowned for entrepreneurship, you’d want to focus more on the ways you’ve engaged with entrepreneurship or worked on a business idea with a colleague or classmate.

Tailor your resume to each application and highlight the experience and skills that prove that you’re one of the talented professionals that deserves a seat in this specific MBA program.

To get more top MBA resume tips and access MBA resume examples and templates, download the free BusinessBecause Resume Guide: 10 Steps To A Winning Resume .

Your MBA resume is a key component of the admissions process and is an opportunity to set yourself apart from the crowd.

See this as a chance to convince admissions committees that you’re the best candidate for their program by carefully crafting a story that shares your exceptional skills and experiences.

Ready to dive into the other components of your MBA application? Use this interactive tool  to find out which aspects of your application carry the most weight when it comes to admissions decisions so you can focus your time and attention on the sections that matter most.

Get started with  GradSelect Elevate  - a free tool to practice for future video interviews. Quickly get unbiased feedback on your skills, and confidently stand out to your target programs.

MBA Resume Examples + Writing Guide for 2024

You’re a talented professional. You’re smart. You’re enthusiastic.

The time has come to get an MBA degree - one that really opens doors .

But to secure a place in that elusive MBA program, you need a resume that works.

The problem is that the best MBA programs attract thousands of talented professionals from all over the world.

The good news is that you’re about to beat them all .

All you have to do is follow the strategies in this guide!

• A job-winning MBA resume example
• How to create an MBA resume that hiring managers love
• MBA-specific tips and tricks to make your resume stand out

Now, before we get to the juicy details, here’s some inspiration.

An MBA resume example, created with our very own resume builder :

Follow the steps in this guide to create a job-winning MBA resume of your own!

Feel free to check out our related resume examples if you are interested in a specific job position:

• Business Analyst Resume
• Financial Analyst Resume
• Executive Assistant Resume
• Consultant Resume
• Administrative Assistant Resume
• Office Assistant Resume
• Accountant Resume
• Bookkeeper Resume
• Bank Teller Resume
• Banking Resume
• Career Change Resume

How to Format an MBA Resume

Admission committees receive thousands of applications every year.

As such, they tend to skim-read as they go through the pile of resumes.

To make their job easier, and to put the odds in your favour, you need to use the correct format.

Also, the hiring manager will think again before choosing an applicant whose resume lacks professionalism.

The most common resume format is “ reverse-chronological ”, so we’d recommend this format for your MBA resume:

There are two other popular formats that you could try:

• Functional Resume – This resume format design is for those who have a lot of valuable skills, but don’t have the professional experience. As such, this format is ideal for those who are transferring to a new industry or have gaps in their employment history.
• Combination Resume - As the name suggests, a combination resume is a combination of “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological”. As such, this format is ideal for those who have both skills and experience.  

Once you’ve decided on the format, you need to get your resume layout right.

For a professional layout, here’s what we recommend:

• Margins - One-inch margins on all sides
• Font - Pick a font that stands out, but not too much. 
• Font Size - Use a font size of 11-12pt for normal text and 14-16pt for headers
• Line Spacing - Use 1.0 or 1.15 line spacing
• Resume Length - Don’t go over the 1-page limit. If you’re having trouble fitting everything into one page? You may want to view these one-page resume templates .

Use an MBA Resume Template

Word is great for a number of purposes, but as a resume builder is not one of them.

Imagine this: you create the perfect resume, make one change, and then the whole thing falls apart.

In fact, you’ll likely find yourself playing around with the formatting for longer than you take to write the contents.

To make your life easier, use an MBA resume template .

What to Include in an MBA Resume

The main sections in an MBA resume are:

• Contact Information
• Work Experience

For a resume that stands out even more, try adding these optional sections:

• Awards & Certification

Interests & Hobbies

It’s now time to go through each of those sections, and explain how to write them...

Not sure which sections to use for your MBA resume? Check out our guide to What to Put on a Resume .

• Certain schools have specific rules in place, which means that you read the application requirements before writing your resume or choosing a template. You may be forced to use the school’s predefined resume templates.

How to Correctly Write Your Contact Information

You could create the best resume in the world, but if you make mistakes in the contact section, you won’t be receiving any phone calls. 

For your contacts, include:

• Professional Title
• Phone Number - Quadruple check this! 
• Email Address - Make sure to use a professional email address ([email protected])
• Portfolio Link - Behance, Dribble, or your personal website
• (Optional) Location - Applying for a job/program abroad? Mention your location.
• Josh Fakenham - MBA Graduate. 101-358-6095. [email protected]
• Josh Fakenham - MBA Whiz Kid. 101-358-6095. [email protected]

How to Write an MBA Resume Summary or Objective

Did you know that recruiters spend less than 6 seconds reading each resume?

This means that you have only a few seconds to impress the reader.

You need a message that shows the value that you’ll bring, and fast!

The best place for this message is right at very top of the resume. 

This top paragraph is known as a resume summary or resume objective.

Although the two are very similar, there are a couple of differences:

A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence summary of your professional experiences and achievements.

• Professional Marketing Analyst with 5+ years of experience in creating ads, writing copy, and overseeing campaigns. Improved revenue by 34% for Company X in 2017. Looking to leverage my marketing expertise to contribute to School X’s knowledge exchange.

A resume objective is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of your professional goals and aspirations.

Enthusiastic Business Management graduate, with one year experience as a freelance marketing consultant. Created creative copy for Client X, which increased conversions by 65%. Skilled in SMM, SEO, copywriting, and web design. Seeking a chance to offer my unique insights on marketing, while developing my skills in management.

So, which one do you pick? 

A resume summary if the best option if you have any previous and relevant work experience, whereas an objective summary is the best option if you’re a graduate with little or no work experience. 

How to Make Your Work Experience Stand Out

To get into a competitive MBA program, you need to show that you mean business.

The easiest way to show this: your work experience . 

Sure, your core skills are important too, but professional experience always comes out on top. Start with your most recent/current job, and then follow it with your previous job, and so on. Here’s the general structure of your work experience section:

• Position name
• Company Name
• Responsibilities & Achievements

Business Development Associate

Fishing Tackle XYZ

03/2017 - 03/2020

• Upon hire, completed in-depth business analysis, which lead to a 28% profit increase that year (2017).
• Revamped UX for the website, which boosted revenue by 17%.
• Created an innovated fulfilment system that saved $200,000 in operational costs.

You may have noticed that the above example lists the top achievements , rather than daily tasks. 

So, instead of saying:

“Web design”

“Revamped UX for the website, which boosted revenue by 17%”

So, what’s the difference between the two?

The second statement goes into more depth about how your responsibilities were something that helped the company. Doing this allows your resume to stand out and reveals the value you bring. 

Remember, you need to keep reminding the reader that you are the best choice , compared with other applicants with the same work duties.

What if You Don’t Have Work Experience?

Maybe you’re a recent university graduate with no work experience?

Or maybe, you have a wealth of experience, but none relating to your MBA?

Whichever the reason, don’t worry!

The thing that really matters here is your portfolio.

If you already have some portfolio pieces, feel free to upload them and link to your resume (we’re going to explain how in a bit).

However, don’t worry if you don’t, you can act now.

Here are several ways you can get a portfolio (and get paid for it):

• Work on some freelance gigs.
• Offer your business knowledge to your friends & acquaintances.
• If the above doesn’t work, you can create your own mock-ups! Basically, anything that shows your skills and knowledge.

If you’re a recent graduate, you might want to check out our guide on how to make a student resume !

Use Action Words to Make Your MBA Resume POP!

• “Responsible for”
• “Worked in”

Flick through a bunch of MBA resumes, and you’ll notice one thing: they all include these same words. 

And since you want your resume to stand out, we recommend using power words instead.

Here is a list of power words that make your responsibilities and achievements stand out:

• Conceptualized
• Spearheaded

How to Add a Portfolio to Your Resume

Create a “Portfolio” header, and then link to your website (or Behance / Dribble), and list your relevant portfolio pieces. It should look like this:

www.mikebusiness.com

• E-Commerce – Created an online shop as part of a university competition
• Business Plan – Created a business plan for a local company that wanted to expand operations
• Web Design – Managed a Kickstarter campaign for an innovative cooking brand – successfully raised $400,982

Don’t want a dedicated portfolio section? Just link to your online portfolio in your contact information section.

How to List Your Education Correctly

Welcome to the education section!

If you’re lacking experience with a company or on your own projects, your education is the best chance to impress on an MBA resume .

Simply list out your education entries, like this:

• Degree Type & Major
• University Name
• Years Studied
• GPA, Honours, Courses, and anything else you might want to add

B.A. Finance 

University of Chicago

• Relevant Courses: International Macroeconomics and Financial markets, Introduction to Economics, Business Organisation and Management, Principles of Financial Accounting, Quantitative Methods in Accounting and Finance 

Before we conclude this section, here are some of the most frequent questions we get from MBA candidates (and their answers!):

What if I haven’t finished education?

• Whether you’re still a student, or you dropped out, you should still mention your best education achievements to date. Simply include the years/courses studied, and you’re good.

Should I include my high school education?

• Only if that is your highest education. The hiring manager doesn’t need to know about your high school education if you have a B.A.

What is more important, education or experience?

• Experiences come before education, always. 

Need more answers? Check out our guide on how to list education on a resume .

Top 8 Skills for an MBA Resume

When the recruiter is reviewing your resume, they want to see that you have the correct skills and abilities needed to complete an MBA. 

You see, the person reviewing the applications will have been briefed about a range of skills to look for. If you don’t include the skills they’re looking for, the hiring manager will likely put your resume straight into the “no” pile!

Need some inspiration?

It’ll depend on the specific MBA program you’re applying for, but here are some of the most common and desirable skills...

Hard Skills for MBA:

• Quantitative research
• Big data analysis
• Financial forecasting

Soft Skills for MBA:

• Communication
• Leadership 
• Strategic thinking
• Accept and learn from criticism

Looking for a more comprehensive list? Here’s a mega-list of 150+ must-have skills .

Other Resume Sections You Can Include

Now, the other candidates will all have similar job experiences. 

To stand out, you need to ensure that you’ve got something no other candidate has.

After all, if your resume looks exactly the same as everyone else’s, you’re not putting the odds in your favour.

Utilizing the following sections is the easiest way to give your resume that first-class treatment.

Awards & Certifications

Did you win an MBA award while studying?

Have you completed any MBA-relevant courses on Coursera?

In such a competitive marketplace, be sure to mention any awards and certifications in your resume!

Awards & Certificates

• “User Experience Research & Design” - Coursera Certificate
• Adobe Certified Expert
• “Best Business Pitch Award” - University of Chicago
• Google Analytics Certificate
• “Learning How to Learn” - Coursera Certificate

Are you passionate about business?

Well, that’s exactly what the hiring manager wants to know.

The easiest way to show your love of business is by showcasing the results of your own project.

Here are some ideas:

• Start your own e-commerce shop
• Giving business consultation to local businesses 
• Reviewing business plans of friends & family

The project section should look something like this…

Your resume is designed to impress the hiring manager. 

And what better way to make a lasting impression than by revealing that you speak multiple languages. 

Besides, being able to speak a second (or third) language can always come in handy, even if the MBA doesn’t specifically require it.

If this relates to you, and you have space in your resume, definitely include a languages section.

Make sure to split the languages by proficiency:

• Intermediate

With the rise in MBA popularity, employers are looking for more than just hard skills and qualifications. 

Your resume needs to stand out from the competition, and one of the easiest ways to do this is to become relatable.

The best way to become relatable is to talk about your hobbies and interests.  

If you’re not sure which hobbies & interests to mention, you can read our guide! 

Match Your Cover Letter with Your Resume

MBA programs are competitive. 

So competitive, that a resume and a list of references simply won’t cut it.

So what’s the answer?

Well, a cover letter!

Here’s the thing: a well-written cover letter tells the recruiter that you want a place in this exact MBA program, not just sending a generic resume to all programs. 

As such, a cover letter can significantly boost your chances of landing that prestigious MBA!

Here’s how to get the structure right:

And here’s what to write in each section:

Contact Details

Your personal contact information, including full name, profession, email, phone number, location, and website (or Behance / Dribble).

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information

Full name, position, location, email

Opening Paragraph

Your introduction should be very strong. If you don’t manage to hook the hiring manager here, chances are, they’re not going to read the rest of it. So, mention…

• The position you’re applying for
• Your experience summary and top achievement

Once you’ve got the hiring manager hooked, you can go through the rest of your background. Some of the points you can mention here are...

• Why you want to work for this specific company
• Anything you know about the company’s culture
• What are your top skills and how are they relevant for the job
• If you’ve worked in similar industries or positions

Closing Paragraph

This is where you:

• Wrap up any points you missed in the body paragraph
• Thank the hiring manager for their time
• End with a call to action. Something like, “I’d love to discuss further how my experience as an X can help the company with Y”

Formal Salutations

Use a formal closing, such as “Best regards” or “Sincerely”.

An MBA is hard, but so is writing a convincing cover letter. For extra guidance, we’ve covered you with your step-by-step guide on writing a cover letter .

Key Takeaways

Followed everything in this guide? Then you’re in the best position to get that elusive MBA placement.

Before we finish up, let’s quickly go through everything we’ve learned:

• Select the right formatting for your MBA resume. Try the reverse-chronological format, and then follow the best practices in regard to the layout. Remember, keep everything looking professional
• Use a resume summary or objective to catch the hiring manager’s attention immediately
• For the work experience section, talk more about your achievements instead of your daily responsibilities
• Build a portfolio that shows examples of your skills
• Match your MBA resume with a convincing cover letter

Suggested Reading:

• How to Ace Interviews with the STAR Method [9+ Examples]
• Guide to Green Careers - All You Need to Know
• 26+ Biggest Interview Mistakes (To Avoid in 2024)

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

How to Craft the Ultimate MBA Resume—With Examples

Applying to top MBA programs? Beat the competition with our guide to the ultimate MBA resume, including an easy-to-use template and examples.

Posted May 9, 2024

Featuring Victoria G.

The Summer Before Round 1: Setting Yourself Up for Success

Starting tuesday, may 28.

3:00 PM UTC · 45 minutes

Table of Contents

What is an mba resume.

The resume is one of the most important parts of your MBA application. Why?

1. It's the Backbone of Your Application

Admissions officers read the resume for a full view of your career, professional achievements, skills, and hobbies. For them, it’s a window into what you might be like as a student if they admitted you, and what you’ll be like as a leader in the future. So it’s imperative that you nail it!

2. It's Critical to Your Interview

Your resume will also come into play when you're interviewing, as a source of questions and discussion topics, especially in a blind interview, in which an interviewer will have only read your resume. Nailing the resume will set you up for success when you reach the interview, that final step in your application process

3. It's Your Chance to Show Off Your Writing Skills

Finally, the resume is your chance to highlight your communication skills—describing your accomplishments concretely and concisely will send the signal to the admissions committee that you’re mature, articulate, and insightful. Top MBA programs are looking for individuals who not only are accomplished but who can speak about those accomplishments in a coherent way. Show them you can do that, with your resume!

MBA Resume Examples

Download this free resource to see resume examples from MBA admits to top programs

What  Isn't  an MBA Resume?

Now, before we dive into our tips and tricks, it's important to note that the business school resume is categorically different than other resumes you might have previously created, whether for internships, job applications, or other graduate school programs.

Many prospective MBAs focus on other parts of the business school application, like the GMAT/GRE, or their essays, and think they can copy and paste the resume they have on file, or the one they recently sent to a recruiter. This, however, won't work.

An MBA application resume is a different animal. Its job is not to highlight industry knowledge, demonstrate skill proficiency, or even showcase professional experience. Instead, the MBA resume must be singly focused on illuminating your business credentials, teamwork skills, and potential as a future leader. Every bullet on your resume must tell the admissions committee: "This is a stellar  MBA applicant who will shine in the future, and ultimately make your program look fantastic as a distinguished alum."

One last word here. When you're applying for jobs, generally speaking, you're competing with people whose experience and professional background match your own, so you're trying to stand out in a crowd of like applicants. This is why a professional resume can be easier to craft.

When you apply to business school, however, every single candidate is different. While you're competing against other applicants, you're not trying to outdo them per see; rather, you're trying to create a holistic snapshot of your career to date, one that fits on a single page, touches on all aspects of your personal and professional life, and demonstrates that you're a star candidate.

With that all covered, let's dive into the resume itself.

Free trial!

From 109 top coaches

Access a library of videos, templates, and examples curated by Leland’s top coaches.

Example essays.

Example Resumes

Application Prep

Video Courses

What Should an MBA Resume Look Like?

First and foremost, let's talk about how an MBA resume should look. It sounds small, but you don't want to put a massive amount of effort into your application, only to have your resume be formatted oddly, with odd font size and improperly laid out sections.

Here are 4 tips for nailing the perfect MBA resume format:

Get your MBA resume onto a single page — pure and simple. If you submit a three-page resume, or worse, a short novel, your application will go to the bottom of the admissions pile.

2. Font and Spacing

Don't get fancy — go with the classics: Calibri, Arial, or Garamond. Personally, we recommend Times New Roman. 11 to 12 point font is the go-to, with 14 for the headings. Keep the margins at one inch.

These are small things but remember: admissions committees will read thousands of applications, and you don't want them tripping up on your resume because of small formatting issues.

Black and white. Colors will distract from the entire point of the resume: communicating who you are as a professional and MBA candidate.

4. File Type

Most schools' application portals will specify the file format for your resume, but generally speaking, you'll be submitting a PDF. It's clean, clear, and looks professional.

Fantastic — now you have an idea of what your resume should look like! If you've done everything right, it should look similar to this:

To help you out, we've also included a redacted resume with the proper formatting, which you can use as an  MBA resume template .

Coach Recommendations

If you prefer to work in a one-on-one setting for personalized resume feedback, schedule an intro call with one of our top resume coaches . Here are some of our highest-rated MBA admissions coaches.

What to Include in Your MBA Resume

Now that we've nailed the format, we can talk about what actually goes into the resume — your contact information, and the different MBA resume sections. We'll take it step by step.

Contact Information

This one is pretty obvious. Include the following:

• Phone number
• LinkedIn profile

Separate the information by vertical lines, dashes, or bullets. It should look like this:

Professional Experience

The next, and most important section, on your resume, will detail your professional experience. Expect for this block to take up roughly 2/3 of your document. Here, you'll list your professional accomplishments in reverse chronological order. *Note that if you’re a deferred MBA candidate, you’ll follow the same instructions below; you’ll just populate your professional experience section with your collegiate internships.

A few tips and tricks:

• Start With Company, Role, and Dates This sounds obvious, but the first thing you need to do is state where you worked, your role, and how long you were in that role. If it's not a name-brand company, include a single line explaining what the company is and does, including some stats about it (number of offices, number of employees, annual revenue, etc)
• Nail Your Bullets For each role that you list, detail your most significant actions and achievements in bullet point format. These are not mere job descriptions; they're articulations of exact actions and specific skills you put in place in your job to drive your company forward. State what you did, any leadership elements, and the accompanying result to the business, to show the admissions committee that you have a track record of positive impact in your past professional roles. Pro tip: Write all bullets in the past tense, for professionalism and consistency
• Highlight Leadership Business school is all about leadership, so highlight this as much as possible. Whenever possible, spotlight instances where you led groups, teams, and projects. Even small things, like organizing a company-wide social event, matter. Examples: - Managed 3 marketing interns; oversaw 3 summer-long intern projects resulting in 47% customer acquisition growth - Led global IT team of 5 to automate semiconductor design; reduced cycle cost by 15%
• Quantify/Specify For every bullet, be as specific about what you accomplished as possible. What numeric results did your actions drive? How much money did you make or save for your company? Each bullet should communicate tangible proof of your actions, as well as the significance of those actions to the company. The goal is to highlight to the admissions committee that you’re a change agent, someone who can bring about significant, measurable outcomes. Examples: - Oversaw $171M annual R&D budget; provided data analytics for 5 R&D Vice Presidents - Acquired $2M+ in real estate, realizing an average portfolio ROI of 35%
• Indicate Action When describing your accomplishments, don’t settle for non-descriptive words like “worked” and “did.” Aim for more punchy verbs like “executed,” “spearheaded,” and “drove.” (Try not to use the same verb twice.) It sounds like a small thing, but the way you describe what you’ve done matters. When you’re competing against thousands of other applicants, every word counts! Examples: - Spearheaded group of 10 to produce 2015 Super Bowl TV campaign - Trained 15 new caregivers on COVID-19 protocols, reducing patient incidence by 34%
• Show Growth Each of the roles you list should indicate an upward professional trajectory. If you started your career as an Analyst but were advanced to Associate and then Director, show that in separate headings within that company — admissions committees are looking for up-and-coming stars and quick risers. Promotions are a key signal of growth, of course, but taking on more challenging projects within a role and driving impressive results is just as important.

Now that you've nailed the professional experience section, you can tackle the education section. For each degree, mention the university, degree/major, date of graduation, GPA, and any honors and distinctions (including impressive athletic or extracurricular involvement). As with your work experience, choose your bullets so as to showcase impressive achievements and leadership skills.

Add a new entry for every degree and include the name of the degree, university, graduation date, major, minor (if applicable), GPA, honors, and achievements.

For applicants with more work experience, you can choose to keep each entry brief and highlight only the key achievements (if any) along with any research work, projects, etc. that show your leadership skills or exemplary business qualifications. When done right, the education section should look like so:

See our resume samples below for examples of how to outline your education on your resume.

Leadership and Other Involvement

Finally, this last section is the place you can detail any other leadership bona fides, extracurricular involvement, volunteer experience, and other personal accomplishments that might distinguish you from all the other MBA candidates.

When choosing these bullets, prioritize the ones with the greatest impact: where you led teams at your local charity, implemented a change at your alma mater, spearheaded the fundraising committee for your high school's 5th-year reunion, and raised several hundred thousand dollars, etc. As with the rest of the resume, your goal is to depict leadership potential, the ability to drive results, and a knack for collaboration.

Finally, select those bullets that no other candidates could possibly list on their resume: the book you wrote with your State Senator, the community garden you helped plant whose proceeds went to benefit HIV research, the Six Sigma Black Belt certification you earned in your spare time. Languages, sports, and hobbies make great bullets here.

(And of course, quantify and specify these bullets just as you did in the professional and education sections!) Here's how your section might look:

See our MBA resume samples below for instances of well-done leadership bullets. You'll have to give some thought to which bullets you should or shouldn't include.

Additional Resume Tips & Tricks

Okay, we've covered the biggest parts of the resume — now, let's bring it home with a few final tips and tricks.

1. Don't Exaggerate

This goes without saying, but we’re putting it here, anyway. Many applicants are tempted to inflate their stats or give themselves promotions on their resumes. Don’t do it. If you get to the interview phase, you’ll be held accountable for every word on your resume, and schools conduct a thorough background check on each admitted candidate to make sure they’ve done everything they say they have. Again: don’t do it.

2. Focus on YOUR impact

Rather than indicate company-wide results, be hyper-focused on highlighting your own impact: what you did, and the results you drove. Business schools aren’t admitting a company, or your team — they’re admitting you! (And you’ll want to have concrete, ownable answers for when you arrive at your MBA interview)

3. Don't Use Technical Jargon

Remember, the admissions committee members reading your resume aren't experts in your given field. Don't bog them down with technical terms. Of course, you should explain what you did in your roles, but it's more important to indicate the impact you drove in that role than it is to get the scientific descriptions exactly right.

4. Double Check Everything!

This also goes without saying but make sure to go over your resume once before you submit it; it's really easy to overlook punctuation and spelling errors when you've been looking at your computer screen for hours on end, and you don't want to discover a typo the day after you submit your application!

5. Human Touch

Finally—and this one often gets overlooked—be yourself! As we said, admissions officers will read thousands of applications in a cycle, and if you can offer a hint of humanity, a breath of fresh air, it will stand out. The last section of your resume is a good place to include little human touches. Examples:

• Love reading (Asian American novels), animals (parrots), and films (romantic comedies)
• Avid hiker, cyclist, and whitewater rafting guide
• Mastered the art of banana bread (2020)

For more resume tips, read this article by a GSB MBA with years of experience reviewing resumes: An Expert’s Guide to Resumes: Five Tips to Make You Stand Out .

Finally, be sure to check out these articles for more tips on how to master the MBA application process:

• What Are MBA Adcoms Looking for in Resumes
• The Complete MBA Application Guide
• How to Write a Powerful MBA Essay-- With Examples
• Tips to Mitigate Common Weakness in MBA Applications
• The Most Frequently Asked Questions on MBA Applications

Browse hundreds of expert coaches

Leland coaches have helped thousands of people achieve their goals. A dedicated mentor can make all the difference.

Browse Related Articles

May 11, 2024

How to Choose an MBA Program: The Discerning Student's Guide

In this comprehensive article, we'll show you how to assess your MBA candidacy, evaluate top MBA programs, and choose which business schools to apply to.

April 4, 2024

How to Write a Powerful MBA Essay—With Examples

The MBA essay is critical to your business school application. Read our guide to writing the perfect MBA essay, with successful admit examples.

January 9, 2024

Marquette Dental School: Application Requirements, Acceptance Rates, and How to Get In (2023-2024)

Considering applying to the Marquette Dental School? Familiarize yourself with the application requirements, gain insights into the acceptance rates, and understand how to increase your chances of securing admission.

August 17, 2023

How to Choose a Law School: An Essential Guide for Prospective Students

Are you contemplating pursuing a legal education by attending law school, yet feeling uncertain about where to begin? Our guide is specifically tailored to students like you, providing valuable tips and advice to help you select the perfect law school that aligns with your goals.

A Guide to the Columbia Business School Essays (2023-2024)

Coach Melanie E. walks you through each Columbia Business School essay prompt for the 2023-2024 cycle, breaking down what adcoms are looking for and offering expert advice on how to nail your responses.

March 1, 2024

CMU Tepper School of Business – MBA Program & Application Overview

Discover everything you need to know about the CMU Tepper School of Business MBA program and application process in this comprehensive article.

UT Austin McCombs School of Business – MBA Program & Application Overview

Discover everything you need to know about the UT Austin McCombs School of Business MBA program, from application tips to program highlights.

March 2, 2024

Georgetown McDonough School of Business – MBA Program & Application Overview

Discover everything you need to know about the Georgetown McDonough School of Business MBA program and application process in this comprehensive article.

January 10, 2024

MIT Sloan Video Statement: Overview, Advice, & Common Mistakes

Learn all about the MIT Sloan video statement, including valuable advice and tips to help you stand out.

UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Get ready to ace your UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA application with this comprehensive essay guide.

Georgetown McDonough MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Looking to ace your Georgetown McDonough MBA essays? Our comprehensive guide provides an overview, valuable tips, and real examples to help you craft compelling and impactful essays that will set you apart from the competition.

UW Foster MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Learn everything you need to know about writing impactful UW Foster MBA essays with our comprehensive guide.

• Knowledge Base
• Free Resume Templates
• Resume Builder
• Resume Examples
• Free Resume Review

Click here to directly go to the complete MBA resume sample

Looking for an MBA resume guide?

Writing the perfect MBA resume can be complicated with the changing industry standards, but if you put effort into it, you can get a step closer to your dream job. Modern technology and recruiting policies won't get easier, but this guide will help you land yourself the shortlist for your desired job.

Given below is a summary of our MBA Resume 2023 guide:

• List down your information in the reverse chronological resume format to reflect on your most recent and relevant professional undertakings.
• Mention your work experience in one-liners to make your points brief and specific.
• Include your contact details such as contact number, email address, personal website links, etc.
• Summarize your resume in 3-4 lines maximum for giving an insight into your entire B school resume.

By the end of this guide, you will also be able to write a job-winning MBA application resume and have answers to the following questions:

• What is an MBA resume?
• What is a good resume for MBA?
• How do you write MBA on resume?
• How to list your MBA resume skills in the best manner?
• What to add to the education section of your MBA resume?
• How to summarize your B school resume?

You can also go through our other existing blogs that can help you get a better understanding of making an impression in the job market as a professional:

What Is an MBA Resume & Why Do You Need It?

An MBA application resume is the first official means of communication through which you can either be recognized or go unnoticed by the recruiters.

Since most recruiters rely on the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) to filter through hundreds of resumes, you need to rank high on the ATS.

You need an ATS-targeted resume that consists of the keywords used by the recruiters to describe the job profile that you are applying for.

MBA Professionals Average Salary

The given graph highlights the comparison of average annual salaries offered in various regions of the globe:

SOURCE: Collegedunia

How to Write Your MBA Resume

The following stages can help you to write a flawless resume:

Before you start drafting your MBA application resume, create a master folder wherein you can stack all your pieces of information.

Do not worry about any unclear details and information that you are not sure about because this folder can be used in the present timeline as well as for any possible updates of your MBA resumes in the coming future.

Creating this master folder can save you time by gathering all your required details in one place and help you to avoid collecting scattered pieces of information.

B school resume Sections

A resume is ideally divided into different sections . Given below are the standard sections that need to be curated in your MBA application resume at all times:

You can make use of the optional sections if you are a fresher or if you think it will provide anything of value. Make sure you do not let your resume be longer than one page.

Also read: How to contain your resume within one page?

Resume Format for MBA

There are three types of resume format for MBA that you can use depending on your expertise level.

• Reverse chronological format: By listing your work experience in reverse chronological order, it is one of the most recruiter and industry-friendly resume formats
• Functional format: If you are a fresher or do not have much experience, functional resume format for MBA is the best way to focus on your skills instead of work experience.
• Hybrid/Combination format: As the name suggests, it is the resume format for MBA that ensures you get the best of both.

Also read: Which resume format for MBA should I choose?

MBA Resume: Professional Experience

In a resume, the professional experience section is one of the most important sections and can make or break your candidacy.

Use the following three factors while framing your professional section to raise your chances of being shortlisted:

• Frame one-liner points
• STAR format
• Group & Highlight

STAR Format

The STAR format can help you create the cause-effect relationship between your contributions and the achievements in your professional experience section.

STAR stands for the following points:

• S stands for the situation /backdrop/context of your contributions to an organization.
• T stands for the actual task that was assigned to you as part of your roles and responsibilities.
• A stands for the action and the strategy that you used to execute any task assigned to you.
• R stands for the result /outcome of your action in the form of an achievement figure.

Frame One-Liner Points

Let us look at the two of the best MBA resume examples given below to discuss and understand the importance of framing your professional experience:

MBA Resume Example 1:

"Successfully redesigned the strategy of communicating with the customers to increase the revenue of the organization by 20% within a year by assisting the Head Accountant. Reduced the requests for refunds of customers by 20% and labor costs by $1 million by implementing a customer service process. Settled an analysis of a business optimization project to decrease the monthly expenses by 10%. Analyzed accurate documentation of finances for all departments of the organization to decrease 20% errors. Recorded costs for every month to create a suitable pricing scheme that led to the achievement of 100% customer loyalty."

MBA Resume Example 2:

• Redesigned customer communication to increase 20% revenue within a year by assisting the Head Accountant
• Reduced 20% refund requests & labor costs by $1 million by implementing customer service process
• Settled an analysis of business optimization project to decrease monthly 10% expenses
• Analyzed accurate documentation of finances for all departments to decrease 20% errors
• Recorded costs every month to create a suitable pricing scheme for 100% customer loyalty

In conclusion, always write one-liners to state your professional experience and avoid bulky and lengthy paragraphs.

Also read: Best sample resumes for business school

Group and Highlight

Now let us look at the two of the best resumes for business school to discuss and understand the importance of grouping and highlighting:

• Felicitated for creating 10+ marketing campaigns to raise brand awareness

Strategic & Financial Planning

Financial Documentation & Analysis

In conclusion, grouping & highlighting (example 2) can make your resumes more organized for the recruiters to read and comprehend your professional experience section.

Here's a resume sample showcasing what an ideal professional experience section looks like:

Find out more: Craft a perfect professional experience section

MBA Graduate Resume Skills Section

You should frame your key skills section as the second to last step of your MBA application resume writing.

Some of the common skills that an MBA professional needs to possess and highlight on a resume are listed below for reference:

Scan through your resume and pick out the most significant highlights of your career in the form of keywords that have been used by the recruiters to describe the job profile that you are applying for.

Doing so can also help you rank high on the ATS which can help you get the required shortlist from the recruiters for the targeted job.

Picking the most suitable keyword can be complicated at times but you need not worry because the experts at Hiration can help you pick the perfect keywords to frame the perfect key skills section.

Look at the given MBA resume samples showcasing the perfect key skills section:

Also read: What skills should I add to my resume?

MBA Resume: Header

The resume header of your MBA application resume is what appears at the very top, and here's what you need to know about it:

• Your full real name should be written at the topmost part of your resume.
• The header of your MBA application resume should be written in the largest range of 16-20 font-size .
• If you have a middle name, write only the initial of your middle name, e.g: Faith Hugh Logan should be written as "Faith H. Logan".

Refer to the example given below showcasing the ideal resume header for your MBA application resume:

MBA Resume: Personal Information

An ideal personal information section should contain:

Contact Number

Email address, current location.

• Website Links (if any)

Hiration Pro Tip : Try to avoid giving details of your marital status, religious affiliation, or political inclination in your resume unless explicitly asked for. Most countries have forbidden it by law to mention these things as it may lead to biased hiring.

You need to provide your contact number because there may be times when the recruiters would want to interview you over the phone or get a verbal confirmation for any likely shortlist.

Always provide only the functional and active contact number by using the correct resume format for MBA given below:

• Use your country’s ISD code as a prefix before your phone number
• Put a plus sign (+) before the ISD code
• Eg: +1 37648 21511

Emails can be considered a convenient means of communication between you and the recruiters. Provide your email address that has your real name for any official or professional purposes.

Example: [email protected] or [email protected]

Strictly avoid fancy and childish made-up names in your official email IDs as it can make you seem like an immature applicant who is not serious about one's career.

Example: [email protected] or [email protected]

If you do not have an official email ID with your real name, create one right away.

Follow the given resume rules while writing your location in your resumes for MBA application:

• If you are looking for a job in your country, mention the city and state of your residence. On the contrary, simply write your city and country of residence if you are looking for a job outside the country.
• Avoid giving your house number, street number, and locality name as they are of no use to the recruiters.

Keep in mind that you should give out only the required information and strictly avoid any unnecessary pieces of information on a resume.

To know what an ideal personal information section should ideally look like, take a look at the resume sample below:

MBA Resume: Profile Title

Profile titles can be regarded as your level of professional identity and status in a resume.

It ideally communicates the following facts to the recruiter:

• Your current designation.
• Your functional industry.
• Your level of seniority in your line of work.

Write it as the second-largest text in your MBA application resume after your resume header in the font range of 14-16 font size .

Exaggerating your profile title will pass off as intentionally cheating the recruiters; hence you need to compose it accurately.

Given below is a resume sample showcasing the ideal profile title for your MBA application resume:

MBA Resume: Education

"Should I include high school on resume?"

Well, any MBA-related job profile requires you to possess a certain level of degree in the relevant field of study and so it is necessary for you to mention your educational qualification on your MBA resumes accordingly.

The education section of your resumes for MBA application should ideally consist of:

• Name of the school/university you have attended.
• Name of the courses you have pursued.
• The location of your school/university.
• Enrollment and graduation dates in the mm/yy format .

Here is a resume sample showcasing the ideal education section for your MBA application resume:

Also read: How to list education on your resume

MBA Resume: Additional Information

Additional sections should be created when you have to add any information related to any productive hobby you keep or language(s) that you can speak/write.

Speaking more than one language can help you communicate with your colleagues or customers/clients, which can help you manage better and broader communication with others.

The resume sample that we have attached below shows what a perfectly composed additional information section of your resume should look like:

MBA Resume Summary

Do you need a summary on a resume?

Well, it depends on the years of work experience that you possess.

Here is a list of what you should follow and keep in mind if you have to write a great resume summary :

• Write your MBA resume summary at the end of your resume-making process, making it easy to decide what to put in your summary.
• Pick the highlights of your career from your work experience section.
• Try to include the keywords that the recruiter has used in the job listing.
• Do not write a resume summary that exceeds 4 lines.
• Write your MBA resume summary only if you have worked for over 3 years.
• If you have worked for less than 3 years, write an MBA resume objective instead.

Attached below is a resume sample showcasing the ideal resume objective for your MBA application resume:

MBA Resume Objective

As per the ideal resume rules, write an MBA resume objective if you:

• Have limited work experience of fewer than 3 years.
• Are a fresh graduate writing an entry-level resume.

Instead of writing a list of things you are looking for, mention all you can deliver to your next organization.

The role of your resume objective is to sell your skills as a professional and to convince the recruiter that you are the perfect candidate for the targeted job profile.

MBA Resume Sample

Given that you followed all of the tips, here is what an industry-friendly MBA resume looks like:

• Assisted the Head Accountant in redesigning strategy for customer communication boosting revenue by 20% within a year
• Implemented a customer service process to reduce 20% refund requests & direct labour costs by USD 1 million
• Settled an in-depth analysis of business optimization project to decrease monthly expenses by 10%
• Analyzed financial documents accurately for all departments and decreased errors by 25%
• Recorded standard monthly costs to create a suitable pricing scheme that increased customer loyalty to 100%
• Felicitated for creating 5+ online marketing campaigns to raise brand awareness in the market
• Top 5 percentile of the class
• Top 15 percentile of the class

Key Takeaways

• Your resume header should be framed in the range of 16-20 font size, and your profile title should be framed in the range of 14-16 font size.
• Use the mm/yy format throughout your resume to provide your education and work experience.
• Provide your personal information specifically and avoid any unnecessary information that the recruiters do not require.
• Use one-liner points to state your roles & responsibilities while using the STAR format to curate each point.
• Organize similar points under unique groups and bold your key achievements to highlight them under each point.
• Start every point with a power verb to give an impactful start your work experience.
• Keep your resume objective/summary limited to only 3-5 lines and avoid making a resume of more than one page.

Go to Hiration resume builder and create a professional resume for yourself. Additionally, reach out to us at [email protected] and you can get 24/7 professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries.

Share this blog

Subscribe to Free Resume Writing Blog by Hiration

Get the latest posts delivered right to your inbox

Stay up to date! Get all the latest & greatest posts delivered straight to your inbox

Is Your Resume ATS Friendly To Get Shortlisted?

Upload your resume for a free expert review.

• Career Blog

MBA Application Resume: Examples and Pro Tips for Writing

As an MBA applicant, one of the most critical components of your application package is your resume. Your MBA application resume is an opportunity to showcase your achievements, skills, and experiences to admissions committees, giving them a glimpse of your potential as a graduate business student.

In this article, we will discuss the essential elements to include in your MBA application resume, share practical tips on how to write an impactful resume, and provide successful resume examples. The objectives of this article are to help you craft a well-written MBA application resume that effectively communicates your unique value proposition to admission committees, and ultimately increases your chances of getting accepted to your dream MBA program.

This article is structured to provide an overview of the MBA application resume, its importance, and its objectives. We will then delve into tips and examples of how to write an effective MBA application resume. In the first section, we will look at the critical components of an MBA application resume. We will also provide insight into guidelines on format, length, and writing style.

In the following section, we will provide concrete examples of well-written MBA application resumes. Examining successful examples will help you understand best practices in terms of presentation, organization, and clarity. You will learn how to highlight essential profile features that are relevant to your particular MBA program, such as leadership ability, teamwork, and analytical reasoning, among others.

Finally, we will share pro-tips from admissions committees and career service centers that will help you optimize your MBA application resume. The tips will range from tips on how to tailor your MBA application resume to specific MBA programs, to how to make your resume stand out from other applicants.

All in all, writing an excellent MBA application resume takes a combination of strategy, creativity, and attention to detail. Our goal is to equip you with the necessary tools to make this process seamless and successful, so that you can create a winning MBA application resume that will take your application to the next level.

Understanding the MBA Application Resume

When it comes to applying for MBA programs, the application resume plays a crucial role in showcasing your skills, experiences, and accomplishments. In this section, we will discuss the general characteristics of MBA application resumes, how it differs from regular resumes, and the length and structure of an MBA application resume.

General characteristics of MBA application resumes

MBA application resumes are not significantly different from regular resumes in terms of format and content. However, they have a specific focus on demonstrating your leadership potential, teamwork skills, problem-solving abilities, and achievements in the business world.

In general, MBA application resumes should highlight your most important accomplishments and experiences, and illustrate how they have prepared you for business school. It is imperative to be concise but also provide enough detail to make a compelling case for your candidacy.

How it differs from regular resumes

One of the key differences between MBA application resumes and regular resumes is the focus on leadership and teamwork experience. Business schools prefer candidates who have demonstrated leadership experience and can be effective in a team environment.

Another difference is the inclusion of specific accomplishments and results that demonstrate your ability to add value to a business. MBA application resumes should highlight quantifiable results rather than job duties and responsibilities.

Length and structure of an MBA application resume

The length of an MBA application resume should generally be one to two pages. It is essential to focus on the most significant experiences and accomplishments that relate to your MBA candidacy.

The structure of an MBA application resume should emphasize professionalism, legibility, and easy scanning. Make good use of white space, and use bullet points to clearly present your accomplishments and experiences. Use a font that is easy to read and stick to a classic resume format.

MBA application resumes require careful consideration and attention to detail. They should be tailored to the specific program you are applying to and highlight your key strengths and accomplishments. Remember always to be concise, clear, and confident in presenting yourself as a top candidate for the program.

Key Components of a Comprehensive MBA Application Resume

A comprehensive MBA application resume includes several key components that help the admissions committee get a clear understanding of the applicant’s background, experiences, and achievements. In this section, we will discuss each component in detail.

Personal Information

The personal information component helps the admissions committee get a sense of the applicant’s identity and background. This section should include the applicant’s full name, contact information, and other relevant personal details, such as nationality or citizenship status.

Academic Background

The academic background component should include all relevant educational experiences, including degrees earned, academic honors, and relevant coursework. It should also note any research or academic projects the applicant has been a part of.

Work Experience

Work experience is a critical component of an MBA application resume, as it shows the admissions committee how the applicant has gained industry experience and applied their knowledge in a real-world setting. This section should include information about the applicant’s professional history, including the duration and nature of each position held, key responsibilities and achievements, and any promotions or awards earned. It should also include relevant certifications, licenses, or professional development courses completed.

Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities can help to demonstrate an applicant’s leadership skills, teamwork abilities, and community engagement. This section should include details about any clubs, organizations, or volunteer projects the applicant has been a part of, as well as any leadership positions held.

Volunteer Work and Community Involvement

Volunteer work and community involvement demonstrate an applicant’s commitment to giving back and can provide insight into their values and priorities. This section should include any volunteer experiences, community service projects, or charitable work the applicant has participated in.

Skills and Certifications

Skills and certifications demonstrate an applicant’s technical abilities and expertise. This section should include any relevant skills the applicant has developed through their education or work experience, as well as any relevant certifications or licenses earned.

Awards and Accolades

Finally, awards and accolades can help to showcase the applicant’s achievements and recognitions. This section should include any notable awards or honors received, such as academic scholarships, professional recognitions or awards, or other achievements.

A comprehensive MBA application resume should include personal information, academic background, work experience, extracurricular activities, volunteer work and community involvement, skills and certifications, and awards and accolades. By including these components and highlighting key achievements and experiences, applicants can create a strong impression on the admissions committee and increase their chances of being accepted into their desired MBA program.

Pro Tips for Crafting a Strong MBA Application Resume

As you craft your MBA application resume, there are certain key factors you should consider in order to make it stand out from the rest of the pack.

Tailor Your Resume for the Target Program

One of the most important things you can do is to tailor your resume specifically for the MBA program you are applying to. This means taking a close look at the program’s curriculum, culture, and mission, and highlighting the experiences and skills that align with those values.

Highlight Your Accomplishments and Results

When it comes to your MBA application resume, it’s not enough to simply list your job duties and responsibilities. Instead, focus on quantifiable accomplishments and results that demonstrate the impact you’ve had in your previous roles. This might include sales figures, project outcomes, or key performance indicators.

Quantify Your Achievements

To make your accomplishments even more impressive, be sure to quantify them wherever possible. This means using specific numbers, percentages, or other metrics to demonstrate the scope and impact of your work.

Emphasize Leadership Roles and Teamwork

Leadership and teamwork are two essential qualities that most MBA programs are looking for in their applicants. As such, be sure to highlight any experiences you’ve had leading teams or working collaboratively with others.

Use Clear and Concise Language

Your MBA application resume is not the place for complicated buzzwords or jargon. Instead, focus on using clear, concise language that effectively communicates your achievements and experiences.

Proofread and Edit Your Resume Thoroughly

Finally, be sure to thoroughly proofread and edit your MBA application resume to ensure that there are no errors or typos. This is a critical step that can make the difference between getting an interview and being rejected.

By following these pro tips, you can craft a strong MBA application resume that showcases your unique qualities and experiences, and positions you as a top candidate for the program.

Example MBA Application Resumes

As a way to showcase your skills and accomplishments to potential MBA programs, submitting a strong resume as part of your MBA application is crucial. In this section, we will provide examples of resumes for professionals in finance, marketing, and healthcare fields, and analyze and critique them.

Sample resume for a finance professional

John Anderson

Finance Professional

Email: [email protected] | Phone: (123) 456-7890 | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnanderson

Results-driven finance professional with 7+ years of experience in financial analysis, investment management, and risk assessment. Strong analytical skills combined with a strategic mindset to drive business growth and optimize financial performance. Seeking admission to an MBA program to expand knowledge, develop leadership skills, and drive career progression.

Professional Experience

Senior Financial Analyst ABC Corporation, Anytown June 20XX – Present

• Conduct financial analysis and modeling to support strategic decision-making, resulting in a 15% increase in revenue and a 10% improvement in profitability.
• Prepare and present comprehensive financial reports and presentations to executive leadership, providing insights and recommendations for improving financial performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop annual budgets, financial forecasts, and variance analyses, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Manage investment portfolios, analyzing market trends, and assessing risk to optimize returns and ensure compliance with investment policies.

Financial Analyst XYZ Bank, Anytown May 20XX – June 20XX

• Conducted thorough financial statement analysis and risk assessments for corporate clients, supporting credit decisions and loan underwriting processes.
• Prepared detailed financial models and projections, assessing the viability and profitability of potential business opportunities.
• Assisted in the development of credit risk management strategies, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies.
• Collaborated with relationship managers to provide financial insights and recommendations to clients, enhancing customer satisfaction and retention.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) University of XYZ, Anytown Expected Graduation: May 20XX

Bachelor of Science in Finance University of XYZ, Anytown May 20XX

• Financial analysis and modeling
• Investment management
• Risk assessment and management
• Strategic decision-making
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Financial reporting and presentations
• Market research and analysis
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Achievements

• Recognized as “Top Performer” for two consecutive years for exceptional financial analysis and strategic insights at ABC Corporation.
• Led the successful implementation of an automated financial modeling tool, resulting in a 20% reduction in time spent on financial analysis and improved accuracy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in MBA Application Resumes

When it comes to crafting your MBA application resume, it’s essential to avoid certain mistakes to stand out from the competition. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

Including irrelevant information

Your MBA application resume is not the place to showcase everything you’ve ever done; it should only highlight relevant experiences related to the program you’re applying to. Avoid adding irrelevant accomplishments like your high school debate awards or online courses unrelated to your MBA program. Instead, focus on your academic achievements, professional experience, and extracurricular activities that align with the MBA program’s goals.

Exaggerating or lying about your qualifications

While it may be tempting to overstate your accomplishments and qualifications on your resume, lying or exaggerating is a surefire way to ruin your chances of being accepted into an MBA program. Admissions committees have seen it all and can quickly sniff out dishonesty. Stick to the truth, and focus on highlighting your strengths, skills, and accomplishments genuinely.

Poor formatting and design choices

Your MBA application resume should be easy to read and visually appealing. Poor formatting and design choices can distract the reader and make it harder for them to understand your qualifications. Choose a clear and clean layout, select an appropriate font size and type, and use formatting consistently throughout. Consider using bullet points to make information more digestible and focus on making the most relevant information stand out.

Disorganized or confusing information

A disorganized or confusing MBA application resume can make it harder for admissions committees to understand your achievements truly. Make sure your resume is well-organized, with your most recent experiences at the top of each section. Use clear and concise language, avoid jargon or acronyms, and quantify your achievements wherever possible.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll have a clean, concise, and compelling MBA application resume that stands out to admissions committees. With the right approach, you can demonstrate your qualifications and showcase why you’d make a valuable addition to any MBA program.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about MBA Application Resumes

How long should my mba application resume be.

Your MBA application resume should typically be one page long, but you can expand it to two pages if you have extensive work experience or have done notable projects in your field. Remember, the admissions committee will be reviewing hundreds of applications, and they will appreciate a resume that is clear, concise, and easy to navigate.

Can I use bullet points in my resume?

Yes, using bullet points in your MBA application resume is an excellent way of presenting your achievements and experiences. It creates a more organized and structured look for the reader and makes it easier for them to skim the content. However, make sure you use bullet points sparingly and ensure that each point is relevant to the degree program you are applying for.

Should I include my GPA in my resume?

It depends on what you’re trying to convey about yourself. Including your GPA is necessary if you’re highlighting academic achievements or just starting your career. MBA applicants who have gained work experience for several years generally offer less importance to academic marks or grades. Moreover, poor academics may lead to a ‘red flag’ effect in your application.

Do I need to list my personal interests on my resume?

Including personal interests on a resume is optional but can provide insight to the school’s admission committee about who you are outside of work. Your hobbies and interests can reflect a multimodal personality that can get along with other people or give an insight into your professional skills, such as leadership and teamwork.

How important is the resume in the MBA application process?

Your MBA application resume is just one part of your application package, but it is an essential one that can differentiate you from other candidates. The admissions committee will use your resume to understand your professional and academic background, along with any extracurricular activities or volunteer work. A well-crafted resume may be your chance to create a positive impression that may lead to an interview invitation or a successful admission.

Related Articles

• Consulting Interview Success: Insider’s Guide for 2023
• Attorney Resume Writing Tips and Examples for 2023
• Energy Manager Job Description, Duties, & Opportunities
• Hospitality Manager Resume: Examples and Best Practices
• Scrum Master Resume Samples & Template: Complete Guide

Rate this article

0 / 5. Reviews: 0

More from ResumeHead

• • Created a new customer care program for my department, which resulted in a 35% boost in customer retention
• • implemented a successful SEO campaign that increased organic hits by +230% and brought 4200 new email subscribers
• • Lead the PPC marketing team to increase paid search ROI by 150% and boosting profits by 6% in 12 months
• • Selected to represent platoon of 28 soldiers for Soldier of the Year competition.
• • Developed market strategy for international growth; student enrollments increased 85% in selected region.
• • Fostered a clientele list of 500+ satisfied customers
• • Achieved over 15 partnerships and clients and counting.
• • Reached 40% increase in detecting budgeting errors introducing a sensitivity chart of variables in a model.
• • Jewelry sales increased by +78% in one year
• • Led a team of sales professionals most of which were 1-4 million dollar producers annually each.
• • Developed and delivered informational PowerPoint presentations to groups of 30+ individuals.

5 MBA Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Your MBA resume must showcase your understanding of business fundamentals. Highlight your strategic thinking and decision-making skills. Demonstrate your ability to lead and manage projects. Provide examples of successful team collaborations and tangible results you've achieved.

All resume examples in this guide

MBA Application

MBA Graduate

MBA Student

Resume guide, this mba resume guide will teach you, looking for related resumes, how to write a professional mba resume, mba resume header: setting the right tone from the start, mba resume summary or objective: do you need it, mba resume experience section: how to outrank other candidates, mba resume education section: where and how, mba resume skills section: what skills to put on your ba resume, custom mba resume sections: how to showcase your volunteering/extracurricular activities.

Do you need additional sections in an MBA resume?"?

Tips on specific MBA resume formats

Key takeaways.

Do you want to take your career to the next level by applying to an MBA program?

Well, and so do thousands of other people. But the admission committee is tough, and they turn away even candidates with years of experience. Why?

For one, they need to pick the best candidates to keep their school at the top. Second, they want the best career choice for you. Finally, there’s always someone with the best MBA resume out there.

So how do you get into an MBA program that you want?

You'll create an outstanding MBA and use it as a marketing tool by applying to their program.

That's what we'll help you achieve in this resume.

Ready to make your biggest career move?

• What are the most important sections to have in an MBA resume
• MBA resume examples and structure to grab the admission officer’s attention
• How to feature your educational background in an appealing manner
• Why experience and skills could be the missing piece in most MBA resumes today
• What additional sections could bring more value to your application
• Business Development Resume
• Program Manager Resume
• Executive Assistant Resume
• Assistant Manager Resume
• Department Head Resume

Writing a resume for MBA programs is slightly different from the way you usually make a resume.

The most obvious difference lies in the goal behind the application.

With an MBA resume, your sole purpose is to get accepted into a school that's offering the program of your dreams.

That means admission committees and recruiters look for different things in an applicant.

You should follow a different approach when making this type of resume:

• Keep it short. Most business schools have a strict 1-page policy for your resume. That's simply because the majority of candidates don't have a lot of experience to offer.
• Create continuity. MBA admissions committees expect continuity in your employment history. You need to be transparent about how you spent your recent years by including precise dates. Also you shouldn't leave any gaps when listing your education, work experience, and volunteering activities. If you have to leave a gap, be sure to explain it somewhere along the application to give a proper explanation. For example, you could add a few sentences to your essay explaining where you've been during that period.
• Be strategic about your experience section . On average, MBA students have four years of experience before they're accepted to the school. So as an MBA program candidate, you're expected to have some experience, but not too much experience.

Here's where things get interesting…

Having ten years of experience is too much for an MBA program applicant. And It's usually really hard to get into business schools with this level of experience because you're too late.

Admission representatives will wonder: where have you been in the past ten years?

The good news is:

Unlike job applications, MBA resumes don't have to be tailored specifically to each school you're applying to. And you don't have to make lots of personalization on your resume to get accepted.

Your CV tells the story of who you are in a simple, easy-to-understand language. It highlights your highest qualities and achievements.

That's how the admission officer knows you deserve to get into the program.

The ideal MBA resume format and sections

• Certifications
• Volunteering and activities

What recruiters look for in an MBA resume

• Do you have strong leadership and management skills to drive others forward?
• What is your educational background?
• How many years of work experience do you have? And is it in a relevant field?
• Have you spent any time before volunteering or pursuing extracurricular activities?
• What are your greatest career achievements and contributions?

The header section comes at the top of your resume to introduce who you are. It plays a major role in leaving a positive first impression on the admission committee.

Whether you’re making a Harvard MBA resume or a resume for any other school, the header remains the same.

But believe it or not:

Making a few minor mistakes here can cost you the chance to get into a top MBA program.

Your resume header should include the following information:

• Phone number
• Email address

Although it may seem straightforward, we’ve seen many candidates make mistakes here.

For example:

Your full name should come on top of the rest of the information to establish a clear hierarchy.

As for the content information:

Include your country ISD code with a + sign at the beginning if you’re applying to an international school.

Your email address should show that you’re a professional applicant.

Do not use an unofficial email address or a made-up ID that looks like a random online username. You want this to be a means of contact and not a way to shoot yourself in the foot.

If [email protected] is taken, try out these professional email formats:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]

It’s better to use popular email providers such as Gmail and Outlook.

Your location should include your state and city if you’re applying to a national school in your country.

E.g., city, state.

If you’re an international candidate, you should only include your “city, country.”

Aside from that:

Avoid any additional personal information about you unless it’s required in the application.

Now, let’s look at an MBA resume sample to give you a better idea.

2 MBA resume header examples

Here’s a typical scenario:

George is admission officer at the adcom reviewing your application at Stanford.

George reads thousands of Stanford MBA resumes in a short period of a few months, and have been doing this for years. He already knows a lot about what a winning potential candidate looks like.

He doesn't want to read the same resume objective dozens of times every day. Because to him, all applicants have the same: they want to get into the school, you included.

That's why you need a resume summary instead of an objective for your MBA application.

Here's the deal:

Your summary should only be 3-4 lines long so that it's easily skimmable. And it must highlight your most notable experiences, skills, and career achievements.

2 MBA resume summary examples

Let's make some simple changes to boost your chances of getting accepted.

Always use action verbs in the past tense when writing your summary. This shows that your resume is telling a true story in a way that highlights your strengths and abilities.

Focus on your impact and leadership skills instead of roles and duties. And stay away from listing any technical skills.

Admissions representatives aren't' looking for someone who can just scream orders.

They want a real leader who motivates others and helps them bring the best results through guidance and positive reinforcement.

So, try to show what you've done in your past jobs while showing your positive outcomes instead of actions.

Be precise about your achievements and results.

There's a big difference between a candidate who manages day-to-day operations and another one who guides employees towards increasing profits by 10% year-over-year.

That could be the same set of duties. But, the way you frame it has an astonishing effect on the reader's mind.

If you have more than two years of work history, it's better to put experience above education.

Here's why:

The admission committee deals with thousands of resumes each year. And that makes time an extremely limited asset for them.

Once they start reading your CV, you don't want them to stop. And the only way you can do that is by giving them what they're looking for as early as possible.

If you've worked many different jobs since graduation, you need to list some of those experiences.

Choose the most significant job based on their importance. And do not confuse their value with how much you've invested in them.

You could work for a business for three years and achieve nothing. Just like you could be an intern at a thriving company for three months and make a huge difference.

List your most valuable jobs in chronological order.

Let's not forget:

Admission officers specialize in picking the best candidates for MBA programs. They don't know everything about every job in the world.

Help them pick you!

Remove any technical terms or industry jargon from your responsibilities and achievements. Take away any acronyms or abbreviations you're using in your resume.

You want this section to showcase why you're the perfect student. And the only way to do that is to speak in a language the admission committee understands.

Here’s another MBA resume sample for you.

2 MBA Resume Experience Examples

• • Responsible for organic growth and SEO marketing
• • Lead the PPC marketing team to grow sales
• • Handled customer care and communication

A great way to convey your achievements in bullet points is to follow the S.T.A.R method, which commission officers are familiar with.

For each sentence you write, follow this formula:

[Situation] + [Task] + [Action] + [Result] (Start each bullet point with an action verb)

Here's how it goes:

The first bullet point under each work experience must be the most important.

Simply because adcoms usually skim through information looking for something worth knowing. They won't read every single word in a resume unless there's something that grabs their interest.

That's why you must highlight your leadership and interpersonal skills in the first bullet point for each job you had in the past.

You need to quantify your achievements to make your claims more powerful.

Most of the time, it's hard to tell how qualified an applicant is based on words. Anyone can claim to be great at management, marketing, finance, or business development.

Only the ones that can prove it will reap the benefits.

Therefore, you must strengthen your claims by including solid numbers and precise data.

Let's make those changes now!

• • Implemented a successful SEO campaign that increased organic hits by +230% and brought 4200 new email subscribers

Once finished:

Proof-read everything you wrote and look for words or sentences that need refining.

Make sure to capitalize the first word in each sentence as well as company or product names. And do not put a period at the end.

Any MBA program you apply to is going to require a certain degree before you can get accepted. You can usually find that information in the application form.

Accordingly:

Having an education section in a masters of business administration resume is a no brainer. And it shouldn’t be much different from listing education on a typical job resume.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is relevance to the MBA program you’re applying to. You must use this section to highlight that in the best way possible.

The education section on a resume consists of:

• Degree or field of study
• Name of your university/college
• Location of university/college
• Graduation date
• GPA (if 3.5 or higher)

Some candidates don’t have a lot of experience to feature on their resume.

If that’s the case for you, you don’t want to add filler sections to get your resume to be one page long.

So, what would be a better solution?

It’s simple.

You can feature any awards or formal recognitions you earned at your school.

Try to keep that to only the achievements worth mentioning. And do not include your high school education or any activities you did before college.

It's true -- skills can be a huge plus to your profile when competing with lots of students. They help you showcase your best qualities and talents easily.

Adcoms don't want to see a list of skills because most of those words don't mean anything.

Anyone can add skills like “communication” or “strategic thinking” to their resume and claim to be an expert.

That's what everyone else is doing - so, this is your chance to zag when everyone else zigs.

How do you put skills on an MBA resume?

The best way to go about this is not to have a skills section in your resume at all. Instead, you'll highlight your skills in your summary and experience sections, which we already covered earlier in this guide.

That seems a bit counterproductive, doesn't it?

Well, think of it this way:

By merging skills with results, you'll save space for more important information to stand out. And you'll strengthen your claims by providing more context around your abilities.

But not only that!

You'll also do a better job at quantifying your expertise and help admission officers see your value.

Now remember:

You must focus on soft skills that are relevant to what the school is looking for.

While job resumes focus on proving your fitness to handle specific job functions, MBA resumes are more about business leadership and management.

The schools you're applying to desire strong academic abilities and power skills. They want to see leadership potential, teamwork, management, and decision making.

That's what you'll showcase in your CV.

The rule here is straightforward:

Only list your most valuable entries, which are usually the ones that took the longest.

For instance:

If you distributed old clothes and blankets to homeless shelters in your town for a few days, there's no need to mention it here.

Such entries only make your profile weak and unnecessarily long.

Be sure only to feature recent experiences and not go all the way back to high school. Because by this point, you should already be struggling to fit everything into a single page.

You don't want to sacrifice essential details by listing irrelevant history.

Most importantly:

Find a way to showcase how such experiences helped you improve your skills and abilities. And do not hesitate to feature your duties in a genuine, positive language.

Bonus: How to list MBA on your resume

The way how you feature an MBA on your resume depends on the job you’re applying for. Whereas for some positions having a business degree adds a nice touch to your resume, in other cases MBA can be a requirement.

• Education section by default. For most cases an MBA degree naturally extends the education section.
• Use bold fonts if your MBA directly benefits the job . For example, management MBA for a senior management position.
• Put MBA on top of your education section or achievements if the MBA requirement is mentioned in the job description.

For more details on how to put MBA on your resume read our separate guide “ How to list MBA on your resume ”.

Do you need additional sections in an MBA resume?"?

You can always add more sections to your masters of business administration resume to make it more appealing.

But be careful:

That may backfire on you.

You don't want to put yourself in a situation where more information brings your value down.

The admission committee can smell it when an applicant is tossing random details just to make their resume fit the page.

So, let's be smart about this.

Before adding anything to your resume, ask yourself:

• Will this help me sell myself better?
• Will this help me stand out from the pack?

Here are examples of additional sections you can have in an MBA resume:

• Publications
• Affiliations
• Passions and interests
• Conferences

Harvard [or other top-level programs] MBA Resume Application Tips

Getting into Harvard MBA programs is not an easy fit, but a properly executed application resume goes a long way.

Here are a few tips to increase your chances of successful application:

• Emphasize your GMAT or GRE score . Harvard boasts a median 730 score for GMAT. Make sure to emphasize it in your education section with bold font and proper resume layout .
• Research the program you apply for. Tailor your experience, projects and achievements based on the program you apply for (e.g. doctoral, executive) to increase chances of successful application.
• Target your resume. After completing a thorough research, don’t be shy to tailor certain parts of your resume to the program you’re applying for. Our targeted resume guide will help you understand the process behind proper resume targeting to increase your chances.

One-page MBA Resume Application Tips

People from the admissions committee don’t have time to read several pages of text. If your business school resume is longer than two pages, they’ll likely scan headers and achievements without getting too much into details.

Alternatively, when your MBA application resume fits one page, recruiters feel like they might miss something and analyse your resume more thoroughly.

Here are tips for one-page MBA resume:

• Try different resume layouts. Some sections of your resume are inevitably longer than others. With a proper resume layout you can group together smaller sections and win space for longer “Experience” and “Projects” sections.
• Keep it simple . Make sure to only use sections and words that absolutely benefit your application. Never repeat the same idea twice and cut out filler words relentlessly.
• Hire a proofreader . Nothing reduces application chances as drastically as flawed grammar. Hire a proofreader or use our resume checker tool to eliminate grammar issues, confusing terms, typos, and repetitions.
• Follow the MBA resume template in this guide to save time and make your application appealing to admission officers
• Fit all your information into a single page and pay attention to how you organize your different sections based on their importance
• Feature your education, experience, and skills and keep your language simple by avoiding industry jargon and technical terms
• Focus on your impact and greatest accomplishment instead of your duties to give the admission committee more reasons for accepting you
• Only add additional sections if they make your resume stronger and help you differentiate yourself from other applicants

MBA resume examples

Explore additional mba resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

The MBA Application process evaluates both academic and personal skills. Thus, the below tips can guide you to create a convincing application:

• Highlight quantitative experience. Showcase your proficiency with data management and economical problem-solving. This could be through prior job roles or any relevant projects involving significant quantitative work.
• Participation in business case studies and competitions is essential. It illustrates readiness to address real-world issues.
• Highlight leadership experiences and impact. These could include any volunteer work or positions of responsibility held in clubs or communities.
• Rather than just listing experiences, showcase how they contributed to your development and portray you as an ideal candidate for MBA.
• Draw attention to transferable skills such as cross-functionality, team management, and project coordination. Use the “skill-action-results” pattern.

For MBA Graduates, it's important to demonstrate a blend of business acumen, leadership skills, and the ability to work with cross-functional teams. Below are tips to highlight the right skills:

• Don't just list skills, rather explain how you applied them in real-world scenarios or internships, e.g., 'improved sales by...', 'increased team productivity by...'.
• Highlight major projects, case studies, or internships and any data-driven results achieved. This adds a real-world element to your theoretical knowledge.
• Strongly highlight any leadership roles acquired during your MBA, and explain how it added value and what was learned from the experience.
• Showcase any soft skills such as negotiation, critical thinking, and communication because these are highly sought after in MBA graduates.

An MBA student must portray their ongoing learning journey and their ability to apply academic knowledge to real-world problems. These tips will make your resume stand out:

• Explicitly mention any internships and project work. Offering figures or key results from these experiences can show their direct impact on the business, such as 'increased efficiency by...', 'achieved sales target of...'.
• Despite being a student, if you've had leadership experiences or a role impacting a team, a project or even a club, do mention it.
• Highlight your participation in case studies, business competitions or workshops.
• Don't just list the courses you've taken. Instead, link them with practical applications, skills acquired or how they've changed your perspective.

Looking to build your own MBA resume?

• Resume Examples

5 Elements Every Cover Letter Outline Needs

Portfolio on resume, how to network on linkedin, is a short interview a red flag or just efficient, how to write a military to civilian resume, how to write a job rejection email response (with bonus examples).

• Create Resume
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Preferences
• Resume Templates
• AI Resume Builder
• Resume Summary Generator
• Resume Formats
• Resume Checker
• Resume Skills
• How to Write a Resume
• Modern Resume Templates
• Simple Resume Templates
• Cover Letter Builder
• Cover Letter Examples
• Cover Letter Templates
• Cover Letter Formats
• How to Write a Cover Letter
• Resume Guides
• Cover Letter Guides
• Job Interview Guides
• Job Interview Questions
• Career Resources
• Meet our customers
• Career resources
• English (UK)
• French (FR)
• German (DE)
• Spanish (ES)
• Swedish (SE)

© 2024 . All rights reserved.

Made with love by people who care.

MBA Resume: Your Guide to Creating a Perfect Submission

Including 3 resume samples.

A good MBA resume is the key to an impressive MBA application that gets you accepted into the program of your dreams. Along with your MBA personal statement , your resume will create a narrative that will capture the admissions committees' eye. A resume for your MBA application is different than any other resume you would have previously created, whether for job applications or other educational programs. It’s not just about knowing how to write a CV for graduate school . You have to customize your MBA resume to convey the unique value that you can bring to your chosen program. In this blog, we will describe what makes an MBA resume unique, what format and template to use, what to include, how to write it, and tips to make your resume stand out. 

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Listen to the blog!

Article Contents 17 min read

Mba resume samples, mary elliott.

Senior Marketing Director

Phone: 201-668-3292

Email : [email protected] .

Portfolio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary -elliot-2837109

Profile Summary

Driven marketing executive with 4+ years of experience in overseeing digital product launches. Developed and launched 7 online campaigns for Deluxe products that resulted in 40% increase in revenue. Increased customer retention by 56%. Seeking to leverage Harvard’s knowledge framework to innovate new marketing solutions for the evolving digital landscape.

Marketing Manager

Zyna Deluxe, Houston, TX 

Apr 2019-Present 

• Managed a team of ten to develop and execute successful social media campaigns resulting in client revenue gains of 40% 
• Implemented a successful multi-platform SEO campaign that improved organic hits by 50% and brought 10,000 new subscribers in 1 year 
• Increased conversion rates by 30% by innovating targeted campaigns based on qualitative data analysis models 

Marketing Analyst

Zyna Deluxe, Houston, TX

May 2017-Apr 2019

• Created TV and print campaigns for the perfume division that resulted in revenue increase by 30%
• Published a white paper in the Content Marketeers Associate Quarterly on “Qualitative Data Analysis and Targeted Advertising in the Digital Age”

BA in English Literature, Minor in Business – UCLA, CA

Sept 2013-May 2017

• GPA 3.8, high honors
• Winner of Dean’s Award for collaborative research paper “Evolution of Privacy in Advertisements and the Impact on Social Media Business Practices”
• Selected for the Adam Wright Business Leadership Program

Additional Achievements

• Presented at the AMA Annual Conference 2019 on the topic of Growing Cross-Platform Social Media Engagement via Quantitative Data Analysis
• Led the UCLA Sparks Collegiate Gymnastics team to victory at the 2016 NCAA tournaments
• Affiliate marketing
• Ideation leadership

Here's a formatted version of this MBA resume.

Stephen morrigan.

Regional Sales Director

Phone: 204-534-9385

Email : stmorrigan.gmail.com

Driven sales managers with 4+ years of experience. Developed and launched 3 annual sales campaigns which resulted in a 35% increase in revenue. Recruited, trained and managed sales team which became company’s top sales team in 2019. Seeking to expand managerial skills and knowledge of changing digital business landscape.

Bachelor in Communications – University of Notre Dame

Sept 2012-May 2016

Work Experience

Ambrosia Luxury Foods, Chicago, IL

June 2018-April 2020

• Recruited and managed a sales team of 15 sales associates
• Sales team was recognized as #1 in company sales in 2019
• Developed annual sales campaigns in accordance with company budgets
• Assisted in launching an online company store which increased profits by 10%

Sales Associate

August 2016-June 2018

• Increased company’s territory sales by 112% on average, annually
• Developed and designed product packages which reduced sales time and saved customers time and money
• Rapidly promoted to sales director after 12 months as top sales producer
• Team leadership

MBA Resume Sample #3

Mba resume sample #4.

Remember that some schools require students to use pre-defined resume templates and won\u2019t accept any other resume formats. Business schools may also have other specific requirements like how to name your resume file, how to format it, required length, and so on. Make sure you check the admissions requirements to confirm the exact requirements on the website of the schools you are applying to.  ","label":"NOTE","title":"NOTE"}]" code="tab3" template="BlogArticle">

The MBA resume is one of the key components of any business school application. According to many MBA admissions consulting services, a lot of applicants focus on the other components of the MBA application process such as their transcripts, GMAT/GRE scores, letters of recommendation, application form questions, or interview prep, while ignoring the unique nature of the MBA resume. A common misconception is that you can simply include your existing professional resume as part of your MBA application, without any customizations. However, an MBA resume is a unique document that has to be carefully crafted to maximize your chances of impressing the admissions committee. It doesn’t matter how impressive your application is, whether you’ve recently graduated from one of the best undergraduate business schools or achieved amazing professional success, a stellar resume is essential to getting an acceptance letter from the best MBA programs .

An MBA resume is different from a regular job resume as it does not demonstrate functional skills or specific qualifications, but rather showcases your business impact, leadership potential, and collaboration skills. It is a concrete list of your achievements and experiences that tell a story about your suitability for business school and why you have chosen to apply to an MBA program.  

In a resume for a job application, recruiters usually want to see technical skills and employment qualifications that prove you can perform specific types of work. In that situation, you’re competing with other applicants with similar professional backgrounds. When it comes to MBA applications, you are competing against applicants from diverse professional and educational backgrounds, so there are no particular keywords you need to highlight. This makes it more difficult to know exactly what to include and exclude.  

MBA resumes aren’t scanned by machines, but are reviewed by members of a business school admission committee, who will judge the resume as a whole to get an impression of the applicant. That’s why an MBA resume has to present a holistic picture of your life, covering your achievements across different aspects of your personal life and professional career. 

An MBA resume needs to be short and effective, ideally no more than a single page. Creating a memorable one-page resume that successfully highlights your unique suitability for business school is a difficult feat. In that single page, you have to be able to pack in enough information to create a clear, cohesive picture of the value that you are bringing to the business school you’re applying to.  

Importance of an MBA resume in a business school application 

Contrary to what you may think, your resume is the central component of your MBA application. It serves as an introductory document that brings together all the key information about your life, experiences, achievements, and skills. It serves two important purposes in the application process. First, it works as an initial screening tool. Before reading your short answers, MBA admission essays , or any other application components, admissions’ committees will first review your resume. They want to see if your general background, profile, and achievements make your application worth considering.  

Second, if your application proceeds to the interview stage, the resume you submitted serves as a guide for the interviewers. This is because a resume functions like the blueprint of any MBA grad school application, and MBA interview questions are typically based on the resume. Essentially, the resume content dictates the interview content, especially since a lot of MBA admissions interviews use the closed interview format. In this format, the interviewer only has access to your resume and does not see any other part of your application. 

Now that you know what an MBA resume and how important it is in the MBA application process, let’s dive into how exactly to format and complete it. 

Would you rather watch a video?

How to Write and Format an MBA Resume 

When it comes to your MBA resume, it’s extremely important to give it the right format and look. Remember that admissions committees review hundreds of resumes for each admissions cycle. Admissions committees for prestigious MBA programs in UC schools and Ivy League schools like Harvard Business School may scan thousands. They won’t spend more than 5 minutes scanning your resume, and within the first 30 seconds, they will form an impression that’s difficult to change! In fact, they will also be judging your choices in terms of formatting and templates as an indicator of your professionalism and communication skills. What’s the point of having an amazing list of achievements if your MBA resume is rejected based on an off-putting aesthetic or formatting errors?  

Let’s go over three key factors that can ensure the perfect look of your MBA resume. 

1. MBA Resume Formatting

Let’s start with the basics of how to correctly format your MBA resume. The key here is to create a clean, professional, compact, well-organized document. The following list captures important considerations to keep in mind: 

Make sure that the format of your MBA resume matches the format of your MBA cover letter in terms of the color scheme, font, spacing and so on. ","label":"Cover letter format","title":"Cover letter format"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

2. MBA Resume Layout and Sections

For the admissions committees, your MBA resume is the first indicator of your business acumen and communication skills. That’s why it’s important to have a logical layout with a clear flow of information and well-organized sections. The reviewer should be impressed by your ability to communicate effectively via your one-page resume. And, since admissions officers will most likely be scanning your document, it should be easy for them to find information at a glance.

The most appropriate way to organize the key information in your MBA resume is to arrange it in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent experience in each section.  

The type of sections you include in your MBA resume will depend on your level of experience. Typically, there are two types of MBA applicants – experienced applicants with substantial professional achievements and experiences (i.e. more than 6 years of professional experience), and applicants with less than two years of professional experience, who recently graduated from another degree.

Click each tab to view the key MBA resume sections depending on your level of experience: 

As mentioned earlier, the admissions committees at MBA programs look at an applicant’s MBA resume as an indicator of their communication skills. To impress them, it’s important to make your MBA resume substantive, economical, and precise. Avoid cluttering up the page with filler words. Stick to adding bulleted lists to convey the key achievements for each experience/project and don’t add more than 2-3 lines per bullet. 

A good tip here is to make sure your bullets focus on actions, intentions, and results. Begin each bullet with impactful action verbs that highlight leadership, collaboration, innovation, strategy, negotiation, and achievement. This means that rather than leading with action verbs such as “responsible for” “was part of” and so on, try to use action verbs such as “achieved”, “created” “performed” “organized” “increased”, etc. 

There should be an overarching narrative in your resume and each bullet should contribute to building the story. Leave out the functional responsibilities and, instead, focus on the key business goals and measurable results expressed in solid facts and figures. For example, rather than just saying “Responsible for monitoring the customer service department” try saying “Implemented a cross-department customer service protocol that reduced direct labor costs by 32%.” 

If possible, try to talk about the long-term results of your achievements. For example, if a new management technique you suggested is still in use or if you created a new company organizational chart that demonstrably increased efficiency and productivity, make sure to include that in the resume. 

What to Include in Your MBA Resume 

OK, so now you’ve got a great MBA resume template. What do you include? This part might seem obvious – if you’re thinking of applying for an MBA, you likely have an impressive list of business and/or educational achievements. You’ll just add it all in, right? Not exactly! When it comes to writing your MBA resume, what you leave out is as important as what you include. You can’t just blindly stuff in a list of every single thing you’ve ever done. You’ve got to carefully curate what information to add and how to communicate it. 

Let’s go over each of the MBA resume sections. 

1. Contact Information 

This one is pretty obvious – include the following: 

such as Dribble, Behance, LinkedIn etc. "}]" code="timeline1">

The above list can be tweaked depending on your specific profile. For example, if you have a portfolio of significant work that you want to highlight, such as your design portfolio or creative projects, you may also choose to remove your portfolio link from this section and pull it out into its own separate section. 

Here’s a sample of how this section should look: 

Mary Elliot

P: 201-668-3292

E: [email protected] .

Portfolio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary -elliot-2837109 

2. Resume Summary or Profile

Essentially, your profile should be a succinct summary of your experiences, goals, and most notable professional achievements. It should grab the reader’s interest and make them read on. Most importantly, it should highlight what sets you apart as an applicant.  

Here, too, you can tweak the format as per your specific profile. For example, an applicant with a pharmaceutical business profile who holds an M.Pharm degree, might want to include his/her educational degree along with his/her professional title, as both are significant to his/her MBA journey. 

Follow this format: 

Adjective + Detailed professional or educational title + Number of years’ experience (if applicable) + MBA application goal + top achievement (work or education) + (optional) what you bring to the table from your education/experience 

Driven Marketing Executive with 4+ years of experience in overseeing digital product launches and social media marketing campaigns. Developed and launched 7 online campaigns for Deluxe Products that resulted in 40% improvement in company revenue. Increased customer retention by 56% over a period of two years. Seeking to leverage Harvard\u2019s knowledge framework to innovate new marketing solutions for the evolving digital landscape.  ","label":"Example Summary\/Objective","title":"Example Summary\/Objective"}]" code="tab4" template="BlogArticle">

When writing this section, focus on concrete, important results and skills instead of just including a whole lot of adjectives. At the same time, this isn’t the time to get into too many details. Think about what defines your business goals and your experiences so far, and only add the most significant details. Though this section comes near the top of your MBA resume, ideally, you should write it last, AFTER you’ve already created your resume. That way you can review your overall resume and write a resume summary that perfectly highlights the key aspects. 

By the way, if you are applying to Harvard, make sure to check out Harvard MBA personal statement examples to learn what is expected if you.

For experienced applicants, this is a key section that should compromise about 2/3 of your MBA resume. As explained earlier, your professional experience should ideally be listed in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent experience.  

Remember that this section should highlight your upward career trajectory and industry growth. So, start by adding the company name, position and time spent at each company as a sub-heading and underneath that, mention promotions as separate levels. Remember you also need to be able to explain gaps in your MBA resume during your interview, if any, so be prepared to provide some context.

Under each sub-heading or level, cover only your most significant work achievements that distinguish you, expressed in precise bullet points, no more than 5 per level. As this is a resume to demonstrate your suitability as an MBA applicant, avoid talking only about responsibilities; instead, focus on concrete achievements that highlight your leadership and impact on business. The more specific details can be highlighted in your MBA application essays, MBA statement of purpose or MBA motivation letter , and MBA interview .  

Writing a grad school statement of purpose? Watch this video for some tips:

4. Education 

This section will be more detailed for applicants with less experience, but even applicants with extensive work experience should include the key highlights of their education. These should include details of every degree you hold, including both undergraduate and postgraduate study.  

Add a new entry for every degree and include the name of the degree, university, graduation date, major, minor (if applicable), GPA, honors, and achievements. 

For applicants with more work experience, you can choose to keep each entry brief and highlight only the key achievements along with any research work, projects etc. that show your leadership skills or exemplary business qualifications. 

If you have less work experience, then the education section is the main component of your resume. Such applicants should expand on their key projects, research work, meaningful coursework, and impactful extracurricular achievements. 

It is highly recommended that you add your GPA for each degree, especially if it’s impressive. You can consider dropping it from your resume only if you have a less-than-average GPA that you’d rather not highlight or if you have obtained extensive work experience that proves your capabilities. However, most recent graduates will not have this option, as their GPA is a key indicator of their abilities. If you need to know how to explain a low GPA in an MBA application , you can mention the difficulty level of your coursework to provide context around your GPA. You can also include other key achievements to mitigate a poor GPA.  

Don’t add details of your education prior to your undergrad degree. This isn’t a high school resume ; details of your school life are not likely to be relevant to your business achievements at a later stage in life. If there are any significant achievements from this period that you wish to highlight, you can do so in your MBA personal statement or essay, but only if they are relevant to your application.

5. Additional Information and Achievements 

This section is where you highlight your most significant extracurricular achievements. It should include a robust variety of activities that highlight the unique experiences you wish to convey to the admissions committee. Don’t just add any and all MBA extracurriculars – focus on adding high-stake accomplishments that show your focus, ability to apply yourself, strong work ethic, leadership potential, and collaboration skills. Every point added here should be impressive and unique. These entries should also be verifiable and back up the contents of your personal statement, essays, and other components of your application.  

These are some of the key significant achievements and experiences you can highlight in this section:

• Business relevant certifications
• High performing projects
• Associations/clubs with leadership roles
• Media pieces where you were positively featured
• Publications
• Conferences where you presented
• Industry blogs/vlogs with a significant readership you were featured in
• Languages and sports/hobby achievements or recognitions

How do you know what’s worth including and what should be discarded? Think about whether this experience is unique to you or whether it is something many people have accomplished. For example, simply running a marathon isn’t a big deal; but climbing Mt Kilimanjaro is. Similarly, simply playing a sport recreationally isn’t an achievement – but did you start and grow your own team and/or lead your team to multiple victories? The latter would be considered as a relevant achievement for your MBA resume.  

6. Skills 

This should be a bullet-form list of your key skills. Prioritize adding industry or business skills and avoid adding generic soft skills or functional/role-specific skills. 

Here are a few examples of what you can add: 

Remember, do not include too many skills or it will look like you’re just trying to stuff your resume. Only add the ones that are easily verifiable via your experiences and achievements.

While the above are the mandatory sections in all MBA resumes, there are a few optional sections you can add depending on your unique profile. For example, you might have numerous creative projects you want to talk about in more detail; or maybe, you want to highlight multiple significant volunteer experiences as the USP of your application. In such cases, rather than stuffing this information into the “Additional Achievements” section where it may get lost on the page, you can opt to add a separate section such as “Projects” or “Volunteer Experience”. Remember, the following sections are optional and work best for those with a unique area of expertise. If this doesn’t apply to you, consider adding this information in your “Additional Achievements” section. 

Volunteer Experience 

Volunteer experience is not mandatory but is highly desirable for an MBA applicant. It can be a great way to prove your passion in a particular area and to gain measurable leadership skills and collaboration experience. The key here is to link between your volunteer experiences and measurable business impact.

So rather than just saying “Volunteered at Adult Literacy Awareness Society”, you should try and highlight what you achieved there, for example “As a volunteer at the Adult Literacy Awareness Society, created a system to leverage cross-platform user data to improve community outreach by 30%”. 

If you didn’t have time for volunteer work, you can also choose to highlight the impact you had beyond your academic record and professional responsibilities. For example, you can mention if you organized university groups to help underrepresented communities, led a campaign to raise awareness of a specific issue, etc. Admissions boards love to see volunteer work on a resume application, especially if it aligns with the values and mission statement of the MBA program. 

This isn’t mandatory, so many candidates skip this section in their MBA resume. But if you do have any worthwhile volunteer experiences, it can make you stand out from the crowd. 

Awards and Certificates  

You should consider pulling this out into a separate section only if you have a significant list of stand-out awards and certificates such as honor roll, dean’s list, college fair or subject-related awards, volunteer certificates, industry awards, and so on. 

MBA Portfolio and Key Projects 

This type of section might be more relevant for those who have a solid line-up of impressive creative, academic, or professional projects and want to highlight them. Otherwise, you can simply include a portfolio link in your contact information or add a couple of project related bullets in the Additional Achievements and Information section of your MBA resume. 

MBA Cover Letter 

Finally, after you have created your MBA resume, you should also draft an appropriate cover letter. It should demonstrate why you want to apply for this specific business school, why you are uniquely suited to it, a summary of your background, and your ultimate career goals. Avoid repeating your resume in your cover letter as much as possible. Let the cover letter be more of an introduction that leads into the resume. 

Here are a few additional tips and tricks to help you refine and perfect your MBA resume! 

• Avoid irrelevant job descriptions. These will take up unnecessary space in your resume and add nothing towards conveying your unique value. Instead, focus on measurable, verifiable impact and results-oriented descriptions that demonstrate your value. For example, a bullet point like “Performed impact analysis for training projects” doesn’t really add anything to your resume. Instead, you can say “Completed impact analysis for training projects, highlighting gaps in training that helped to improve workplace productivity by 40%” 
• Wherever possible, illustrate with examples, figures, and numbers. The rule to follow here is: “show don’t tell”. On a resume, numbers grab attention and stay with the readers. It really helps to quantify your achievements. For example, rather than saying “Completed website redesign for fashion merchandizing client that significantly improved sales” say “Completed website redesign for Happy Luxury Brands that helped to increase their SEO traffic by 35% and led to 20% increase in sales over 3 months”. 
• Always focus on what YOU contributed rather than the general growth of companies you worked at. Avoid saying that you were “part of a team that achieved a growth of…”. Instead, point out exactly what you did that led to quantifiable results. For example, “Developed a cross-functional digital communication that reduced project completion timelines by 3 months”. 
• Skip the technical jargon. Jargon refers to role-specific certifications, technical skills, etc. Remember that the person reading the resume may not even be from your field and technical qualifications are most likely meaningless to them. What they want to know is the business impact of your every achievement. So, try and highlight achievements that will be universally appreciated rather than focusing on a list of tasks and responsibilities. 
• Focus on key differentiators wherever possible. What makes you unique? What did you do that no one else did? How do you stand out amongst your peers? Let this be the guide as you draft each section of your resume. 
• Have an in-depth and holistic resume. Don’t just focus on one area such as education or professional experiences. Try to highlight your passions and achievements through many different activities and experiences. 
• Don’t stuff your resume. Avoid impressive sounding words or exaggerating minor achievements just to fill the space. At the same time, there’s no place for modesty in your MBA resume. Be clear and direct in communicating what makes you unique.  
• Be completely honest. Honesty and integrity are two qualities all admissions boards consider non-negotiable. All your achievements should be easily verifiable.  
• Proofread, proofread, proofread! Check your resume format, template, and language before submitting it. Keep it clean and simple, in keeping with the submission guidelines (if any). There should be no errors or typos. In fact, it's even better if you have MBA admissions consulting services look it over!
• Use approximates when necessary. If you have NDAs with your workplace, you might find it tough to write about your professional experience without violating confidentiality. For example, you may be forbidden from mentioning client names or specific figures. If that’s the case, don’t fret. It’s just a chance for you to get creative with your language. Instead of saying the client’s name, you can say “top fashion merchandizing brand”. Instead of mentioning specific figures, convey information in terms of percentages and approximate figures. 
• Prioritize the best experiences. If you’re running out of space, prioritize your professional experiences first. Also, you should talk more about your most recent experiences, professional or otherwise.  

No, it is not recommended that you submit your regular resume as part of your MBA application without making some edits to customize it for the MBA application process. An MBA resume should not focus on specific skills or functional strengths. Rather, it should highlight your business impacts, leadership potential, and collaboration experiences. Admissions boards are looking for the applicants’ unique business vision and what value they can bring to the business school they’re applying to. 

Your MBA resume serves two purposes in your business school application. First, it works as a screening tool as it helps the admissions boards judge the suitability of applicants for business school based on their experiences so far. Second, it serves as a guide for interviewers during the interview portion of the admissions process. Applicants will be asked questions based on the information included in their resume.

An MBA resume should include contact information, a resume summary, professional experience, education, additional achievements and activities and skills. If required, additional sections can be added to cover key projects, volunteer experience, portfolio, etc. The resume layout can vary from one applicant to the next, depending on the amount and kind of experience they have. Ultimately, the applicant’s own journey will dictate what information to include in the MBA resume.

First, make sure you use an appropriate template with the right font, spacing, borders, and color scheme. The look should be professional, clean, and uncluttered, with no garish colors or confusing fonts. Second, make sure your information is neatly organized into logical sections that flow in everse chronological order. Finally, check your MBA resume multiple times to ensure there are no errors, spelling mistakes, or structural gaps.

MBA programs are typically highly competitive. To get in, first, make sure you submit a well-crafted, coherent, substantiative resume with an accompanying cover letter that highlights your suitability for the business school you’re applying to. The admissions boards will also look at your application form, essays, personal statement, transcripts, GMAT/GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and interview performance before issuing an acceptance letter.

First of all, make sure you check the resume requirements of the school you’re applying to. Some business schools have specific requirements about the template and format for resumes accompanying MBA applications. If there’s no such restriction, you can check the templates for Experienced and Less Experienced applicants we include in our blog. 

Ideally, your MBA resume should be no longer than 1 page. You can consider extending it to 2 pages only if you have more than 10 years of experience or a large number of substantiative achievements that add value to your application. 

Yes! In their MBA resume, all applicants should include at least the basic details of their educational background including degree name, university, major, minor, GPA and key achievements (such as honor roll or Dean’s List). However, applicants with less educational experience, for example, fresh graduates, can add more details about their education such as key research work, impactful projects, meaningful extracurriculars, and so on.  

Your MBA resume should include your contact information, resume summary or profile statement, relevant and significant work experience, notable awards or achievements and your key skills.

Your profile summary or MBA resume summary should be a succinct summary of your education and most important professional experiences. It is a short statement outlining your professional profile and achievements.

Want more free tips? Subscribe to our channels for more free and useful content!

Apple Podcasts

Like our blog? Write for us ! >>

Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions.

Fehintola Adewusi

Definitely could use this information will definitely be creating my personal MBA resume

BeMo Academic Consulting

Hi Fehintola, thank you for your comment! We are glad you found this blog helful!

Get Started Now

Talk to one of our admissions experts

Our site uses cookies. By using our website, you agree with our cookie policy .

FREE Training Webclass: 

How to make your mba application stand out.

And Avoid the Top 5 Mistakes That Get Most Rejected

Time Sensitive. Limited Spots Available:

We guarantee you'll get into your dream MBA program or you don't pay.

Swipe up to see a great offer!

Build my resume

• Build a better resume in minutes
• Resume examples
• 2,000+ examples that work in 2024
• Resume templates
• 184 free templates for all levels
• Cover letters
• Cover letter generator
• It's like magic, we promise
• Cover letter examples
• Free downloads in Word & Docs

5 MBA Application Resume Examples That Got Jobs in 2024

MBA Application Resume

• MBA Application 2
• MBA Application 3
• MBA Application 4
• MBA Application 5
• MBA Application Resume Writing 101

You’re a quick-witted and innovative professional looking to expand your knowledge. You’ve completed a lot, from managing numerous off-campus responsibilities to maintaining a high GPA in business courses. 

Does your resume template help cover all you’ve accomplished as you take the next step in your educational journey?

Getting accepted into your ideal school or program can come with its share of hoops to jump through. We’ve helped many MBA students achieve high acceptance rates, and starting with tips for writing a great cover letter and our MBA application resume examples will be a great asset in the process. 

or download as PDF

MBA Application 2 Resume

MBA Application 3 Resume

MBA Application 4 Resume

MBA Application 5 Resume

Related resume examples

• MBA Graduate
• MBA Student
• Grad School

What Matters Most: Your MBA Application Skills & Work Experience

The right skills to put on a resume can trip up many MBA applicants. It can be slightly different than the typical job skills you’d list on a resume since you may include a mix of professional and academic abilities.

When choosing skills, consider the program’s requirements. For instance, many MBA programs focus on business management and leadership, so including skills in those areas can be ideal.

Here are some top MBA application skills schools look for on resumes.

9 top MBA application skills

• Financial Modeling
• Data Visualization
• Microsoft Office
• Machine Learning
• Project Management
• Team Leadership
• Negotiation

Sample MBA application work experience bullet points

Many MBA programs require real work experience in business. Therefore, displaying what you’ve achieved on the job will be essential. 

The school admissions staff will want to see quantifiable examples of your achievements to know you’re the right fit. Good metrics to include would be sales increases, money saved, or performance efficiency. 

Additionally, if the school you’re applying to doesn’t require work experience or if you don’t have much to list, you can include examples from educational achievements, school clubs, or volunteer work as needed.

Here are a few samples:

• Performed financial analysis for a manufacturing firm, identifying 28 opportunities to reduce spending to improve margins by 48%.   
• Maintained operating costs within a 1% standard deviation for 3 years to avoid downsizing, saving 16 employee jobs.   
• Improved pricing schemes for product add-ons to boost sales revenue by 40%.  
• Studied diligently on economic variables and market analysis to maintain a 3.97 GPA in all core business courses for 4 years.      

Top 5 Tips for Your MBA Application Resume

• MBA programs are highly technical and will require a lot of diligent study to pass the courses. Therefore, including as much technical ability as possible, such as how you improved workflows and efficiency in company operations by 70%, will help you stand out as an applicant. 
• MBA admissions teams will always want to ensure they admit academically sound individuals. That starts with reviewing your resume for accuracy and grammatical errors to make a great first impression. 
• Reverse chronological formatting works best for MBA applicants. Admissions professionals will first want to see your most recent experiences to understand your current project management and team leadership abilities. Plus, it allows them to quickly look back and see how you’ve grown professionally and academically. 
• Choosing a resume template optimized with clear headers for educational and professional experience , bullet points, and easy-to-read font will help your MBA application look the most professional. It’s the same as submitting a well-formatted research paper in your classes to get the best grade. 
• Admissions teams get tons of applicants for MBA programs. You can help your primary skills stand out with short examples that include key metrics. For instance, one sentence on how you led a six-person market research team to discover 20 key data points for a promotional strategy would work well. 

Most MBA programs request that you submit a cover letter with your resume. To optimize for success, try to get a bit more personal about your passion for business or fill in more details about your achievements in financial modeling or negotiation that didn’t fit on your resume. 

A one-page resume is the best length. Everything should be concise, organized, and tailored to the program. For instance, your logistics or risk management skills would be good options to focus on in an MBA resume. 

You can make your MBA application resume stand out by including as much relevant data from your work experience as possible and formatting it professionally. For instance, achievements like improving profit margins or logistical efficiency could make you stand out over other applicants to the program. 

How to Get Accepted to Multiple Top Business Schools

Maximize every opportunity to emphasize the unique contributions you can bring to an MBA class.

Get Accepted to Multiple Top B-schools

Getty Images

When applying, it's important tailor your application to each school and have well-developed goal statement that plots the intended career path, experts say.

Nikita Srivastava applied to seven MBA programs and got admitted to three: Yale University School of Management in Connecticut, New York University's Stern School of Business and the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business in Illinois.

“I definitely was not expecting it,” says Srivastava, who chose Booth.

She attributes her multiple acceptances to top B-schools to tying her personal and professional backgrounds to her post-MBA goals. Her background was mainly in communications, media relations and public relations, and she credits her MBA admissions consultant for showing her how to tell her story.

“Lean into what makes you unique," Srivastava advises MBA applicants .  " Think about how this unique quality will enhance the classroom for your peers and professors. Be proud of it and own it.”

Being accepted into multiple B-schools can allow an applicant to weigh program fit, potential opportunities and scholarship offers. Here are some things to consider to increase your chances of being accepted to multiple top business schools .

Apply More Broadly

Getting admitted to numerous MBA programs is a numbers game, says Sam Weeks, an MBA admissions consultant and founder of Sam Weeks Consulting.

“The more business schools a prospective applicant applies to, the more likely they are to be accepted into more than one school. That’s why we recommend to our clients to apply to at least six schools, if possible,” says Weeks, who has an MBA from the University of Oxford in England.

Students should not only apply to more schools to increase their chances of multiple admissions, but also more broadly in terms of school selectivity, experts say.

“This sounds obvious, but there are many applicants who go into this process only considering a limited set of schools with slimmer acceptance odds. They say the ROI is not there for other schools outside their ambitious targeting,” says Alex Leventhal, an MBA admissions consultant at Prep MBA Admissions Consulting.

Leventhal, who has an MBA from Harvard University Business School in Massachusetts, contends that the return on investment is compelling at more schools than most people think. He says applicants should look at the salary data of program graduates and the percentage of graduates who got jobs within three months after graduation.

“For example, the very top consulting firms recruit at a range of schools, and not just the top three,” Leventhal says.

He also suggests looking for joint degree programs to increase your odds by applying to a specialty track that a school is promoting or trying to fill.

Leventhal said he has had "some less-than-stellar clients" get accepted to the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School , likely because they applied to the Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies joint program "for one of their less popular regional tracks. Or a client who got into Stanford Graduate School of Business because their professional experiences fit so nicely with a limited scholarship program focusing on the sustainable food supply chain.”

Customize Each Application

Schools like to see B-school applicants demonstrate familiarity with their programs, experts say. Leventhal says schools will “look for evidence that you have engaged with their program and talked to current students and alumni.”

Applicants should demonstrate they took the time to research a particular school “and all it has to offer, and consider both what they will learn from the program and how they will add value on campus,” says MBA consultant Scott Edinburgh, founder of Personal MBA Coach.

This means taking time to develop a strong personal story that connects past choices with future goals, says Edinburgh, who has an MBA from Wharton.

Applicants should demonstrate four key things in their tailored applications, he says: “Ability to handle the academic rigor of the target MBA program, leadership potential, how they will uniquely add value on campus and clarity of purpose.”

When applying, Weeks says, it’s important to have a well-developed goal statement that “charts out the applicant's intended career path and the impact they expect to have in their career.” He says those goals should be ambitious but attainable and make sense for the applicant.

Knowing what makes top business schools distinct "and then showing how you fit into those unique scenarios is essential to securing admits,” says Candy Lee LaBalle, an MBA admissions expert and founder of mbaClarity, formerly LaBalle Admissions.

Highlight Extracurricular Activities

Professional accomplishments that demonstrate leadership are great but shouldn’t be the only things highlighted. Edinburgh says applicants should show a passion for driving change.

“Successful MBA applicants are interesting people with plans to leave the world better than they found it in unique ways. Demonstrating passion and a track record of success in working towards this passion goes a long way,” Edinburgh says.

LaBalle says applicants who get admitted to multiple top B-schools tend to be “genuinely curious about the world, about learning, about having their perspectives challenged, and that shows in their hobbies and interests, work and goals.” They care deeply about the world and can demonstrate it, she adds, “whether that is mentoring classmates or starting an NGO that feeds thousands, and everything in between.”

Boost Your GMAT or GRE Score

If your GMAT or GRE score is lower than you had hoped for, take some more time to study and retake the exam.

“It is easier to get admits, and thus multiple admits, if your test score is strong and balanced between quantitative and verbal,” LaBalle says.

She says a strong, above-average test score can make a difference. “While there are many ways to offset a lowish test, the hard truth is that the higher your score, the better your odds of multiple admits.”

Students who don’t do well in the quantitative or analytical parts of the GMAT may prefer to take the GRE. Some business schools accept either test for MBA admissions.

Tests and other application materials aside, experts say securing strong letters of recommendation by supporters invested in your career and future is important to getting accepted to top MBA programs.

Apply to Schools Offering Scholarships

Applying to more schools can mean more scholarships that come with those admissions, which can give you options. Leventhal says his clients have focused on applying to more B-schools the last few cycles because they are increasingly interested in merit scholarships.

“The schools are trying to secure talented applicants with money off the tuition. As the price tag of the MBA has gone up, the merit pull can understandably matter. And schools that are reaches for an applicant generally won’t offer much in the way of merit grants,” Leventhal says.

Srivastava says she received some scholarships with each admissions offer, helping to relieve the burden of paying back student loans after graduation and giving her “freedom to focus on finding a career that would be a good fit for me both personally and professionally.”

A major bonus to getting accepted to multiple B-schools that offer scholarships is leverage, Weeks says. “You are in a strong position to negotiate scholarships.”

That includes awards at the most elite business schools. Students with more than one acceptance can inform schools that they received another offer and ask if any additional scholarship funding is available, he says.

Boost the Odds of MBA Acceptance

Tags: MBAs , Online MBA , business school , business , graduate schools , education , students

Applying By Program

Top Business Schools

Top Law Schools

Top Medical Schools

You May Also Like

How to choose a civil rights law school.

Anayat Durrani May 22, 2024

Avoid Procrastinating in Medical School

Kathleen Franco, M.D., M.S. May 21, 2024

Good Law School Recommendation Letters

Gabriel Kuris May 20, 2024

Premeds and Emerging Medical Research

Zach Grimmett May 14, 2024

How to Get a Perfect Score on the LSAT

Gabriel Kuris May 13, 2024

Premeds Take 5 Public Health Courses

Rachel Rizal May 7, 2024

Fortune 500 CEOs With a Law Degree

Cole Claybourn May 7, 2024

Why It's Hard to Get Into Med School

A.R. Cabral May 6, 2024

Pros, Cons of Unaccredited Law Schools

Gabriel Kuris May 6, 2024

An MBA and Management Consulting

Sammy Allen May 2, 2024

• Request info
• Majors & Degrees
• Prospective Students
• Current Undergraduate Students
• Current Graduate Students
• Online Students
• Alumni and Friends
• Faculty and Staff

Southern Miss MBA Program jumps in Fortune Education Rankings

Fri, 05/17/2024 - 12:00pm | By: Courtney Robinson

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Master of Business Administration program (MBA) program has been ranked No. 31 nationally in the Best Online MBA programs for 2024 by Fortune Education. The current ranking represents a gain of 17 spots from its 2023 rankings.

Housed in the College of Business and Economic Development the program has restructured its curriculum in the last academic year by removing prerequisites barriers and allowing students more flexibility in their elective course selection.

Noted Dr. Bret Becton, Dean of the College of Business and Economic Development, “As the Dean of the College of Business & Economic Development, I am thrilled by our recognition as the No. 31 Best Online MBA Program by Fortune Education.”

Fortune Education ranks programs based on several factors, including price, student backgrounds, and alumni outcome. Other data factored into the decision include graduation rates, retention rates, yield rates, and average undergraduate GPA.

Dr. Steven Stelk, MBA Director, added, “ Fortune’s recognition of our MBA program is gratifying. The College of Business and Economic Development faculty and staff have continued to invest in and refine the online MBA program since it was established in 2014.”

Becton added, “ This achievement stands as a testament to the dedication and expertise of our MBA faculty and staff, whose tireless efforts have played an integral role in shaping our program into one that empowers future business leaders for success in today’s dynamic world.”

Stelk credits much of the improvement to the new curricular structure, which has attracted students with more diverse academic backgrounds.

“The recent rankings are based on the previous academic year, which gives us an opportunity to celebrate the results of our investments and provides fresh motivation to continue refining the program. We implemented novel curriculum changes in Fall 2023,” Stelk stated. “MBA students are now required to take fifteen hours of core business courses in accounting, finance, marketing, management, and strategy. They use the remaining 15 hours of focused electives to develop an area of expertise.”

Available focus areas include management, economic development, sport security management, supply chain/logistics, human capital development, instructional technology, public health, communications/public relations, non-profit studies, and public history. The MBA also now collaborates with the Sport Management MS and Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) programs to support dual programs.  

“We are continuing to develop and test new ideas to increase the value of our MBA, and I am excited to see what the future holds,” Stelk said.

Students can complete the degree fully online or in-person at the Hattiesburg campus in as little as one year, full-time. Additional information can be found   online . For inquiries about the MBA program, please contact (601) 266-266-4659.

Learn more about the Fortune Education Best Online MBA Programs for 2024.

Categories: Business and Economic Development

Recent News Articles

Usm construction and design receives $200k grant from the mississippi state board of contractors, shin chosen for 2024 scripps howard leadership academy, sose student selected for year-long marine technology program.

10 Best Resume Builders to Create A Great Resume – 2024 Guide

A re you exhausted from investing endless hours into creating an impeccable CV? This article introduces the top resume builders that will revolutionize your job application approach. Bid farewell to monotonous formatting and greet a remarkable resume that distinguishes itself from the rivalry. Prepare yourself to secure your dream job with self-assurance effortlessly!

>> Unlock Your Career Potential With Super Star Resume

10 Best Resume Writing Services

• Super Star Resume - Best overall
• ZipJob - Best for guarantees
• Resumeble - Best with custom bundles
• Let’s Eat, Grandma - Best for range of career service
• ResumeSpice - Best for job seekers of any level
• TopResume - Best customer service
• Resume Writing Services - Best for affordability
• Craft Resumes - Best for quick turnaround
• Resume Companion - Best value resume writing service
• Resume.com - Best free service

When creating this compilation, we considered different elements such as affordability, ease of use, accessibility, the privacy policies of the companies involved, and more. The highest-rated services offer advice, templates, and tools and allow you to consult with experts who can help you craft an impressive resume highlighting your strengths to potential employers.

Our collection comprises free services and those that make use of professional writers’ skills. Some options require a subscription or one-time payment.

>> Secure Your Dream Job With Super Star Resume

Super Star Resume - Best Resume Builder Overall

Star Rating: 4.9/5

Super Star Resume is an innovative resume builder that completely transforms creating professional resumes. By offering a user-friendly interface and a range of powerful features, Super Star Resume enables individuals to produce exceptional resumes that effectively showcase their abilities, accomplishments, and work history.

• Skilled and seasoned writers
• Customized strategy aligned with unique career objectives
• Timely delivery of resumes
• More significant expense compared to certain other resume writing services
• Restricted selection of additional services
• Availability may be restricted depending on demand and geographic location
• Intuitive resume builder: An intuitive interface that simplifies the resume creation process, offering modern templates for a professional look.
• Customization choices: Users can personalize their resumes by selecting from various font styles, colors, layouts, and sections to align with their unique style.
• Comprehensive content suggestions: Access to a collection of expertly curated bullet points, action verbs, and industry-specific phrases to craft impactful resume content.
• Real-time previews and editing: Real-time previewing and editing capabilities ensure a visually appealing and error-free final resume.
• Integration with professional networking platforms: Integration with LinkedIn allows users to maintain consistency between their online presence and resume.
• Tailored resumes for different job applications: The duplication feature facilitates the creation of multiple resume versions, each customized for specific job applications or industries.
• Resume analytics and tracking: Users can monitor the views and downloads of their resumes, gaining valuable insights to optimize their job search strategies.
• Professional Resume : $169
• Resume With Cover Letter : $199
• All-Included : $199

>> Use Super Star Resume to Secure Your Dream Job

ZipJob - Best Resume Builder for Guarantees

Star Rating: 4.7/5

ZipJob is widely regarded as an excellent option for resume creation, especially for those who value guarantees. Their impressive 60-day assurance ensures that individuals searching for employment will experience a surge in interview invitations within this period.

If this desired outcome cannot materialize, ZipJob proactively offers a complimentary review and revision of your resume. This guarantee highlights their commitment to client contentment and showcases their unwavering belief in the superior quality of their resume writing services.

• The starting package is cost-effective
• Complimentary ATS check included
• 60-day interview assurance with higher-tier packages
• The design and layout made it challenging to read the resume
• The summary section was overly lengthy and filled with clichés
• The formatting of the education and training sections was subpar
• Expert resume writers: ZipJob provides access to a team of expert resume writers with the skills and knowledge to review, evaluate, and optimize your resume for compatibility with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and hiring managers.
• ATS optimization: Meaning they ensure your resume is structured and formatted to navigate and succeed in ATS filters effectively. Employers commonly use these filters to assess and rank resumes during the initial screening process.
• Keyword optimization: The resume builder online offered by ZipJob assists you in identifying and integrating pertinent keywords and industry-specific terminology. This practice heightens the visibility of your resume, making it more likely to capture the attention of hiring managers.
• Job-specific content suggestions: ZipJob provides valuable advice regarding the most relevant and influential content to include in your resume for different job titles and industries. This guidance is invaluable in customizing your resume for specific roles.
• Cover letter writing assistance: ZipJob supports the creation of impactful cover letters that complement your resume, strengthening your overall job application.
• Unlimited revisions: One noteworthy feature of ZipJob is the option for unlimited revisions and updates to your resume. This ensures that your resume not only meets but continues to meet your specific requirements and mirrors your professional growth.
• Collaboration with resume writers: the platform facilitates direct collaboration with the resume writers, enabling you to share additional information, discuss specific requirements, and seek clarifications at any stage of the resume creation process.
• Launch Package: $139 (or $48/mo)
• Fast Track Package: $189 (or $65/mo)
• Premium Package: $299 (or $27/mo)

>> Use ZipJob to Secure Your Dream Job

Resumeble - Best Resume Builder With Custom Bundles

Star Rating: 4.3/5

Resumeble is a highly efficient and user-friendly resume builder that empowers individuals to create professional and compelling resumes. With Resumeble, crafting a standout resume becomes a streamlined process thanks to its intuitive interface and extensive range of customizable templates.

Whether you’re a recent graduate, a seasoned professional, or someone looking to change careers, Resumeble caters to all needs and skill sets. It offers helpful suggestions and expert advice to ensure your resume showcases your unique qualifications and achievements in the best possible light.

• A 60-day interview guarantee is included
• Budget-friendly package deals are available
• It’s more established than some other websites
• Keyword optimization: This feature helps optimize your resume by suggesting relevant keywords aligned with your target industry or job, enhancing your visibility to Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and recruiters.
• Content import: Resumeble allows you to import your existing resume or LinkedIn profile, saving you the time and effort of manual data entry.
• Real-time editing: You have the convenience of editing and modifying your resume in real time, providing the flexibility to experiment with various formats, sections, and content.
• ATS compatibility: Resumeble ensures your resume is ATS-compatible, essential for better visibility and a higher chance of being shortlisted by employers using Applicant Tracking Systems.
• Download options: The platform offers various download formats, including PDF, Word, and plain text, ensuring compatibility with diverse application processes.
• Cover letter builder: Resumeble features an integrated cover letter builder, streamlining the creation of professional and personalized cover letters that complement your resume.
• Career Pro Package : $159.00
• Professional Package : $299.00
• Premium Package : $399.00

>> Use Resumeble to Secure Your Dream Job

Let’s Eat, Grandma - Best Resume Builder for Range of Career Service

Star Rating: 4/5

Let’s Eat, Grandma is an inventive and progressive tool for creating impressive resumes. The platform streamlines the resume-building process, making it easier for job seekers to craft exceptional resumes. With Let’s Eat, Grandma, individuals can create unique resumes that catch the eye of employers and set them apart from the competition.

This user-friendly platform offers a range of customizable templates that allow users to tailor their resumes to showcase their specific skills and experiences. Let’s Eat, Grandma also provides expert advice and recommendations to help ensure that your qualifications and achievements are effectively highlighted in your resume.

• Complimentary resume evaluation
• Choices available for individuals from entry-level to executive-level positions
• Extensive collaboration opportunities
• Not specialized in academic CVs or federal resumes
• Relatively higher pricing compared to some other services
• Potential for a longer turnaround time compared to competing services
• Expert choice: You can save your resume in multiple formats (PDF, Word, plain text) or easily share it with potential employers via email or a link, simplifying the distribution of your resume.
• Error highlighting: The builder can identify potential errors, inconsistencies, or missing information within your resume and provide suggestions or alerts for improvement.
• Section prompts: Pre-written prompts for various resume sections (e.g., work experience, education, skills) can help you structure your resume effectively and ensure you include essential details in each area.
• Customizable sections: You can add, remove, or rearrange sections to tailor your resume to emphasize your strengths and relevant experiences.
• Keyword optimization: The resume builder can recommend industry-specific keywords based on the job description, enhancing your resume’s chances of passing through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and grabbing the attention of hiring managers.
• Starter Package : Priced at $439, but there is an anti-inflation sale price of $389.
• Accelerated Package : $549.
• The premium Package : $689, but the anti-inflation sale price is $614.
• Executive Concierge Service : $1,899 or as low as $119/month.

>> Use Let’s Eat, Grandma to Secure Your Dream Job

ResumeSpice - Best Resume Builder for Job Seekers of Any Level

Star Rating: 3.8/5

ResumeSpice , a renowned online resume builder, streamlines crafting professional resumes. This platform provides job seekers with a user-friendly interface and a wide selection of templates, enabling them to create impressive resumes that align with their career objectives.

With ResumeSpice’s seamless experience, users are guided through each resume section effortlessly while receiving valuable tips throughout the process. From personal details and work history to skills and accomplishments, this platform ensures that all crucial aspects of a resume are comprehensively addressed.

• Additional assistance
• Timely service
• ATS optimization
• Guaranteed interviews
• Restricted revisions
• Insufficient customization options
• Restricted refund policy
• User-friendly interface: ResumeSpice boasts an intuitive and user-friendly platform, simplifying the resume creation process and offering a seamless experience to users.
• Extensive template library: The platform offers a vast selection of professionally designed templates tailored to various industries and job positions. Users can explore different styles and layouts to find the perfect match for their needs.
• Import and export options: ResumeSpice enables users to import their existing resumes in formats like PDF or Word for easy editing and updates. Users can conveniently export their finalized resumes in multiple formats, facilitating sharing with employers or uploading to job portals.
• Mobile-friendly design: ResumeSpice is optimized for mobile devices, allowing users to create and modify their resumes using smartphones or tablets.
• Cloud storage: The platform provides secure cloud storage for users’ resumes, ensuring accessibility and updates from any device with an internet connection.
• Resume tracking: ResumeSpice includes tools for tracking the performance of submitted resumes, such as monitoring views, downloads, and application outcomes. These features empower users to evaluate their progress and make data-driven enhancements to their job search strategies.
• Entry Level Resume : $479
• Professional Resume : $589
• Executive Resume : $699

>> Use ResumeSpice to Secure Your Dream Job

TopResume - Best Resume Builder for Customer Service

Star Rating: 3.6/5

TopResume is an outstanding resume builder explicitly tailored for customer service professionals. It offers a seamless and user-friendly experience, enabling users to create exceptional resumes effortlessly. The platform goes beyond just providing a basic resume template, offering valuable suggestions and tips to optimize the content.

This ensures that each resume created on TopResume is unique and attention-grabbing in the highly competitive job market.

Besides its user-friendly interface, TopResume provides expert review services. These services allow skilled professionals to provide personalized feedback on resumes, helping enhance their overall quality further. By leveraging this feedback and incorporating attention to detail, customer service professionals can create compelling resumes that effectively capture the attention of potential employers.

• Streamlined registration process
• Well-designed and formatted one-page resume
• The summary and Job Scope sections were overly extended
• The training section needed to have prominence
• Skill-based sections: The resume builder features dedicated sections highlighting essential customer service skills, including communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and relationship building.
• Expert review services: TopResume provides expert review services where experienced professionals offer personalized feedback and recommendations to enhance the overall quality of your resume.
• ATS compatibility: The platform ensures that the resumes created are compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which employers commonly use for scanning and filtering resumes.
• Download and sharing options: Users can download their resumes in various formats, such as PDF or Word, and easily share them with potential employers or upload them to job portals.
• Industry-Specific Tips: TopResume offers industry-specific tips and guidance to assist users in tailoring their resumes to the customer service field, helping them stand out among competitors.
• Cover letter builder: Besides resume building, TopResume provides a builder that empowers users to craft professional and compelling cover letters customized for customer service roles.
• Mobile accessibility: The platform is mobile-friendly, allowing users to create, edit, and update their resumes while on the go, using their smartphones or tablets.
• Entry level : Up to 200$.
• Professional level : Up to 200$-400$.
• Executive level : Up to $350-$700.

>> Use TopResume to Secure Your Dream Job

Resume Writing Services - Best Resume Builder for Affordability

Star Rating: 3.3/5

While Resumewritingservices.org may be a different size than its competitors, it stands out due to its team of talented and experienced resume writers. The website is user-friendly and provides exceptional service. However, this service’s true strength lies in its writers’ expertise.

Resumewritingservices.org sets itself apart by offering a comprehensive consultation process and goes beyond expectations by providing unlimited calls with its resume writers. This personalized approach distinguishes them from other companies and guarantees each client receives individual attention and support.

• Experienced resume writers of the highest caliber
• Unlimited phone consultations and revisions
• More expensive than rival services
• A limited range of products
• Skilled and experienced resume writers: Resumewritingservices.org takes pride in its team of highly trained and professional resume writers who possess a deep understanding of crafting effective resumes.
• Personalized service: Resumewritingservices.org offers a personal touch by providing unlimited calls with their resume writers. This unique feature allows clients to engage in direct communication and close collaboration with the writers throughout the resume creation process.
• Competitive job market expertise: The writers at Resumewritingservices.org have knowledge of current job market trends. This ensures that the resumes they create are optimized to excel in today’s fiercely competitive job market.
• Quality Assurance: The service maintains a rigorous quality assurance process to guarantee that the resumes delivered to clients meet the highest standards and align with their expectations.
• Timely delivery: Resumewritingservices.org is committed to delivering resumes within the agreed-upon timeframe, ensuring clients receive their documents promptly.
• Client satisfaction guarantee: Resumewritingservices.org offers a client satisfaction guarantee, assuring clients are fully content with the final resume. The service is ready to provide revisions if necessary.
• Affordable pricing: Resumewritingservices.org provides pricing options that are competitive and transparent, making professional resume writing accessible to a wide range of job seekers.

Resumewritingservices.org employs a pricing system that is clear and easy to understand for their resume-building services. The initial package begins at $270 , including a comprehensive consultation with a skilled resume writer and developing an individualized resume.

They offer extra options that enable customers to personalize their packages based on their unique preferences. This adaptable pricing strategy guarantees that clients can choose the services that align with their requirements and financial constraints.

>> Use Resume Writing Services to Secure Your Dream Job

Craft Resumes - Best Resume Builder for Quick-Turnaround

Star Rating: 3/5

Craft Resumes stand out as a well-established writing and editing service known for its ability to deliver effective outcomes. Our dedication to providing a 24-hour turnaround guarantees you’ll receive the initial version of your resume promptly.

Navigating our user-friendly website is effortless, making it easy to use our services. At Craft Resumes, we specialize in crafting customized resumes to match your skills, qualifications, and aspirations for your career.

• Speedy completion
• Customized CVs
• Intuitive site
• Insufficient details
• Absence of assurances
• Quick turnaround: Craft Resumes commits to delivering the initial draft of your resume within 24 hours, ensuring a speedy and efficient service.
• Expert Writers: Craft Resumes prides itself on its team of experienced writers who possess expertise across various industries and stay up-to-date with current hiring trends. They’re dedicated to making your resume stand out and catch the attention of potential employers.
• Unlimited revisions: We provide unlimited revisions to guarantee your complete satisfaction. If you have specific changes or additions in mind, our team will collaborate with you closely to implement the modifications.
• Confidentiality and Privacy: At Craft Resumes, we prioritize the confidentiality and privacy of your personal information. You can trust that your data will be handled securely and with the utmost discretion.
• Tailored resumes: We specialize in tailoring resumes to align with your career objectives, industry, and job requirements. Each resume is personalized to accentuate your unique strengths and qualifications.
• Resume Writing : $229.00
• Basic : $279.99
• Optimal : $339.99
• All-In-One : $499.99

>> Use Craft Resumes to Secure Your Dream Job

Resume Companion - Best Value Resume Builder

Star Rating: 2.8/5

Resume Companion is a virtual platform and service that specializes in aiding individuals in creating resumes that are professional and impactful. It offers an array of resources and tools to assist job seekers in crafting interesting resumes that effectively showcase their skills, experiences, and qualifications.

A prominent feature of Resume Companion is its user-friendly resume builder. This tool allows users to select from various professionally designed templates and personalize them based on their specific requirements.

Users can effortlessly incorporate their personal information, employment history, educational background, skill set, and other pertinent details to produce a customized resume tailored to their needs.

• Intuitive user interface
• High-quality templates
• Efficiency-boosting functions
• Cost-effective choice
• Restricted editing features without subscription
• Absence of extensive customization options
• Limited availability of extra services
• Cover letter builder: Resume Companion goes beyond resumes and provides users with a tool for crafting customized cover letters tailored to specific job applications. This feature guides users through the process, helping them effectively present their qualifications and make a compelling case to prospective employers.
• ATS optimization: In today’s job market, many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes. Resume Companion helps users ensure their resumes are ATS-friendly. The platform offers valuable tips and insights on incorporating relevant keywords, formatting the document correctly, and increasing the likelihood of passing through the ATS screening process.
• Educational resources: Resume Companion extends its services by offering an informative blog and educational materials that cover various aspects of resume writing, job search strategies, interview techniques, and career development guidance. These resources provide users with valuable insights and advice to help them create impressive resumes and enhance their job search efforts.
• Download and sharing options: Upon completing their resumes, users can conveniently download their documents in multiple formats, including PDF and Word. Resume Companion also makes it easy for users to share their resumes online or print them offline.
• Customer support: Resume Companion values user satisfaction and offers customer support to assist with users’ questions or concerns while utilizing the platform. Users can access support through email or the platform’s contact form.

Resume Companion provides a cost-effective solution for individuals seeking an all-inclusive service. It’s vital to remember subscription renewal is required to access future editing services. In summary, Resume Companion offers a wallet-friendly option for those who desire a user-friendly resume-building experience without needing advanced writing abilities.

>> Use Resume Companion to Secure Your Dream Job

Our Ranking Methodology for Best Resume Writing Services

To comprehensively and objectively rank the top resume writing services, it is essential to have a thorough methodology. The first step in this process was conducting extensive research and analysis. This involved gathering a comprehensive list of reputable resume-writing services from multiple sources such as online searches, customer reviews, industry directories, and personal recommendations.

• Feature analysis: Evaluate the functionalities provided by each resume builder, considering elements like template variety and quality, customization flexibility, user-friendly editing and formatting options, import/export capabilities, spell check and grammar tools, and integration with job search platforms and professional networks.
• Template collection: Examine the assortment and quality of templates. Look for a wide range that suits various industries, job levels, and design preferences, considering these templates’ aesthetics, readability, and contemporary design.
• Editing and customization: Scrutinize the adaptability and user-friendliness of the editing and customization tools each resume builder provides. Assess the capacity to add or modify sections, reorganize content, and tailor resumes to specific job requirements.
• User interface and experience: Analyze the user interface and the overall user experience each resume builder offers. Evaluate the ease of navigation, instruction clarity, guidance or prompts, and the platform’s responsiveness.
• Integration with job search platforms: Determine whether resume builders offer seamless integration with popular job search platforms and professional networks like LinkedIn or ATS systems. Consider how well the resumes can be transferred and their compatibility with these platforms.
• Additional resources: Evaluate if the resume builders provide extra resources such as sample resumes, tools for creating cover letters, interview tips, or career advice. Consider the breadth and practicality of these supplementary resources.
• Mobile-friendliness: Gauge the mobile-friendliness and responsiveness of the resume builders, recognizing the growing trend of mobile job searching and application processes.
• Customer support: Reflect on the accessibility and quality of customer support services, encompassing options like live chat, email support, or knowledge bases. Assess the responsiveness and helpfulness of the support team.
• Pricing and value for money: Appraise the pricing plans presented by the resume builders in terms of the value they offer based on features, usability, and overall service quality.
• Industry reputation: Consider the standing and trustworthiness of the resume builders, considering factors such as awards, recognition, partnerships, and user feedback from reputable sources.

Buyer’s Guide: Why Use a Resume Builder?

Crafting a well-crafted CV comes naturally to particular job seekers. However, even the most seasoned experts may need help in resume writing. If you find yourself in need of help with creating a compelling resume, here are several ways in which the best online resume builder can be beneficial:

Resume builders provide users with pre-designed templates and helpful tips, streamlining the process of writing a resume and alleviating stress.

Offers Writing Tips

Promoting oneself requires considerable effort. Only some people possess writing skills, even if they enjoy self-promotion. To showcase one’s experience and knowledge effectively, a resume builder can help select the most appropriate words and phrases.

Improves Design

In every field, there are unique standards for an impressive resume. If you need to gain knowledge in design or the tools, resume builders can provide free templates to enhance your resume’s visual appeal and quality.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Recruiters often use ATS systems to scan resumes. A good resume builder will help with formatting to ensure that your resume is easy for these systems to read.

What’s the Best Resume Builder?

The ideal resume builder for each individual may differ according to their specific requirements. If you prefer a tool that offers step-by-step guidance in creating your resume, we suggest using a builder that provides helpful tips and recommendations. If you prefer a resume builder that auto-generates a summary, we recommend using a tool that extracts information from your LinkedIn profile.

For those who enjoy having creative control over their resumes, we suggest using a platform with features. By selecting the resume builder that aligns with your needs and suits your industry and personal style, you’ll significantly increase your chances of capturing the attention of hiring managers.

Resume Builder vs. Resume Writing Service: What Matters for You

When it comes to crafting a resume, there are three options available. You can opt to create it independently, use a resume builder tool, or enlist the services of a professional resume writer. Your best choice will depend on your writing abilities, available time, and financial resources.

Do-It-Yourself

You have the choice to construct a resume entirely by yourself. The benefit of this option is that it costs nothing but requires a significant amount of effort. Along with composing all the information, you must possess graphic design skills.

This approach works well if you have these abilities, but with them, your options for creating a resume are unlimited. To overcome this limitation, you can use a resume builder or enlist the help of a resume writing service.

Resume Builder

A tool for creating resumes allows you to input your details into a template, resulting in an original appearance and layout with no design work. The top resume building tools also offer suggestions on enhancing your resume and tailoring it to match the specific job you are applying for.

While you are still responsible for writing the content, once it is written, you can quickly transfer that information into any other template with just a few simple clicks. Some of these services are free and many like to promote themselves as such, but most require a small payment to download your finished resume.

Professional Resume Writing Service

Professional resume writing services are expensive, but they offer the convenience of handling all the work for you. An experienced writer will gather relevant information about your background and transform it into a unique and engaging resume.

The process typically takes a few days, and the level of originality in the outcome largely relies on your choice of company and writer. However, we will not delve into these services further in this guide.

Are Resume Builders Worth It?

Definitely, without a doubt. An effective resume creator will guarantee that your CV is formatted correctly to navigate Applicant Tracking Systems and ultimately reach the hands of recruiters.

Is It Unprofessional to Use a Microsoft Word Resume Template?

Relying on a template will not set you apart, and there is a high likelihood that your application will be dismissed because your resume is identical to those of other job seekers.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right resume builder is crucial in today’s competitive job market. Creating a professional and impactful resume that stands out from the crowd can significantly impact your job search. With the right tool, you can save time, improve your chances of landing an interview, and ultimately secure your dream job.

When selecting a resume builder, consider your specific needs and priorities. Look for features like customizable templates, industry-specific examples, and the ability to export your resume in different formats. Consider user reviews and ratings to ensure you choose a reputable and reliable platform.

Remember, an exceptional tool for crafting resumes should give you the power to present your skills, experience, and accomplishments effectively. It should simplify and expedite creating a resume without hassle. Investing in a reliable resume builder is investing in your professional future.

Therefore, explore the different options available for resume builders. Test out their free trials or demos and choose the best fit for your objectives. Our top recommendation is Super Star Resume . This meticulously designed resume can open doors to exciting career prospects and be a dependable companion on your journey toward success.

Ahad Waseem is a business, blockchain, and cybersecurity writer who often takes on art, politics, and economics too. As a linguistic engineer who writes to solve problems, he’s written for various tech and business publications. When he’s not writing, he’s probably on horseback, caring for his houseplants, or training Bonsai trees. He can be reached at [email protected] . McClatchy’s newsrooms were not involved in the creation of this content. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links.

©2023 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Career change after Executive MBA: Here’s what you need to know to improve your odds

In today’s turbulent economy, risk-averse professionals may be reluctant to quit their well-paying job to go on a study sabbatical for pursuing higher education. If you’re fired up to pursue an MBA degree without taking a professional break, an executive MBA could be a good fit.

Most of the top international business schools offer an executive MBA which follows a curriculum on similar lines as a full-time MBA program and usually offer the same MBA degree. These programs are tailored to meet the requirements of working professionals.  

How does an executive MBA help in career change?

Career change is the top reason why professionals go for an MBA.  According to a 2022 survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 51% of MBA students intend to switch careers. The big question now is ‘Does an executive MBA (EMBA) help with a career change?’

Career change could mean transitioning to a new function/role, switching industry or change in geography. It could involve either one, two or all of the above. There are MBA grads who’re able to pivot all three – the post-MBA career triple jump.

The fact that company sponsored executive MBA numbers have gone done in the recent years, students do not have an obligation to continue working for the same employer on completing graduation. In this article, we’ll discuss some ways an executive MBA can help transform careers.

1. Career progress

The age of EMBA students usually ranges between 30-40 years, the average being around 38 years. The more experienced EMBA professionals usually seek to evolve their career within the same industry. There may be those looking to get a foot in the C-suite door.

One huge advantage of an EMBA is that you get a chance to implement at work all that you’ve learned in class over the weekends. According to 2022-2023 EMBAC student exit survey, students reported a compensation of $231,143 (average salary and bonus) at program start while it rose by 17.7% and was $272,160 by the end of the program.

Here are a few other findings of the survey:

2. Career transition

A survey by GMAC showed that 42% of EMBA students intend to change job functions while 29% plan to switch industries entirely after graduation.

EMBA students can make use of career services offered by the business school. Several schools offer one-on-one career coaching sessions, helping students identify their strengths, skills, abilities and offer them a personalized career strategy to address their specific career development needs.

The careers team may conduct workshops helping students build their resumes, cover letters, written communication skills, interviewing skills, LinkedIn profile optimization, networking strategies and employment offer negotiations.

Students’ outreach initiatives including connecting with peers and tapping into the international alumni network can be of great help during the job-hunting process. Students also get access to employer job postings on the college internal website.

Schools like Washington Foster also organize MBA treks for EMBA students giving them exposure to various industries and companies, right from MNCs to startups.

Very few EMBA programs publish employment-related data as they do not want to antagonize the companies students work with.

Here are some encouraging statistics for those looking for a career change:

At INSEAD, among those completing the Global Executive MBA, 60% changed employer, 56% changed sector, function or geography while 11% returned to their own company.

The Kellogg Executive MBA program saw 56% students promoted from program start to one-year post-grad, 52% changed industry or function during the same period while 28% joined or founded a startup.

“When we see career switchers, they’re not quite that hard switch like you might see in a full-time program. They’re more of a soft switch, where it’s either industry or function,” says Joe Stephens, senior assistant dean and director of the working professionals and executive MBA programs at McCombs.

Also read: – What’s a good executive assessment (EA) score for top executive MBA? – PGPMAX vs PGPpro vs ILPSIE – Which is good for you?  

3. Entrepreneurship

Career change could also mean leaving the corporate world to start your own venture.

A GMAC survey showed that about 30% of EMBA students aspire to become entrepreneurs or be self-employed post-graduation.

An entrepreneur has to don many hats. An EMBA would equip aspiring entrepreneurs with a 360 degree know-how of business so as to navigate the complex challenges in todays’s fast-paced and constantly evolving business landscape.

Personal branding is another aspect that plays a key role for entrepreneurs in building trust and credibility with customers and investors alike. Earning an MBA from a reputed school increases investors’ confidence in your ability to run or expand a business.

The learning derived through interaction with high-potential peers coming from varied industries and functions, interaction with industry experts, robust network of alumni can empower entrepreneurs with the required expertise and leadership experience to successfully launch their business. Many also end up teaming with their peers or alumni to set up their new venture.

Intrapreneurship is innovating and starting something new within an existing company. So, you’re acting like an entrepreneur within your current organization. A striking example of large-scale intrapreneurship is Google’s 20% time which allows employees to spend 20 percent of their time on creative initiatives. This has resulted in Google’s various line of businesses including Gmail, Google News, AdSense.

According to Financial Times data, at INSEAD, EMBA students taking up final projects focusing on entrepreneurship has gone up from 12% to 25% in a 5-year period. At Wharton, around 40% of EMBA students opt for courses focusing on entrepreneurship.  

Tips to improve your career change chances after an Executive MBA

Those attending the EMBA are seasoned professionals wishing to gain a better understanding of the bigger picture so that they can move up the corporate ladder to become global leaders with a more strategic thinking approach.

“It’s hard to get that when you’re immersed in your role at your job. You’re within your bubble, and your EMBA takes you outside your bubble.” says EMBAC Executive Director, Michael Desiderio.

If you’re looking for a career pivot with an executive MBA, it would require a dedicated effort from your side considering that you’d be working full-time along with handling the rigour of an MBA.

The job-hunting differs considerably from full-time MBA where recruiters hire for entry level positions. A full-time MBA also has internship opportunities to test the waters which would not be available in an EMBA.

You can improve your chances of changing careers after EMBA by putting yourself in the driver’s seat. Think about all that you would do if you had no access (even if you do) to the school’s career resources. Create a personalized outreach plan and then execute it.

This is exactly what many EMBA students who worked with MBA Crystal Ball have done to manage some really impressive career transitions.

Lastly, you need to have realistic expectations about the program outcome. While shortlisting the programs, take into account the school’s location, curriculum offerings, schedule, career services, also alumni feedback. You need to have clarity about what your career goals are so that you can decide on which program would be the right one to help you reach there.

Doing an EMBA is not everyone’s cup of tea. It’s a rigorous program and most importantly, you’ll need a solid support system (both personal and professional) in place. You need to make the most of the all opportunities available, with an emphasis on networking and relationship building. This will help you get the best bang for your EMBA buck.

We can help you with your Executive MBA admissions process. Send us an email: [email protected]

Also read: – Is an Executive MBA (EMBA) worth it? – UCLA PGP Pro for Executives: Costs, eligibility, application, essay tips, career impact – ISB PGPPro Review – ISB PGPMax Review – INSEAD ILPSE Admissions and Interview – Executive MBA salaries in USA, Canada, Asia, Europe, Africa and Australia   References: 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Mini-MBA | Start here | Success stories | Reality check | Knowledgebase | Scholarships | Services Serious about higher ed? Follow us:                

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

The Experience

• Career Impact
• Inclusion and Belonging
• Global Opportunities

More about Kellogg

• History & Legacy
• Convocation Ceremony

Degree Programs

• Full-Time MBA
• Executive MBA
• Master in Management
• Evening & Weekend MBA
• Certificate Program for Undergraduates
• Which Program is Right for Me?
• Academic Calendars

Executive Education

• Online Programs
• Programs for Individuals
• Nonprofit Programs
• Programs for Groups
• The Kellogg Advantage
• Contact Executive Education
• Request a Brochure
• Find a Program
• Alumni Network
• Career Journeys
• Global Impact
• Student Stories
• Applying to Kellogg

Publications and blogs

• Kellogg Magazine
• Kellogg Insight
• See All News + Stories

Academics + Research

• Faculty Directory
• Research Centers
• Case Studies
• Faculty Teaching Awards
• Academic Departments
• Research + Books
• Faculty Recruiting

Academic expertise

• Data Analytics
• Family Business
• Leadership & Organizations
• Social Impact
• Entrepreneurship
• Full-Time MBA Admissions
• Evening & Weekend MBA Admissions
• Executive MBA Admissions

Additional resources

• Master in Management Admissions
• PhD / Doctoral Admissions
• Undergraduate Certificate Admissions
• Admissions Events
• Financial Aid Office
• Log into my account portal
• Companies + Recruiters

​​Pursuing a finance career? Use your past experiences as a springboard.

• Finance and Accounting

Welcome to the latest installment of our new series, “The Industry Ahead,” in which our faculty share the latest trends in hiring across a variety of career fields. This time we’re exploring the wide world of finance with clinical professor Jose Liberti, who teaches MBA courses at Kellogg and has extensive experience with financial services businesses. 

“When students tell me they’re thinking about finance,” Professor Liberti  says, “I ask them two questions: where are you coming from and where do you want to go?” 

Liberti is the right person to ask. Before becoming a professor, he worked as a financial advisor for Citibank, and now consults with a range of financial services businesses including private equity firms, financial advisory services and others including involvement with Point 72 Academy, an investment analyst training program. 

He uses his experience and insights to help students and others interested in finance careers aim for rewarding paths that make use of their past experience, whatever it may be. 

Diverse paths and destinations  

Liberti sees a lot of diversity among students interested in finance. “It might be that they have a background in finance itself,” he says. “Or something quantitative like engineering, or a mix of finance and consulting. It helps to know what they are building on.” 

While quantitative experience makes for a strong finance foundation, Kellogg students from all backgrounds successfully pursue and land finance jobs, including those with military , teaching, or nonprofit experience.  

No matter their background, students interested in finance must think about the industry and role that suits them best. “What are students attracted to?” Liberti says. “It used to be mostly about pursuing banking in New York City. But interests have become much more divergent in the last 10 to 15 years. The past hyper-focus on pursuing high-salary jobs within the industry has diversified, and people are more interested in finding the right fit.” 

That’s evident in the wide range of targets for Kellogg students pursuing finance, as Liberti notes: “It might be corporate finance like M&A inside Boeing or Cisco. Or middle-market private equity. Or working with owners of a family enterprise to make investments after they sell their business.” Some students even learn how to raise funds to purchase and run a single business, including managing all finance activities.

A strategic, specialized field 

Liberti sees finance as an increasingly strategic, specialized field.  

“Some people are surprised by how strategic finance is,” he says. “In the first year of the MBA program, students begin to understand how much logic there is to it and become interested in learning more about what makes it work.” 

What makes it work, these days, seems to be specialization. “Demand is increasing for finance specialists,” Liberti says.  

The good news is that most people pursuing finance can use their past to shape their future professional role, including specialization. “It’s about levering up what you’ve already done,” Liberti says. “If you were an oil-and-gas engineer or worked in the music industry, for example, you can come to Kellogg and dial your focus on corporate finance, which would allow you become a very hot commodity working for a private equity firm that invests in oil or the music industry.” In a similar way, students with past roles focused on climate, policy or sustainability can focus on impact investing at Kellogg to shape their post-MBA career. 

Finance is a popular destination for Kellogg students, and incoming MBA students wanting to switch into this industry can start their learning journey even before they arrive on campus. The Career Management Center  offers a wealth of programming and resources, including a summer alumni panel just for the finance industry, interviewing and an in-depth career training via the Launchpad pre-MBA course. 

“Don’t kill your past,” Liberti advises. “Use your expertise to increase your finance job prospects.”

The Kellogg advantage 

Kellogg enables anyone pursuing finance to gain key skills and career opportunities. Among key finance-related offerings are: 

• A dedicated finance major. Kellogg offers many majors and pathways  in its MBA programs. The finance major  is tailored for students wanting a fundamental knowledge base and practical tools that are essential for careers in the field. Students combine these classes with other essential coursework in data analytics and negotiations to create a powerful foundation for finance careers. 
• Specialized finance pathways that let students go deeper into specific topic areas, including venture capital and private equity , asset management , and growth and scaling .  
• Experiential learning opportunities offering hands-on experience outside the classroom. Kellogg offers a wide variety of experiential courses  in many subject areas, including finance. Lab courses in PE, VC and asset management immerse students in a client project with a real company, and the annual PE/VC Conference . 
• Student-led clubs that bring together peers interested in finance careers and connect them with companies and alumni. Groups at Kellogg  include the Investment Banking and Capital Markets Club, Corporate Finance Club, Fintech club, Private Equity Club, Investment Management Club and many others. 
• Case competitions, which let students take their hands-on experiences in finance even further by working with a team of classmates to solve a challenge. Kellogg teams participate in and win top competitions, and a Kellogg group took first place this year in the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC), the world’s top VC competition for MBAs.  
• A deep and broad alumni network that invests in you . Many Kellogg alumni work in finance roles, with the highest concentrations in Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Of those, a large segment work in private equity or venture capital. 
• Career guidance tailored for you. The Career Management Center  offers unlimited one-on-one coaching to students, a dedicated research specialist to help you chart your professional path, and resources that extend even after graduation. For students particularly interested in careers in finance, clubs and the CMC offer workshops and learning tools just for finance interviewing. Students can also go on company treks to firms in PE, VC and investment banking. 

Read next 

Curious about what an MBA in finance at Kellogg can do for you? Follow the links here to read about students and alumni in finance and discover the latest research from our finance faculty . Or, explore our degree programs  to find the right fit for you.