how to write a resume right out of college

Fresh Out of College? 24 Tips to Build a Winning Resume & Land Your Dream Job

A resume is your first point of contact with your recruiter, and holds the power to make or break your application. It is what determines whether your application moves past to the interview stage, or is tossed aside with hundreds of others.

The average employer spends only about 6.25 seconds looking at a resume.

Thus, your resume is your first (and possibly last) chance to capture your employer’s attention. Being a brilliant candidate with the perfect skill sets for the job doesn’t suffice if you are unable to communicate it through your resume!

Your resume could be the only thing standing between you and your dream job , then why not do it the right way?

All outstanding resumes can be divided into 4 major components, they are:

• Design and Format

Let’s go over them one-by-one to help you land an interview for your dream job.

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I. Create A Blue-Print: The Plan

The best resumes are built through proper planning and forethought, so don’t just go rushing to start writing whatever comes to mind. Creating a structured plan before writing your resume will ensure that it is crisp, to-the-point, and accomplishes your objective (securing an interview) in the best possible manner.

Here are a few things to consider while building your plan:

1. Keep it crisp

Do not fit everything about yourself into the resume, reserve those extra details for the interview instead. The main objective of writing a resume is not to land you a job, but to give recruiters an idea about your education and accomplishments at a glance.

2. Understand your employer and the position on offer

A useful exercise for building an exceptional resume is to take the time to understand your employer first. Read up on the company, its vision and mission, the state of the industry, and the requisites of the position you are applying to, to get into the mind of your employer. This would help you customize the resume to showcase how you are the perfect person to fulfil the company’s needs.

3. Be clear about your career objective

You should have clarity regarding not just the company, but your own goals too, since employers evaluate you on this. Take the time to introspect on why you are applying to the position and how the position will help you achieve your career goals. This will help you form a distinct career objective for your resume, as a way to communicate to your employer that you are a clear-headed and sorted person.

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II. Be Your Own Architect: The Structure

Now that you have built a workable plan in your mind, the next step is to define how you are going to organize and present the information in the form of a structure.

The most important part of your structure is to figure out the skeleton of your resume, i.e., the way you are going to organize the elements in it.

The most relevant and commonly-used sections to be included in a resume are:

Here are a few tips for developing your resume structure:

4. Organize Information

While describing your work experience, you should organize your information using headings and bullet points, instead of writing in long paragraphs with no defined beginning and end. For e.g., you can mention the name of the company you interned in as the heading, and then describe your duties as bullet points underneath it. This way your information would look much more methodized and systematic.

5. Keep Descriptions Short and Simple

Be mindful of how you describe your work/internships experiences. Avoid writing descriptions of essay-like proportions that leave your recruiter snoozing by the end of it, yet don’t keep them so short that the recruiter is left with no idea about the work you did. And remember: bullet points are your best friends .

6. Highlight Academic Credentials

As a fresh graduate, your academic credentials will hold importance for your recruiter in most cases, so highlight it properly. Organized it in the form of a table (or a highlighted section), instead of a paragraph or points. The table can have columns for the name of college/university, course, year of passing and marks/CGPA.

7. Club Together Related Information

  All elements from a similar category should be organized together in the same section. For example, all your internships should go under the same section, and should not be combined with your co-curricular activities.

8. Know the Terms

You should be aware of the difference between curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular, as all three are inherently distinct.

• Curricular activities are those that are a part of your academic course. For e.g., projects
• Co-curricular are ones that go hand-in-hand with your academics, but might not necessarily be a part of the syllabus. For e.g., research papers or conferences
• Extra-curriculars are completely separate from the two, and include activities unrelated to academics. For e.g., awards won at a state level sports competition.

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III. Get the Message Across: The Content

The content is the heart of your resume, the one that would actually help you leave a lasting impression on your recruiter. An outstanding resume cannot be achieved without quality content since it communicates your worth through your experiences and achievements.

Here are a few tips to develop impressive content for your resume:

9. Customise. Customise. Customise

With resumes, the phrase ‘one size fits all’ is never applicable. You should customize your content according to the role you are applying to, and should modify it for each job you apply for. For e.g., if you are applying to a content writing position, it would be helpful to include internships done in that domain, along with accomplishments that highlight your creativity and writing skills.

10. Mind Your Language

Pay attention to the language you use when conveying your information. Never use slang or informal words in your resume as they look very unprofessional. Yet at the same time avoid using very heavy-sounding and ornate words. A resume is meant to demonstrate your professional skills to the recruiter, not your English language skills .

11. Action Words Speak Better

Try to integrate action words (such as managed, coached, developed, resolved, etc.) in your resume. These words serve to prime the notion of accomplishment and achievement in your recruiter’s mind. If you need help, there are online resources with a number of action words available for reference. Be careful to use action words only in contexts they are relevant to.

12. Expectation vs Outcome

When talking about your work experience, focus on your accomplishments instead of duties, i.e. focus on what YOU did in the job vs. what the job was. As an example, try to write about measurable outcomes that you achieved through your role with the help of specific numbers.

For example:

• Increased social media engagement by 12%.
• Generated 50 leads in a period of 3 months.
• Successfully inducted and trained 20 new staff members.

13. Gorgeous Grammar

This one should go without saying, but always use proper grammar in your resume. If grammar is not a strong suit, then take the help of a friend or an expert, but never put out a grammatically incorrect resume. There are various free online tools available to help with this. Grammarly is a good one.

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 IV. Ice the Cake: The Format and Design

Like no cake is complete without the icing, an outstanding resume cannot be achieved without appropriate formatting.

Here are a few pointers for achieving a professional-looking resume:

14. Align Right

Always make sure that headings and bullet points are properly aligned. A few misformatted bullets can leave a bad impression.

15. Colours or Plain Jane

You can play around with the look and feel of your resume, depending on the kind of job you are applying to. For e.g., when applying for a creative job, your resume can incorporate colours and a creative style. For more serious jobs, the resume design can be black and white, grey or in shades of blue/green.

16. The Right Font

The font type and sizes used can transform the entire look of your resume. Make sure you don’t use intricate or hard-to-read fonts. Standard fonts such as Arial, Times New Roman, Sans Serif, Calibri, etc. are always safe choices. font size should also be legible enough, no smaller than 10 pt., and ideally a 12 pt.

17. NO CAPITAL LETTERS

Avoid writing in capital letters, apart from headings, as they are difficult to read. Not to mention they can give the impression that YOU ARE SHOUTING!

18. Let your Resume Breathe

Don’t pack in the text. Make your resume neat and easier to read by including lots of white space. Include at least one blank line between each section and the line spacing within sections should be 1.0 or 1.15 pts. The page margins all around the page should also be between 0.5-1 inches.

19. Pick a Nice Template

If you are having a hard time deciding what format to use, then you can find online resources for that too. Here is one resource that has brilliant customizable templates of various types.

20. Proofread, Always

Always, always, proofread! This one should be a no-brainer but happens too often. When you apply for a job, you are supposed to present the best side of you. Every aspect of your profile should be presentable, including your resume.

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A Few Additional Resume Tips You Shouldn’t Forget

Wait Wait! Here are some additional end notes to remember before you send out your resume to your employer.

21. Size Matters

The length of your resume should not exceed one page. The entire purpose of a resume is to show your recruiter your suitability for the role, at a glance. Don’t defeat it! Think to yourself, “ Is knowing this information about me, absolutely essential for the recruiter to take a call about me ?” Remove all details that don’t meet this criterion.

22. It’s not a Biography

In order to accomplish the previous point, you should make it a point not to type out every single thing you ever did on your resume. An accomplishment from class 6 th may not be relevant to a job you’re applying to after a master’s degree. Include only relevant information from the past 3-4 years, with an exception of really big accomplishments.

23. Keep it Current

A resume is not etched in stone, so you should always keep updating it. Keep adding new information as and when you accomplish something, to keep it current and up-to-date. Before applying to any job, read your resume multiple times to make sure that it contains only information relevant to the job in question.

24. Get a Second Opinion

We may overlook our mistakes, so it’s best to get someone (a friend or an industry expert) to review your resume once, and get a fresh perspective.

As an ending note, remember that a good resume takes time, but when you land the job of your dreams, it will be worth all the efforts and hard work you put into it!

Have any questions about your own resume? Share with us in the comments below!

Sarvpreet Kaur

Sarvpreet packs a talent for photography and travelling and is a voracious reader to bring deep insights and unique perspectives into career counselling and human behavior. She couples her innate creativity to hard facts and methodical research to recommend best possible career options for all students she counsels.

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7 Rules for Creating a Resume for Your First Job out of College

Finding your first real job out of college can be stressful. It takes time and perseverance to scour the search engines and research companies you may want to work for. But before you do any of that, you have to create a resume.

Most hiring managers only spend a few minutes (and sometimes just a few seconds) skimming candidates’ resumes before making a decision. With so little time to get their attention, you need to make sure your resume is eye-catching and concise.

Don’t let your resume go into the “no” pile upon first glance. Follow these seven rules to write a great resume  for your first job:

1. Don’t Forget the Basics

Some applicants pay so much attention to the details that they forget the most important information: Make sure your resume includes your full name, full address, and contact information, including your email address.

Does your email address include goofy words, nicknames, or other inappropriate elements? If so, create a new email address to use strictly for job hunting. A professional email address is key if you want to look like a strong candidate.

2. Select the Right Format

The traditional resume format lists your prior jobs in reverse chronological order, but if your most recent jobs don’t relate to the job for which you’re applying, you may want to consider a combination resume  instead.

With a combination resume, you put more focus on the skills you’ve acquired than on the jobs you’ve had. This makes a combination resume a great option for recent grads looking for their first full-time jobs.

For example, let’s say you worked as a barista, retail clerk, and campus tour guide in college. Those jobs might not be at all relevant to the job you want, but with a combination resume, you can shift attention onto your valuable experience by highlighting your customer service skills rather than the titles you held.

You’ll also need to decide if you want to include an objective statement or a summary of qualifications. Objective statements are often viewed as outdated, so you may want to opt for a summary of qualifications.

A summary of qualifications is a list of four or five bullet points that focus on your skills, accolades, and experiences. The summary sits at the beginning of your resume, making it an easy way for a hiring manager to get a sense of who you are and what you can do.

3. Include All Relevant Experience and Skills

If you’re a new college grad, don’t discount the importance of academic achievements and volunteer experience. Extracurricular programs may even have a place on your resume, especially if you had a leadership role.

Without a lot of solid job experience under your belt, you’ll want to call attention to any transferable skills you may have. For example, experience as a waiter or waitress can be quite useful if you’re applying for a job in sales or marketing.

It is crucial that you include any relevant information that might help you get the job, but you don’t have to include everything. Remove what isn’t relevant so you can focus on what is.

Most importantly, don’t ever lie or make up experience. If your resume includes experience you don’t have, your secrets are sure to come to light during the interview.

4. Utilize Strong Action Verbs

Your resume should command attention. After all, you want to sound strong, competent, and ready for the task at hand. Using action verbs  will help your resume sound convincing and make it stand out.

It’s also important to sprinkle in keywords taken directly from the job description. Having an understanding of industry jargon can help you stand out, and using the right terminology shows your attention to detail.

There is one word you should avoid at all costs: “I.” Instead of writing, “I oversaw a team of six employees,” you can simply write, “Oversaw a team of six employees.”

5. Stick to One Page

Unless you have years of high-level experience, keep your resume to one page. Recruiters and hiring managers review dozens, sometimes hundreds of resumes at a time. You have to get straight to the point.

It’s also crucial that your resume be easy to scan. Critical information, such as your contact information, should be easy to find. Important details should be clearly visible, not buried in lengthy paragraphs.

6. Update Your Social Media Accounts

Make a LinkedIn account and include the URL in your resume. Make sure that your LinkedIn account and resume are consistent in terms of dates, places, and details.

As for your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media accounts, review each one with care. Make your accounts private or remove any inappropriate content that you wouldn’t want a future employer to see.

7. Edit, Edit, Edit

Triple check your resume for unnecessary words, spelling errors, and grammatical mistakes. If you send out a resume riddled with typos, you’ll never get called in for an interview. When you think the document is perfect, ask some trusted relatives, coworkers, or friends to read it and provide their feedback.

If you’re not sure you can craft a perfect resume on your own, you can always hire a professional resume writer. However, no one knows your experience as well as you do, so at least give it a shot.

When you’re ready to apply for that first job, keep these seven resume tips in mind. With a strong, concise resume on hand, you’re sure to land the right job in no time!

Cat Thomas is director of marketing for Broadstone Brickell .

How to Write a Resume That Stands Out

You finally found it! The perfect job for you. Now, all you have to do to get the process started is to submit your resume. The problem is that hundreds of your peers are probably thinking exactly the same thing. How do you stand out?

You finally found it! The perfect job for you. Now, all you have to do to get the process started is to submit your resume. The problem is that hundreds or even thousands of your peers are probably thinking exactly the same thing about exactly the same job. So how do you create a one-page document that will make you and your accomplishments stand out from the crowd?

Your resume is a key part of the job application process: it is the first document that an employer reviews to determine whether they will interview and eventually employ you. Remember that employers often have very limited time to perform this duty. Crafting a strong resume really matters!

Resumes communicate who you are and what you have accomplished. They may be the only document an employer sees to evaluate your record before making a decision to move forward with your application, or they may be used in conjunction with resources like LinkedIn or professional networking profiles and/or a cover letter. A resume that “stands out” in a positive way is one that has been written thoughtfully, clearly and concisely, effectively communicating your abilities and strengths in a very brief space.

Six basic tips will help you build an outstanding professional resume. Note that resumes may vary by professional field (e.g. engineering vs. non-engineering), by location or by other factors such as professional degree. These tips are designed around some of the most common sections and most useful points for resumes across different types.

Tip 1: How to Write an Education Section that Stands Out

The education section demonstrates that you have the academic qualifications for the position. The key questions you should ask yourself while writing this section is, “Have I clearly communicated the strongest and most relevant aspects of my educational experience?” The next question is, “Is this section organized in a way that is easily readable by the employer?”

The education section is important for all applicants but may be weighted differently depending on how long it has been since you graduated from a degree program. For instance, an employer may have a different level of interest in the educational history of a college senior, compared to someone who has been professionally working for several years after college. Understanding this fact may influence where you choose to place this section on your resume.

In general, you should include all of the higher education that you may have had, including undergraduate, graduate, or professional schooling.  You may also consider including online courses, certificates, and completed programs through companies like Coursera. Most people list their experiences in an order called reverse chronological, meaning that they list the most recent experience first, and work backwards down the page.

For each listed school, provide the full name of the school or online program, the years of your attendance, your major or majors, if applicable, as well as a minor if applicable. Include the type of degree received (e.g. a Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science) and the year of graduation. If you are graduating soon, include the month and year of graduation so employers know when you will be available to work. If you have studied abroad, include the institution, program of study, and any relevant coursework.

You may want to include which semesters you qualified for special academic recognition, if any.  Other special awards, scholarships, or competitive grants can also be listed in this section. If you have non-academic awards, such as for sports or community service, you may choose to create a separate section of your resume for honors and awards.

Tip 2: How to Make the Experience Section Stand Out

Along with education, your experience is one of the most important ways to show that you are qualified for a position. Use this section to clearly convey your strongest professional experiences, whether paid or unpaid. Be sure to give detailed aspects of your roles and responsibilities for each listed position. Emphasize any relationships or similarities between your past experiences and the job you want. You should also include the start and end dates of your involvement with each organization, and any key accomplishments from the role. Don’t forget to include where the company is located, including city and state/province, or even country if different from your home country.

Ask yourself: while involved with the company, did I win any awards, get any special recognition, make new discoveries, start a new program? If so, what happened and what were the results? Quantify your experiences when you can! As the expression goes, “Show don’t tell.” In other words, you can more effectively convey a point by giving concrete examples, rather than through vague descriptions. Consider the following examples.

Instead of:

Improved worker productivity significantly, leading to recognition from upper management.

(A resume reader may ask: What does ‘improved’ mean? What does recognition mean? How much have you improved it by?)

Improved quarter returns by 25%, exceeding projections and leading to the Top Manager Award, given to only one manager in the company per year.

When it comes to language, be honest about your job functions while thinking of professional ways to present your experiences.

Sometimes people fall into a trap of thinking that their job or internship experience won’t sound impressive enough to list. The job may have felt like “sitting at a desk, answering the phone.” True, but you may have been performing other responsibilities or developing useful job-related skills without realizing that you were!

When you were at a desk, were you at the FRONT desk? Were you the only person or the main person in this position? Were you overseeing anything while you were sitting there? Were you the sole person responsible for any tasks? Did you have to learn how to deal calmly and confidently with any customer issues? Did people occasionally ask you to take on additional responsibilities, even for a short time?

It is fair to say that a person sitting at a front desk, may have been MANAGING the front desk, or even managing the desk when the person’s boss was away. Time during which an individual is placed in charge of a business or an office, even if for a limited time, can convey responsibility to a prospective employer.

Look at your accomplishment bullet and ask yourself:

• What did I do in the job?
• Using what?
• To what extent or impact?

Sometimes you may need to pare down your list in order to avoid making your resume too lengthy. Try to select the accomplishments based partly on how impressive they are and partly on how well they relate to the position you want. To describe your experience, always use more than one sentence or bullet. That said, word economy in your bulleted descriptions is also important. Try to keep each bulleted description or sentence to one or two lines at most. You can often rephrase a description, eliminating words while keeping the meaning. The more information you can present clearly and concisely within the short resume format, the more the employer will understand what you can do for them.

Remember that by providing relevant details in each statement of your experience, you will give the employer enough information to evaluate you and also provide them with ideas of what they might want to discuss with you in an interview.

Tip 3: How to Create a Leadership and Activities Section that Stands Out

For many people, especially students and recent graduates, a Leadership & Activities section can be a fantastic differentiator for your resume. If you have not been in the workforce for long, or if you have only worked summers and part-time, then you may not have much relevant content to add to your Experience section. A strong Leadership & Activities section can help you fill that gap while also telling an employer something about you as a person.

When creating the section, you should first consider what student organizations and activities you would want to include. Then, you should consider what you would want to write about each one. In general, this section is much like the Experience section, except that it is about what you have done in a personal, rather than professional, setting.

Of course, because student organizations and activities are personal, you should be careful about which ones you choose to list; they should be appropriate to a professional setting. For example, you should probably not choose to share that you were chosen “Top Drinker” of your college’s “Beer Keg of the Day” club. On the other hand, if you volunteered at a food bank, wrote for a school publication, or had a membership in an honor society, those accomplishments would be worth sharing.

Most importantly, you should include student organizations and activities where you have made significant contributions or held leadership positions. Just as you did in the Experience section, you should think about what you did in the organization, any responsibilities you had, any skills you used, and any knowledge you gained. If you made improvements to the student organization or activity, definitely include concrete examples. Make sure to consider if any of your experiences with student organizations and activities could be related to the position you are applying for. Could any of the skills you have learned be useful in the job?

Because student organizations and activities can offer students leadership opportunities and experiences that are often limited to experienced professionals in companies, this section is your chance to show not only that you are qualified for the position but that you have even greater potential. Make the most of this opportunity to show the employer what you can do!

Tip 4: How to Highlight Your Skills

Another important component of what defines an attractive candidate in the modern economy is their skill set. Because employers want people who can quickly start being productive, they care about what skills a job prospect has, particularly in certain technical fields. In most cases, skills are incorporated into the Experience section, if you acquired skills as part of your internship or job, and in the Education section, if you obtained the skills through coursework, research, or projects. Sometimes people with additional skills, such as technical skills, foreign language, or certifications obtained outside of university, will place them into a separate section at the end of the resume. Whichever format you choose, you still need to emphasize the skills you have, so that an employer can easily see how you can help them.

You should ask yourself a few important questions. What skills do I have? What skills are my target employers looking for? Are my skills hard skills (i.e. technical, like computer programming) or soft skills, such as the ability to listen?

Make a list! Separate the skills into hard skills and soft skills. What skills are most in demand (on both lists) for the position you are interested in (One good way to decide this is to look at job listings for many similar positions and note how often a particular skill is listed.)? How can you highlight your proficiency in these skills?

Lead with your strongest skills and/or the ones that seem the most marketable. Let’s say you know the programming language Python. How well do you know it? How many years have you used it? Do you have any specialized knowledge and ability that may set you apart from a competing applicant? Do you have demonstrations of your work anywhere for a prospective employer to see?

Here’s an example of a skills entry that might be included into the Experience section:

Programming: 8 years of experience with Python and similar scripting languages, wrote MyFirstPythonProject software available on GitHub

Useful tip: Artists may have portfolios for their artistic work. Examples of appropriate work, such as for coding, may not be a bad idea to have available in addition to a resume!

Even if your field is not technical, you may still have important hard skills. Do you have experience with popular office software, such as Excel, PowerPoint, or Access? Do you know any foreign languages, even at a basic level? Think about not only what might be required in the day-to-day performance of the job, but what other skills could potentially be useful to the employer.

You will want to include all the relevant skills to demonstrate your qualifications, without including too much less-relevant information which could distract from your message. Think carefully about which skills you want to include, and which could be left out. Remember to choose your words economically to maximize content in a minimum of space. With a little effort, your skills details can transform your resume from a simple list of accomplishments to a document that gets an employer thinking about all the great ways you could contribute!

Tip 5: Formatting and Making the Resume Look Professional

Believe it or not, the appearance and organization of a resume can greatly affect the response. The first hurdle for any resume is to get the employer to read it. An attractively presented, concise resume is easy for a recruiter to pick up. On the other hand, if a resume is 5 pages, written in 6-point font, a prospective employer may not think that it is worth the time to find a magnifying glass and read it. In most cases, a resume should not exceed one page (sometimes two pages, mostly for more experienced candidates, or in scientific and technical fields where publication lists can be lengthy), which has a few key sections that are separated from one another or clearly delineated.

Here are some suggestions to make the format stand out positively:

• Use 10-12-point font or larger. (10 point may even sometimes be too small, and the choice can depend on the chosen font.) Your audience should easily be able to read the size of the writing. Often prospective employers may not have perfect vision, so readability may create problems if the text is too small.
• Use a clean, professional-looking font. Don’t use fonts that are overly artistic and hinder the ability for the reader to understand them. Some find fonts like Times New Roman most clearly readable; others find competing fonts better. The font is just an aspect of the writing; don’t let it overpower the words themselves.
• Use respectable margins. Don’t try to deviate too much from 0.5 margins at either side. Also, don’t make the margins too large, beyond 0.75 or 1 unit on either side. Around 1 unit on the top and bottom should be acceptable.
• Use adequate spacing.
• Abbreviate months of employment.
• Include proper contact information. Most people include full name, address, email address and at least one phone number at the top of the document.

Tip 6: Revision and Review 

One of the most important steps to writing a good resume is having others you trust look it over. A small spelling or grammar error on a resume could cause problems by making it seem like you lack attention to detail.

You can start with standard spelling and grammar checking programs. However, while these programs are very helpful, they are not enough by themselves. For example, the programs may not flag errors with homophones (e.g. hair and hare). They also have difficulty with uncommon, technical, or foreign words that may not be in their dictionaries. In addition, they are not looking for formatting inconsistencies or at the overall appearance of the resume. While computer programs can help with many issues, there is still no substitute for the human eye.

Start by printing a copy of your resume and looking for errors and inconsistencies yourself. Then, present copies to others along with a description of the job or educational opportunity that you are applying for. When presenting your resume to others, consider at least two kinds of people: a peer, and an experienced professional or teacher. Each may identify different issues with the resume.

Ask the reviewers to provide two types of notes: technical revisions and feedback on the writing, organization and effectiveness of the resume.

Once you get feedback, discuss it with them for a few minutes. Remember, don’t take constructive criticism personally! They are trying to help you, and their points of view may be similar to that of the employer. Your goal is to create a resume that most people will appreciate.

Once you obtain proper feedback, you can work on improving your resume. Try to incorporate your reviewers’ suggestions. Their ideas may even make you think of other ways to improve your resume! Most importantly, always remember that once you have made your revisions, review your resume again before you send it out!

The stronger your resume, the better your chance of getting an interview and landing a meaningful job. Just by following these simple tips, you will be well on your way to resume success, creating a clear, detailed, and concise document designed to impress employers. So, get writing and get yourself noticed!

A good resume can help you land an interview, but even minor errors can take you out of the running.  Schedule an appointment with a counselor  to ensure it will be effective.

Quick Resume Tips:

• Use the position description to decide what to include.
• Pick a standard and consistent format.
• Describe your experiences with specificity and strong action verbs.
• Record accomplishments and contributions, not just responsibilities.
• Revise carefully!
• Don’t include personal information about your age, religion, health or marital status.
• Photos are generally not preferred for U.S. resumes.
• Typically, you will not be expected to share past salary information on a resume.
• Employers assume that “references will be available upon request,” so you don’t need to include them on your resume unless asked.
• Employers may use keyword scanning on resumes, so know what words are relevant to the industry and position and ensure they appear in your resume.

How to Get a Job Right Out of College

While your last days of college are here, it’s time to start thinking about that dream job. Whether you have work experience or not, these are some of the best tips to use when looking for a job . 

Here is how to navigate your way through the job search process and avoid making common mistakes that are popular among new graduates. This guide is designed to better prepare you to get a job as a recent graduate and eventually, land the job of your dreams. 

How to get a job right out of college

Gain experience during college.

While you are in college, you will have a ton of opportunities to gain experience. There are clubs, organizations, and other events to help you gain this type of experience. Plus, if you are not working an internship or part-time job this could be a great thing to put on your resume. 

Start networking!

If you start networking in college, it can make finding a job after graduation a lot easier. It is widely known in the business industry that you should start networking because half of the jobs offered to you won’t be advertised online. 

It is advised to start meeting people and making connections within your major and going to professional organizations. This type of networking will open a lot of doors and opportunities for you. 

Research the job market

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Researching the job that you are interested in and what the market needs is on way to narrow down your search. If you can provide employers with a new set of skills, it looks better on your end. 

This will also help you better understand what the market is looking for and it’ll increase your chances of getting hired if you are studying for the position. 

Be proactive

If you are looking to score a full-time job right out of college then you should be proactive within your search. Consistently be searching for a job in your major and follow up with anyone that hasn’t replied to you. Take it a step further and reach out to people on linked in and network to the best of your ability. 

Become a volunteer

If you become a volunteer for local companies you are not only creating networking opportunities but also opening doors for yourself to potentially get a job offered to you. This will also boost your communication and interpersonal skills.  

Attend job fairs

Another way to stay proactive in looking for a job to secure after college is by attending job fairs. There are plenty of opportunities when it comes to going to local events like this. Not only are you working on networking, but you are applying to jobs that pique your interest as well. The likelihood of you getting hired off a job at a fair is far superior to online. 

Create a portfolio

Take your experience one step further than a resume and create a portfolio. This is great when most of your experience is based on what you learned and worked on in college. Putting together a portfolio will also show employers what you are capable of. 

Get an internship

Another way to get introduced to the work field is by inquiring about an internship. With internships, you gain experience and also the environment of working for a company. Some internships are paid while others are not. In the end, you are gaining experience and networking within the work field. 

Get a part-time job

This is something to consider while in college. Sometimes it is completely unfeasible, but if you have the time, a part-time job is the way to go. Slowly gaining experience with an entry-level position and then growing into more once your college degree is completed. Remember that this can be a challenging task, and it is important to keep up with your studies, but you can very well loop in some experience too. 

Best Internships for High School Students in 2022

Click here to read more

Keep an updated linkedin

You don’t need to be in person to network. If you have a profile on LinkedIn, it is another great place to communicate with people in the same industry as you. Keeping your profile up to date is important, so post about all the projects you are working on and let people know that you have the experience that they could be looking for. 

Leverage career services

Visit the career center at your college. They provide services like interview practice and cleaning up your resume. Plus there are companies that will leave their information with the center in hopes to get college students to apply. This is one of the best places to find new job information especially because the people leaving behind their information are open to hiring college graduates. 

Take online courses

Along with learning skills in classes, there are also opportunities for you to take online courses and gain more hands-on experience. If you are doing additional work to learn the material it can also help you figure out if this particular major is the right one for you. That is ultimately helping you decide if it’s the right career path for you as well. 

Find a mentor

Having a mentor is common when you are attending college. They are someone that you can trust to give you guidance and constructive criticism. This person is ultimately someone you will look up to, it could be a teacher, friend, supervisor, or coworker. 

Level up your resume

Think about how many other people are sending in their resumes to the same job posting that you are. You want to make sure yours is clear and concise. Make yours pop. Make it memorable. There are tons of ways for you to make your resume pop out of all the rest. Once this is achieved, you are bound to get the job of your dreams. 

How to Write an Incredible Entry-Level Resume

Apply on the company websites.

Another way to ensure that your job application doesn’t get lost in the sea of others is to apply to the company directly through their website. Using big job boards can be a downside, whether they lose your application or it simply gets overlooked. Plus if you are applying through their website it shows that you are interested and took the extra time to go through a few more steps. 

Ensure you get the job of your dreams

After all of these tips, we hope you have an idea of how to secure the job of your dreams right after college. Don’t forget to research as much as possible, score an internship if you can, and network, network, network! 

If you need an advisor or career coach Prepory has a full team of coaches that are ready to help you land the job of your dreams. Our end-to-end career coaching program, Sprout, ensures individuals gain complete guidance for their job search. Our career coaches analyze, improve, and optimize everything from your resumes, cover letters, online presence, interview skills, and more. We help you build, thrive, and grow while earning the salary you deserve and propelling your career to greater heights.

• July 6, 2022
• Career Coaching , Entry-level , Misc

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College Application Resume for 2024 [With Examples, Tips & Template]

They say college is the most exciting time in a student’s life and we couldn’t agree more! 

The only thing standing between you and your dream university, though, is a college application resume.

You open the resume document, get ready to start writing…

And nothing comes out! After all, how can you even make a resume when you haven’t worked a day in your life?

Worry not - you don’t need any work experience to write a compelling college application resume. In this article, we’re going to teach you just how you can do that!

What Should a Resume for College Application Contain?

• 5+ College Application Resume Formatting Tips
• How to Write a Resume for College Applications?
• 3+ College Application Resume Tips

College Application Resume Template

So let’s dive in! 

Before we get into the knits and grits of writing a resume for college application, let’s first do a quick review of what your resume should contain: 

• Contact information , including your full name, address, phone number, and professional email.
• A resume objective , where you state the goal of your college application resume.
• Education section , where you list the history of your grades and exam scores.
• Relevant activities , including any work experience you might have.
• Skills relevant to a resume for a college application, e.g. soft skills such as active listening, interpersonal skills, communication skills, or hard skills such as public speaking, MS Office, or computer skills.
• Additional sections , such as awards and honors.

6 College Application Resume Formatting Tips 

Before we dive into the nits and grits of CV making, let’s talk about formatting. Here are our top tips on how to format your college application resume: 

• Choose the functional/skills-based resume format. This format is perfect for those who lack work experience , as it focuses more on your skill-set. If you DO have some work experience, though, then you can opt for the chronological format.
• Keep your college application resume one page long . As a rule of thumb, this is the optimal length for a resume—professionals with 10 years worth of work experience stick to the 1-page limit, so there’s no excuse for someone with little to no work experience to go overboard.
• Add plenty of white space , especially around your resume’s margins. It will make your resume look less cluttered and more reader-friendly.
• Include clear section headings and use the same heading for each section.
• Use an easy-to-read font. Some resume fonts (such as Ubuntu or Overpass) are resume friendly—professional-looking, easy-to-read, and yet modern. Others, like Comic Sans, are just one big NO.
• Save your college resume as a PDF. You might be used to Microsoft Word, or even think it’s the safest alternative, but MS Word has a good choice of messing up your resume format if opened in different computers or operating systems. PDF files, on the other hand, remain the same no matter what computer opens them.

How to Write a Resume for College Applications? (With Examples)

Once you’ve got the formatting done right, it’s time to get to writing your college application resume.

In this section, we’ll walk you through that process, starting with:  

#1. Order Your Contact Information the Right Way 

As we already mentioned, your college application resume should start with your contact information. 

These are your contact information section must-haves :

• Full name and address
• Functional phone number where you can be reached.
• Professional email address, preferably consisting of your first and last name.

And here’s what this looks like in practice: 

Sharon White

123 Main Street

New York, NY

Phone Number: 553-123-1234

Email: [email protected]

#2. Write an Attention-Grabbing College Resume Objective

A resume objective is a 2-3 sentence long paragraph that should communicate your motivation for getting into college or for studying a specific major.

As such, a well-crafted resume objective can instantly attract admission officers to read the rest of your college application resume. 

There is, however, a right and wrong way to write a resume objective.

A convincing resume objective is:

• Tailored to the university/major you’re applying to, instead of looking like a one-fits-all kind of statement that you can use to apply to several colleges.
• Highlights the achievements that give you an edge over the competition.  

The following example does that right: 

Aspiring journalist with a knack for creative writing looking to deepen their knowledge through NYU’s renowned Journalism track. Founder of my high school’s first online newspaper, the ‘Daily Prophet,’ which now has over 2,000 subscribers. Hardworking, with a grade A average in social sciences and commitment to improving. 

Now compare it to the following resume objective, which although articulated looks like a one-fits-all kind of statement that you can just insert into several college applications. 

Very committed high-schooler with a calling for social sciences. With an SAT score of 1400, a passion for psychology, and experience as a peer counselor, I am confident that my hard work and motivation will shine through as a college student. 

See, the resume objective is your chance to show exactly why you want to attend that college, right from the start. 

So, even if you don’t have many achievements to highlight, make sure to personalize your statement by expressing a genuine interest in your application.  

#3. Put Weight on Your Education

Taking into consideration that, as a student, you most likely lack significant work experience, your education is the first thing admission officers will look at. 

As such, you should give your education its due importance in your college application resume. 

For starters, make sure to include this must-have information:

• Your high school’s name and location
• The date of your graduation

In addition, though, combine that with some relevant achievements that can make your education pop out. 

Let’s take a look at two examples. The second student has simply listed out the essential education information, whereas the first has taken their education section to the next level. 

Dunnellon High School FL

2017 - 2021

• 3rd place at the International Mathematical Olympiad 
• Vice-President of the Science Club
• SAT Scores: 1350 (650 Verbal, 700 Math)
• SAT Scores: 1400

#4. Showcase Relevant Activities

Extracurricular activities have a great number of benefits when it comes to your college application resume. Most importantly, they:

• Demonstrate you who are outside of the classroom
• Provide an opportunity to showcase your skills

Any activity and/or interest related to the college you’re applying to has a place on your college application resume,  but you don’t have to necessarily stop there. 

Any kind of interest, field, or activity where you’re good at can be of benefit to your application. 

That’s because it can prove that your interests are not focused solely on your favorite subject or desired career path and that you are engaged and well-rounded . 

So, don’t just list your college resume activities dryly (e.g. “reading” or “swimming”). Instead, be specific and creative about your interests, and rest assured that you will get extra points for diversity and commitment. 

Don’t believe us? Compare for yourself how the activities sections of two different students look like: the first has put minimal effort into it, whereas the second has put his A-game into writing it.

• Passionate about science
• Co-founder of the Astrophysics Club

Activities 

• Two-times winner of my high school’s Science Fair
• Co-founder of the Astrophysics Club, finalists of the MIT-founded THINK challenge
• Swimmer from an early age and member of my high school’s swim team during junior and senior year 
• Traveling; I have so far visited 10 countries and 15 states in the USA. 
• Photography, with a focus on architectural photography. 

#5. Highlight Your Work Experience

Now, if you’ve spent your summer holidays working any type of job for teens , that means that you also have some work experience under your belt. 

Although work experience is not necessary when you’re applying for college (meaning that you won’t get left out of college if you don’t have any), it does help to include it if you have it. 

Here’s how to list work experience in your college application resume:

• Start with the company name (e.g. if you worked at Starbucks), your job title, and the period you worked there. 
• Put your job title first if you worked, say, as a high-school tutor or camp counselor. 
• Include 1-2 of your main responsibilities in bullets. If you have achievements to show for, however, make sure to put them first.  

Let’s see how that works in a practical example.

Starbucks Coffee 

• Awarded employee of the month for 3 months straight
• Fielding customer complaints and questions
• Maintaining good customer service and speedy delivery

Even if the above position isn’t related to the student’s desired field of study, the work experience still highlights some of their skills such as commitment, time management, effective communication, and motivation.  

#6. Include Your Skills 

Skills—we all got them, but not everyone knows how to demonstrate them effectively in a college application resume. 

There are two things to consider when you include skills in your college resume:

• Know the kind of skills that are relevant to your major/field.
• Prove your skills, instead of just listing them 

Let’s show you how that works through practical examples:

• Time management
• Critical thinking

Are these great skills for a college applicant? Sure! 

But anyone can claim to have those skills (and frankly, most people do).

Rather than just listing these skills, you want to also back them up with achievements and experiences like so: 

• Attention to deadline: managed to update the high school’s online newspaper daily
• Leadership: successfully led a team of 6 reporters.
• Creativity: won the 2021 Young Writers competition 
• Self-motivation: founded the high school’s first online newspaper

Now, this is a skills section on a college application resume that proves you deserve a spot in your favorite university.

College application resume skills 

Wondering which skills to include in your college application resume? Here’s a list to draw some inspiration: 

Soft Skills

• Good judgment 
• Open-mindedness
• Communication  
• Self-motivation
• Interpersonal skills
• Active listening
• Problem-solving

Hard Skills

• Computer Skills
• Programming
• Public Speaking

#7. Use These Additional Sections

If you’ve followed all our tips till now, congrats - you’re around 90% into creating a top-notch college application resume.

Now, let’s talk about how you can take that to 100%!

In addition to the conventional resume sections we’ve covered till now, you can include the following to help you stand out in a sea of other applicants:

• Awards. Here, you can list any awards won in competitions (spelling, art, storytelling, math, etc). 
• Volunteer experience . Did you clean up your town, or maybe you volunteered at an animal rescue center as a high school student? Any kind of volunteering can help your college application resume because it shows you’re a responsible community member. If it’s somehow related to your field or future major, that’s a big plus. 
• Projects. Be them individual (e.g. you built a website from scratch, or started an informational podcast), or school-related (e.g. an art portfolio for a class, or a history documentary), projects can show that you’re passionate and creative. 
• Sports. Poet Juvenal said “ a healthy mind in a healthy body. ” This means that physical exercise is an important part of mental and psychological well-being (which is why sports in a college application resume make all applicants look good). Do you excel at specific sports? Include them in your resume!. 
• Languages. Being fluent (or even just a beginner) in a foreign language is another plus for a prospective college student. Make sure to show it in your college application resume. 

5 College Application Resume Tips

Finally, here are some of our college application tips that didn’t fit anywhere else in the article:

• Be direct and to the point. Your college application resume is not the right place to show how many SAT-level words you know. Keep your language simple, direct, and to the point. Let your achievements and results speak for themselves. 
• Don't lie about your academic background or accomplishments. Lying about the awards you’ve won or your achievements won’t get you into college. More often than not, admission officers will see through your lies by asking behavioral interview questions . 
• Proofread your college application resume.   Spelling and grammar mistakes can make you appear like a less serious applicant. Imagine telling recruiters that you have great SAT scores and GPA but having spelling mistakes in your resume. Kind of contradictory, isn’t it? To avoid these kinds of mistakes, use spelling and grammar apps such as Grammarly and Heminway . 
• Have one or more people look at your resume before you send it out. There are kinds of mistakes that Grammarly or Hemingway cannot catch. To avoid such mistakes, have one or more people that know you give your college application resume a look. 
• Emphasize specific achievements over general responsibilities. As mentioned before, emphasizing your achievements over your responsibilities is the best way to set yourself apart from other candidates. The reason is that your achievements effectively show how well you handle responsibilities and they are uniquely yours.

Making a resume from scratch can take what feels like ages—especially if it’s your first time doing it.

You’ve got to tweak the formatting. 

You make a change at MS Word and the layout falls apart in front of your eyes. Or you end up using a bland and outdated template. 

Well, you don’t have to worry about any of these things with Nóvóresume’s free resume templates . 

With 8 free templates to choose from - college application resume included - you don’t have to worry about anything other than inputting your information.

Let our resume builder do the rest! 

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap on college application resumes. We hope to have made the process of writing yours easier and even more enjoyable. 

For good measure, let’s go over the main points we covered: 

• Your college application resume should contain the following sections: contact information , personal profile , education section , relevant activities , your skills , and additional sections , such as awards and honors. 
• In terms of formatting, the functional resume template fits your college application best. Additionally, make sure to keep your resume one page long and save it as a PDF. 
• Write a resume objective that doesn’t surpass 3 sentences and that clearly communicates your motivation for getting into college and your most relevant skills. 
• Make sure to give your education section its due importance by being thorough about your grades, SAT scores, and achievements. 
• Don’t forget to list all your relevant activities and passions, as well as soft and hard skills.
• Instead of writing your college application resume from scratch, use one of Nóvóresume’s ready-made templates to save yourself time and effort!  

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How to write a resume when you have no education [high school or college]

Landing your dream job can seem impossible when you don’t have a degree, and even more so if you haven’t graduated high school. As long as you can learn how to write a resume with no education, however, you should never hesitate to apply for the job you want. Plenty of people have had successful careers without any formal education, and you shouldn’t let this one thing hold you back.

As long as you have the right skills, the right experience, and a willingness to learn, you can succeed in any field without a degree. Writing a great resume with no education is only the first step.

This article will discuss:

• Writing a resume with no education
• Listing education on a resume with no degree
• Writing a resume with no high school education
• Writing a resume with no college education
• Deciding which sections to include on your resume
• Formatting your resume

• Pick the right resume format

Most resumes use a reverse-chronological format, with a Work Experience section that lists jobs from most recent to least recent. If you have some impressive experience to highlight, this format will work for you. A reverse-chronological resume allows you to focus your work experience over everything else, which can help when you don’t have much education to show.

If you would like to highlight skills over experience, you can also try the combination format . This resume format features a prominent Skills section, where you can highlight your best skills and competencies, as well as a reverse-chronological Work Experience section. If you have a strong skill set that you would like to showcase, you may want to use a combination resume.

• What sections to include on your resume when you have no education

The sections you should include on a resume with no education are:

• Contact information : Your name and contact details
• Summary : A brief summary of your key qualifications
• Skills : A detailed list of the skills that make you suitable for the job
• Work experience : A reverse-chronological list of previous positions, with job descriptions
• Education : Even if you haven’t completed any formal education, you can list your ongoing or incomplete education

For many job-seekers, these sections will be enough. If you have other qualifications you would like to highlight, however, you can also include:

• Awards : Any awards, achievements, or honours you have received
• Certifications : Licenses and other proof that you are able to do the job
• Volunteering Experience : Past or current volunteer positions
• Memberships : If you belong to any professional organizations, you may want to list them
• Interests and Activities : While this section is not necessary, if you participate in any impressive clubs or teams, it can help fill out your resume

The exact details of your resume will depend on your career, your experience, and the job you are applying for, but any information or qualification you think will improve your application should fit in one of these sections.

• How to write a resume with no high school education

Writing a resume with no high school education can be a challenge, but it can be done with the right strategy. Many people have had successful careers without graduating high school, and they all had to start somewhere.

When you're writing a resume with no high school education, you'll need your other resume sections to do the heavy lifting. Focus on your skills and experience instead of your education.

You should still include an Education section, however. If there is no Education at all, the employer or applicant tracking system may think that you have uploaded an incomplete resume and reject your application. It’s better to include the section, even if it requires some explanation.

If you are still in high school, or are pursuing your GED as an adult, you can note this in your Education section. Simply include that your education is in progress, and list the date that you expect to graduate.

If you dropped out of high school, you can list the dates you attended and note that your certification was incomplete with the dates you attended. Then, you can list any other education you may have received. This might be workshops, seminars, apprenticeships, online courses, and any other training. Self-directed education and on-the-job training can be very impressive to employers.

• How to write a resume with no college education

Writing a resume with no college education means putting your skills, experience, and achievements in the foreground. While you should still list your education, it will not be the focus of your resume.

If you never attended college or university, simply list your high school education.

If you started a degree but didn’t finish it, you can include the dates you attended and describe some coursework as long as you note that your degree was not completed. You can make even an incomplete degree sound impressive if you describe the courses, research topics, or important projects you were a part of during your time in college.

You can also include non-college education, such as certificates, licenses, workshops, online courses, and more. All of your education is important to your career, even if it wasn’t at a college or university.

• How to write a resume with no education: a step-by-step guide

Writing a resume with no education will take some effort, but by following these steps, yours will be done in no time. Here is a step-by-step guide to writing a resume with no education.

#1. List your contact information

Your contact information should be right at the top of your resume. Your contact information should include:

• Phone number
• Email address
• City and state/province
• Relevant social media

No matter what else you include on your resume, your contact information has to be easy to find. Your resume won’t do you any good if hiring managers don’t know how to contact you.

Make sure your email address, as well as any social media accounts you link to, are professional and appropriate for work. If you link to a Twitter or Facebook account, for example, double check to make sure your online behaviour will be acceptable to any company who sees it.

When you have no education, an online portfolio can be an important asset. Linking to a Github profile or online profile with examples of your work is a great way to show that you can do the job, even if you are self-taught. If you have impressive work that you can link to online, linking to it in your contact information is a good idea.

#2. Write a resume summary

A summary is a short paragraph or bulleted list that highlights:

• who you are as a candidate
• what skills and specialties do you bring to the job
• your key achievements or qualifications

A resume summary is an essential part of a resume with no education. It's an opportunity to make a great first impression with your resume and underline what you can bring to the company.

Your summary should come right at the top of your resume, and it should be good enough that anyone who reads it wants to keep reading.

#3. Highlight your skills

When you don’t have much education to discuss, your skills section is a very important part of your resume. In fact, this may be where you want to put most of your effort. A great Skills section can show that you have what it takes to succeed at the position, even if you learned these skills yourself.

To really emphasize skills, you can create a heading for each skill type, with examples of skills, tools, or achievements underneath. A Skills section like that could look like this:

Professional skills

Graphic design

• Designed logos, gifs, animations, and branded content for website
• Proficient with Adobe Suite, Crello, and CorelDraw
• Developed various promotional materials including catalogues, flyers, business cards, posters, product packaging, and merchandise

Web development

• Expert in HTML/CSS, JavaScript, Ruby, PHP, Python, and Java
• Front-end development for eCommerce websites
• Developed documentation on ReactNative to onboard new team members

SEO & Content writing

• Used Moz and Ahrefs to research keywords and topics for clients
• Write highly-technical, SEO-friendly content for company blog
• Used targeted keywords and pillar content to increase website traffic by 400%
• Managed team of seven people for content management and web development department
• Trained and mentored interns and junior developers

If you prefer something shorter, however, you can simply list your skills in a single bulleted list. The exact format of your Skills section will depend on your specific resume.

#4. Describe your work experience

A robust work experience section is vital for a resume with no education. Alongside the skills section, the work experience section will form the main body of your resume.

You should list previous positions in your work experience in reverse-chronological order, beginning with your most recent job and working backwards. Each item in your work experience should contain:

• Position or job title
• Company name
• Bulleted list of accomplishments and duties in the role

Each job description is very important to the success of your Work Experience section. As you describe each role, try to use quantifiable achievements as much as possible, such as sales numbers or customer success scores. This will make your experience sound credible. You should also use active language as much as possible so that you sound like a productive employee with leadership abilities.

A Work Experience section might look like this:

Work Experience

Game programmer.

17-Bit , Seattle, WA June 2016 - March 2022

• Write code for games using C++ and Java for domestic and international market
• Extensively test code and game before beta release
• Work on several projects simultaneously, communicating with team and management to ensure deadlines are achieved
• Write code reviews and compiled documentation
• Supervise and mentor junior devs and interns
• Assist CGI team in research and development of new technologies

ABC Games , Lynchburg, VA Oct 2010 - June 2016

• Recruited from the internship in bug testing department
• Provided feedback and testing for several successful games
• Developed several simple first-person shooters that reached the top 20 on the AppStore
• Coding 2D and 3D graphics for our flagship puzzle game

#5. List awards and honours

Your work history and skills will be doing most of the work in your resume. If you have any other qualifications you would like to showcase, however, you should create a section for them as well.

If you have received any awards, honours, or rewards in previous positions, you can describe them in an Awards section. This is a great way to show that you have done well, and been recognized for it.

Awards & Achievements

• Digital Marketing Awards: Designer of the Year 2019
• Achieved promotion to manager at DigiMarketing in 2020
• Feature articles on marketing in Forbes, Advertising Age, and Marketing Week
• Improved traffic by 350% for well-known challenger shoe brand, resulting in seven-figure revenue growth

#6. Education

Exactly how important your education is will depend on your industry.

If you want a job as a doctor or professor, for example, your education is very important. In fact, you will likely need to get a degree before you apply for one of these jobs.

In other careers, however, you don’t need a formal education to succeed. For most jobs, your skills and experience are much more important than your education. As long as you have skills you can showcase, you don’t need to rely on your education to land a job.

There are a few ways you can approach writing a resume with no education, depending on your circumstances.

1. List incomplete or in-progress credentials

If you are still in school, you can note this in your education section. Simply explain that you are still pursuing your education and note the date you expect to graduate.

If you started a degree that you don’t intend to finish, you can still mention it in your resume. You may not want to use too much resume space on an unfinished degree, but listing some relevant courses, projects, or research areas can be an asset to your resume, even if you decided not to complete your degree.

2. List alternative education or on-the-job training

Some of the most important education comes from less formal educational settings. You can list certifications, conferences, bootcamps, workshops, on-the-job training courses, online courses, and more in your education section. In some cases, education that you pursued on your own can be more impressive and more relevant than what you learned in school.

In the example below, the candidate includes their unfinished university courses and a 12-week bootcamp. The bootcamp is more recent, more relevant, and more impressive, so it is listed first.

Flatiron Coding Bootcamp New York City (online)

• 12-week course (Spring 2021)
• Software development

BSc in Mathematics with Computer Science (incomplete) MIT, Cambridge, MA 2019 - 2020

Earned credits towards a degree. Coursework included:

• Introduction to Programming 1 & 2
• Fundamentals of Computation
• Data Science
• Operating Systems
• Tips for writing a resume with no education

Once all of your sections are in place, you can begin writing your resume. Here are some tips to get started:

Use a professional resume template

One of the best ways to ensure your resume looks perfect is to use a resume template. To make sure your skills and education get the attention they deserve, a two-column template like VisualCV’s Gallant or Slate templates are ideal for resumes with no education. You can place your Skills and Experience in the larger main column, and keep your Education section shorter in the narrower side column.

Some candidates feel that they won’t get a job if they are truthful about their lack of education. However, even a resume with no high school education can get interviews when you have a great resume summary, skills, and work experience.

Lying about your education is a bad idea. These records are easy for employers to check, and you won’t get an offer if you get caught in a lie. Honesty is the best policy.

Apply, even if you don’t meet the stated requirements

Companies aren’t always as strict as the job posting would make them seem. The minimum requirements listed in the job posting are often more of a wish list than concrete requirements. You might be the right candidate, even if you don’t have the exact degree they requested.

As long as you are confident that you can do the job, there’s no reason not to apply. If your skills and experience have prepared you for the role, your resume will reflect this, even if you don’t have the education.

Community Success Manager & CV Writing Expert

Ben is a writer, customer success manager and CV writing expert with over 5 years of experience helping job-seekers create their best careers. He believes in the importance of a great resume summary and the power of coffee.

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Overcoming MBA Admissions Challenges

If you are feeling overwhelmed or intimidated by the MBA admissions process, you’re not alone. The MBA admissions process is intense and can be difficult to navigate. However, understanding common MBA admissions challenges can help you avoid potential pitfalls. In the end, preparing for them is the best way to feel confident when it comes time to submit your applications.

Undoubtedly, the MBA admissions process is competitive, and MBA admissions statistics can be particularly daunting. On average each year, MBA admissions rates at top schools hover between 6% to 20%. These MBA admissions statistics are so competitive, in part, because the MBA is one of the most sought-after degrees in the United States.

In the long term, a Master’s in Business Administration can help individuals accomplish everything from getting a promotion or raise at work to starting a company or nonprofit. As such, many students apply, including international students.

So, what can you do to stand out as a competitive applicant? In this guide to MBA admissions challenges, we will provide you with tips to ace the MBA admissions process.

In this guide, we’ll discuss:

• The different pieces of the MBA admissions process and how to meet MBA admissions requirements 
• Common MBA admissions challenges, with strategies for how to overcome them
• Tips for acing the GMAT and GRE
• Writing strong MBA admissions essays
• Tailoring your MBA resume for each of your MBA programs
• Preparing effectively for your MBA interview
• Financing your MBA
• Creating an MBA application strategy, including when to apply

With this guide, you’ll have the tools you need to make your MBA application stand out from the rest. 

Understanding MBA Admissions Requirements

Whether you are trying to ace Columbia MBA admissions or Stanford MBA admissions, there are some common requirements you’ll likely encounter. Here are the most common MBA admissions requirements:

Transcripts

MBA admissions officers want to see that you have been able to complete rigorous coursework. Therefore, MBA program applications require your transcripts from prior institutions. Your undergraduate GPA is also an important factor. While there is no minimum GPA needed to be admitted to an MBA program, a higher GPA will make you a stronger candidate. Later, we will discuss an average GPA based on MBA admissions statistics and how you might offset a low GPA in your application.

Without a doubt, essays are an important part of your MBA application. This is because the top MBA programs in the world care deeply about building a diverse, creative, and thoughtful incoming class. Most MBA programs ask for at least one essay. Others, like Stanford MBA admissions, ask for two essays. In this instance, students must complete an essay about what matters to you and another about why you want to go to Stanford . The Stanford application also offers optional short answer questions you can complete to provide more context on your application.

Your MBA program resume should showcase your skills and past experiences, acting as a roadmap for how you’ll achieve your future goals. We will share more tips for crafting a strong MBA resume in future sections.

GMAT/GRE scores

GMAT and GRE scores are the equivalent of ACT and SAT scores for college admissions. Many MBA programs accept both the GMAT and the GRE. While some MBA programs do not require GRE/GMAT test scores, the top MBA programs in the world all do. There is no minimum GRE or GMAT test score required to get into an MBA program, but higher scores show that you are prepared for the rigor of an MBA program.

Letters of Recommendation

In MBA admissions, letters of recommendation play an important role in verifying that you are a strong candidate. In a future section, we will discuss who might be best suited to write your letters of recommendation for graduate school.

MBA Interviews

Once a program has determined you’ve successfully fulfilled the requirements outlined in your initial application, you may be invited for an MBA interview. While not all applicants are invited to interview, those who are will need to prepare, as the interview can make or break your application. We will share tips for acing your MBA interview later.

While these are the most common MBA admissions requirements, remember each program has its own unique set of requirements. For example, while Columbia MBA admissions requirements include GRE or GMAT test scores, the UCLA MBA admissions requirements do not. 

Make sure to reference each school’s MBA admissions website to verify requirements and plan for how you will complete them. For applicants leading busy lives, you can take advantage of MBA admissions consulting services, like CollegeAdvisor, to ensure you meet the requirements.

12 Common MBA Admissions Challenges

Given the competitive nature of the MBA admissions process is competitive, creating a compelling and complete application is no simple feat. If you want to get into a school with low MBA admissions rates, you’ll need to spend adequate time ensuring your application is airtight. 

For this reason, there are many MBA admissions consulting services in existence. CollegeAdvisor is one of them, offering several resources to help guide students through the MBA admissions process. Here are some common MBA admissions challenges you may face, which MBA admissions consulting services like CollegeAdvisor can help you overcome:

1. Selecting the right program

With the increasing popularity of the MBA program, there is an ever-expanding number of options to complete your MBA. In addition, there are different types of MBA programs that focus on different MBA subjects. To start, try to focus on your top 3 priorities for a program and identify schools that fit those needs. If your top three priorities are low cost, a part-time option, and a focus on nonprofit leadership, that can drastically help in narrowing down your options. An MBA admissions consulting service can help you narrow down your priorities and identify the right programs to apply to.

2. Crafting your resume

A strong MBA resume will have some similarities to a job resume, such as being a neatly crafted and clearly written document highlighting past experiences. Additionally, any MBA admissions consulting service will tell you your MBA resume also needs to demonstrate that you have the skills necessary to succeed in a variety of MBA subjects. You’ll want to research the programs you are interested in and tailor your resume to demonstrate that you have the qualities the program is looking for. If they are seeking leaders, then emphasize your leadership experiences.

3. Securing recommendations

Sometimes, students struggle to find someone who can write a strong recommendation letter for graduate school programs like an MBA. These letters of recommendation need to showcase your strengths and be written by a reliable source, preferably of a professional nature. The best recommendation will come from a direct supervisor, someone you have worked closely with who can speak to both your character and work performance. If you can’t find someone with whom you recently worked, consider expanding your list to former supervisors from internships or volunteer roles.

4. Taking the GMAT or GRE

Nervous about getting a high enough score on the GMAT or GRE ? You’re not alone. Many students find test-taking to be one of the most daunting aspects of the MBA admissions process. To do well in this area, explore both tests to see which one might be a better fit for you. Allocate at least 80 to 100 hours to prepping for them, and be prepared to take them more than once if need be.

5. Writing compelling essays

Without a doubt, writing strong essays is an important and difficult part of the MBA admissions process. Start by zooming out to understand your story, values, goals, and strengths better via brainstorming exercises. Then, start to identify examples and stories that illustrate these parts of yourself. Remember, MBA applicants are typically college graduates with real-world, professional experiences. Your essays should reflect your maturity, drive, and eagerness to grow and develop your career trajectory.

6. Clarifying your goals

While it might sound like a good idea to get an MBA, the reality is that doing so is a huge investment of time, energy, and money. Therefore, making sure that getting an MBA aligns with your goals is key. Before you even begin to apply, consider what you are hoping to accomplish personally and professionally by getting an MBA. In doing so, you’ll also be engaging in one of the top MBA essay tips, which is to brainstorm before writing.

7. Highlighting your strengths

Sometimes, students don’t know what their strengths are or how to highlight them. In addition to spending time reflecting on your strengths based on prior experiences, ask friends, family, classmates, or mentors to help you identify some of your strengths. Often, an external perspective can be very eye-opening.

8. Addressing weaknesses in your profile

Undoubtedly, there is no perfect MBA applicant. Perhaps as you prepare your application, you begin to worry about your GMAT test scores, your writing abilities, or your letters of recommendation. Rather than focusing on these weaknesses, identify how to strengthen the other parts of your application. Since applications are assessed holistically, one aspect of your application can boost your overall application significantly. 

9. Staying on track

As we went over, there are numerous MBA admissions requirements. If you are busy working or studying, it can be hard to keep on top of all of them. This is where MBA admissions consulting companies like CollegeAdvisor can help. We can provide you with a plan and accountability for staying on top of the process.

10. MBA application fees

Perhaps you are ready to apply and just realized how expensive the MBA application fees are. Indeed, some programs charge hundreds of dollars just to apply. If the cost of applying is overwhelming, consider requesting fee waivers from schools. Some programs, like Harvard MBA admissions, automatically waive your fee if your income is under a certain amount.

11. Nailing your MBA interview

Invited to an MBA interview? The first step is to prepare. In contrast to undergraduate college admissions interviews, MBA interviews hold more weight in the process. Therefore, you’ll want to spend time brainstorming responses to common questions and memorizing a few examples of accomplishments that demonstrate your strengths. A good MBA admissions consulting service can help you prepare so you can ace your interview with confidence.

12. Paying for your program

Once you are admitted to your program, you’ll need to figure out how to afford the tuition. In addition to searching for scholarships both within and beyond your school, you’ll want to complete the FAFSA so you can qualify for lower interest federal loans. While the cost may cause sticker shock, remember that depending on the type of MBA and your future goals, you could end up earning a much higher salary by earning your MBA. Ultimately, an MBA is an investment in your future, but it’s one you need to thoroughly prepare for.

Now that we have introduced some of the most common MBA admissions challenges, we’ll explore how to overcome them in greater detail.

Crafting a Compelling MBA Essay

Just as essays are critical in the undergraduate admissions process, the MBA essays are equally as important. In this section, we’ll provide some crucial MBA essay tips.

To begin with, the majority of top programs require a “Why MBA” essay. For example, the Harvard MBA admissions requirements include a 900-word essay that asks you the following: 

We invite you to share personal or professional experiences from your background that give you a unique ability to contribute to HBS. Try to remember to not overthink or overwrite in this essay; it is best to answer the question in clear and concise language that those of us who don’t know your world can understand.

In other words, this essay prompt is asking you to describe your specific experiences that also make you a good fit for the MBA program at Harvard . When answering this question, and other “Why MBA” questions, remember the following MBA essay tips:

MBA Essay Tips

Highlight your strengths.

A compelling essay showcases what makes you unique. Rather than focusing on what you think admissions officers want to hear, share what authentically makes you, you. For example, maybe you moved around a lot as a kid and learned how to adjust and build relationships quickly. While you can also name challenges you have overcome, make sure to highlight how they have taught you lessons that will aid you in being successful in your MBA program.

Discuss your resume

In your essay, reflect on past experiences that are on your resume which demonstrate your strengths or how you have grown. Be careful not to repeat too many details that are on your resume. Rather, think of the essay as a time to give more context and color to your professional history. You can also use the essay as a space to explain any gaps in your resume, such as time spent not working. Indeed, share what you did during this time and how it contributed to your personal or professional growth.

Demonstrate cultural fit for the program

As we mentioned, there are many types of MBA programs, each with their own culture. As you write your essay, identify ways to demonstrate your own alignment with the program. For example, if a program seems globally focused, consider emphasizing ways in which you have contributed to or connected with global causes. 

Polish your writing

Lastly, but very importantly, a compelling MBA essay must be written clearly and concisely. Ask multiple people to read your response to check for proper grammar and to tell you if your response effectively answers the prompt.

Now that we have reviewed some common MBA essay tips, let’s look at another common challenge – testing.

Overcoming Test Anxiety for GMAT or GRE

As MBA admissions rates become more competitive each year, you may feel even more pressure to do well on graduate school exams. The GMAT and GRE are both competitive exams, and both tests are accepted by many MBA programs. One test is not better than the other, but they are slightly different in format and focus. Ultimately, you’ll want to take the exam that makes more sense to you.

Along the way, you might encounter test anxiety. MBA admissions statistics show that applicants to top MBA programs tend to have an average of 730 out of 800 on the GMAT. As a result, test anxiety is completely normal. However, there are ways to mitigate it and get a good score. Here are some helpful tips for overcoming test anxiety.

GMAT/GRE Test-Taking Tips

Identify the source of your anxiety.

Does the timed nature of the exam stress you? Are you overwhelmed by testing conditions? Do you get lost in thinking about how this one exam could determine your whole career trajectory? Determining the source of your anxiety can help you specifically address it, so you can focus on finding solutions that work for you.

Identify anxious behaviors

Anxiety can manifest in a lot of different ways. Some students overstudy, spending far too long engaging in practices that aren’t fruitful. Maybe you are focusing way too much on the GMAT and ignoring parts of your life or application. Are you focusing too much on the future? Comparing yourself to others? Once you identify your anxious behaviors, you can identify ways to interrupt them.

Practice positive habits

Once you have identified what is unhealthy, seek out ways to manage your anxiety with positive habits. Develop a study plan with small goals, or engage in health habits like mindfulness practices, eating well, and getting sleep. You can also engage an MBA admissions consulting service for tutoring support.

While your GMAT and GRE scores are important, so is your recommendation letter for graduate school. Next, we’ll look at who should write your MBA recommendations.

Who should write your MBA recommendations?

Like all letters of recommendation, your recommendation letter for graduate school should be written by someone who knows you well and can speak to your unique qualities and strengths. One key difference is that your MBA recommendation should generally be written by someone who knows you in a professional context, such as a manager or supervisor. This is because MBA programs are looking for practical skills like leadership, teamwork, and communication skills as much as they are looking for academic ability.

For example, UCLA MBA admissions requirements ask for two letters of recommendation from individuals who know you in a work setting. To help applicants, UCLA offers a letter of recommendation form that gives a sense of what kind of information they are looking for. If your current job situation doesn’t allow you to ask for a current supervisor to recommend you, ask a previous manager from past companies, internships, or volunteer organizations.

Strategies for Mitigating a Low Undergraduate GPA

Indisputably, MBA admissions statistics reveal that an average undergraduate GPA for applicants accepted to top MBA programs in the world is at least 3.5. However, as this is an average, there are successful applicants who had lower GPAs. So, how did they get in?

The answer is that MBA admissions are holistic in nature. As such, schools are looking at your application in its entirety. While a low GPA won’t preclude you from getting into an MBA program, it does require you to strengthen other elements of your application. This is where MBA admissions consulting, such as that offered by CollegeAdvisor, can be particularly helpful. 

Tips for Balancing Out a Low GPA

Get a strong gmat/gre score.

Strong test scores show your dedication to success and that you have the necessary foundation and skills needed to succeed in graduate-level coursework.

Acquire glowing letters of recommendations

With compelling letters of recommendation, you can highlight your best qualities and strengths in a work environment. Skills like leadership, teamwork, and communication can’t easily be reflected in a grade point average.

Build an effective MBA resume

A good resume can show your accomplishments outside of the classroom. With a strong resume, you can demonstrate commitment to growth, hard work, and contributions in the workplace.

Next, we’ll look at how to tailor your resume to different types of MBA programs.

Tailoring your MBA Resume

To ensure your resume can overcome low MBA admissions rates, make sure to tailor it for each of the programs to which you apply. Here are some tips for building an effective MBA resume.

MBA Resume Tips

Highlight your strengths and achievements.

While you probably have many strengths and accomplishments, highlight those that are most aligned with the MBA subjects you are hoping to pursue. For example, if you are applying to an MBA focused on entrepreneurship, demonstrate moments when you created or led initiatives within your roles. 

Demonstrate measurable impact

The most effective MBA resumes are specific about the candidate’s impact. For example, instead of saying you helped grow the company, state that you increased sales by 50% and successfully managed a team of five new employees. 

Keep it scannable

Though it might be tempting to submit a ten-page resume with every activity you have ever done, by doing so you will quickly lose an admissions officer’s attention. Keep your resume to a single page, making it easily scannable by using keywords that are also on the program’s website.

Thankfully, some schools like Yale School of Management offer templates for MBA resumes. After drafting your resume, take advantage of MBA admissions consulting to get feedback on the effectiveness of your resume.

Preparing for your MBA Interview

With MBA admissions statistics showing quite competitive MBA admissions rates, you’ll need to have a successful interview to gain admissions. And, similar to your essays and recommendations, the MBA interview is a crucial part of the MBA admissions process.

In fact, your interview is one of the best ways to show MBA admissions your personality as well as why you are the perfect fit for their program. Therefore, like every step in the MBA admissions process, you’ll want to prepare to make sure that you’re giving your best MBA interview possible. In fact, you’ll want advanced preparation for this important step of the MBA admissions process. 

Even if you’ve aced previous job or internship interviews, you’ll need to do ample research to stand out to your MBA admissions interviewer. Research the specific program to which you are applying and note aspects that stand out to you. Why do you want to gain MBA admission to this specific program? You should also prepare some questions to ask at the end of the interview. 

Practice makes perfect

Most importantly, you’ll need to practice for your MBA interview. Think about how you’d answer difficult questions. In fact, we recommend preparing your answers to common MBA admissions interview questions so that you won’t be blindsided when you’re in the MBA interview.

You might even simulate an MBA interview with a friend. Look up common MBA admission interview questions and have them ask you. Treat the simulation like the real deal and practice giving your best answers. You don’t want to simply memorize your answers, but you do want to know how you’d respond to varying questions.  

Additionally, look to your MBA resume to help you think about aspects or experiences you may want to highlight in your MBA interview. How can you work your unique experiences, backgrounds, and interests into your responses to common MBA interview questions? Since the MBA interview is such a vital part of beating the competitive MBA admissions rates, prepare accordingly! Look to our guide on MBA interviews to be sure you give your best interview.

Managing MBA Application Deadlines

The MBA admissions process is extensive. Therefore, applicants will want to give themselves at least a few months to prepare. That being said, many of the most competitive candidates start preparing over a year before the deadline! You’ll have some choices when it comes to the MBA admissions deadlines , so you’ll need to decide which works best for you. 

MBA admissions deadlines will vary based on the specific program. However, generally, all MBA programs have three different rounds of deadlines. Here are the general deadlines for each round: 

• Round 1: September and October
• Round 2: October to January
• Round 3: January through April

Aim to apply to your top-choice programs for Round 1 and 2 deadlines. If you don’t gain MBA admissions to those programs, then you can apply to your safety schools in Round 3. Additionally, Round 2 generally has the largest applicant pool. So, you’ll increase your MBA admissions odds by applying to your top program in Round 1.

Alternatively, by Round 3, MBA admissions teams aren’t giving out many offers as most of the top candidates were admitted in the first two rounds. In general, MBA admissions aren’t rolling. However, you could be deferred from Round 1 to Round 2 where your application will be reviewed again and either accepted or rejected. 

Staying organized

As you may note, choosing and meeting your MBA admissions deadlines is extremely important to gaining admission to your dream program. You’ll want to stay organized in order to meet each deadline for your top programs. Applicants can create a calendar with deadlines or other application milestones to stay on top of program requirements .

For example, you may have a deadline for taking the GMAT or GRE , requesting a recommendation letter for graduate school, finishing essays, etc. Again, MBA admissions consulting services can help students meet their deadlines and stay organized throughout the application process. If you know you struggle with these aspects, and can afford to do so, then you might look into MBA admissions consulting services to keep you on track. After all, you won’t be a part of any future MBA admissions statistics if you don’t submit your application by the deadline!

Choosing the Right MBA Program

Since the MBA admissions process is tedious, you’ll want to be sure that you’re in love with the programs you’re applying to. While many MBA programs often offer similar MBA subjects and coursework, there are many types of MBA programs catered toward certain areas of interest. Therefore, you’ll want to thoroughly do your research on a program before starting their MBA admissions process. There are plenty of lists of “Top MBA Programs in the World”, however, that doesn’t mean they’re your best fit! Likewise, MBA admissions rates aren’t always the most telling factor of the best programs for you. 

Finding the right fit

Finding the best program for you is similar to finding your dream undergraduate school. You’ll want to consider a variety of factors such as location and cost. However, you’ll also want to look into the program type and focus. While many MBA programs offer similar MBA subjects and courses , some specialize in certain areas. For example, some programs are better for entrepreneurship than others.

Think about your future career goals. Do you want to work at a large corporation or have a start-up? Is there a specific business area that most excites you? Consider the reasons you want to complete an MBA and then search for programs that align with those preferences and values. 

You’ll also want to think about the campus culture. Does it align with your values and interests? While MBA admissions can feel intense, actually completing an MBA will also be time-consuming and intensive. Therefore, you’ll want to be sure that you like the campus, facilities, and faculty leading the program. 

Always keep in mind important admissions requirements as well, and factor them into your application process. For example, UCLA MBA admissions requires not just one recommendation letter for graduate school, but two recommendation letters for their MBA program. 

Financing your MBA degree

When considering gaining MBA admissions, you’ve probably thought about the cost of the education that you’re about to embark upon—and if you haven’t, you should. Choosing to pursue an MBA is no small investment. In fact, it’s one of the most expensive Master’s degrees that you can pursue. Therefore, an important step of the MBA admissions process is figuring out how to pay for your MBA. 

Average MBA cost

According to a recently published Forbes’ article , on average, an MBA degree costs around $60,000. However, the cost will vary depending on your program, scholarships, etc. An MBA could cost anywhere from $30,000 to $120,000. Of course, many factors will affect the cost of your MBA, such as if you’re applying in or out of state. Additionally, more ‘prestigious’ programs will have a higher price tag. For example, if you gain Harvard MBA admissions you could pay over $230,000.

Options for financial assistance

However, some employers will actually help you pay for your MBA. This is an excellent option as it offsets the overall costs. Keep in mind that if you go this route, your employer will likely have other requirements that you have to complete. For example, Bank of America employees are reimbursed yearly up to $7,500 for courses related to their jobs (this includes MBA subjects or courses). However, they must have been employed for at least six months and have earned a B or higher. Other employers have different requirements. Usually, though, the benefits outweigh the cons. Some companies even offer full reimbursement for an MBA degree!

Of course, if financing your MBA is a concern, you should look to scholarships and financial aid as well. Some programs will have better opportunities than others. Or, you may be able to find outside scholarships and funding. Check out our guide specifically on MBA Scholarships & Financial Aid to learn all about getting help with funding your MBA. 

Making your MBA Application Stand Out

While an MBA is one of the most common Master’s degrees, it’s certainly not easy to gain admission to top MBA programs. That’s why it’s important to make sure that your application stands out from the crowd. However, to impress an MBA admissions team, you’ll need to know what they look for.

It may come as no surprise that MBA admissions are looking for candidates with strong leadership skills . Luckily, there are many ways to show this such as demonstrating leadership roles or a specific initiative you took on a project. As an MBA applicant, you may have ample work experience and specific career goals—these should be highlighted throughout your application. 

Additionally, academics are important when it comes to getting into the best programs. Therefore, you’ll want your GPA to be competitive. You’ll also need to prepare to take the GMAT test, a standardized test specific to the MBA admissions process. Take it early on in case you need to test multiple times to improve your score. 

And, be sure to use all the MBA essay tips you can find! Some top MBA programs in the world even offer their own essay tips . The essay is another way to enhance your application narrative and highlight your leadership skills. Be sure to prepare and keep in mind MBA essay tips from knowledgeable sources. Of course, the best MBA essay tips will be to use your unique experience to show why you belong in the specific program you’re applying to. No two essays will read the same as they should be personal, while still giving important insight to the MBA admissions teams reading them. 

Being authentic

Of course, being authentic and honest throughout your application is important. MBA admissions doesn’t want your application to read as though it was written by a business-focused robot. Use the application to show who you are. However, don’t stray from the topic at hand: gaining MBA admissions. Highlight your skills while also showing your personality and tenacity. The MBA interview is especially important in showing MBA admissions who you are and why you’re a perfect fit for their program. 

Of course, always research the specific program to see what it’s looking for in applicants. While most look for similar qualities in candidates, there are nuances to which you can cater your application. For example, Stanford MBA admissions evaluate “how you think, how you lead, and how you see the world.” On the other hand, Columbia MBA admissions looks for candidates who have a strong work ethic, are ready to build professional and personal relationships, and want to use their chosen field to make an impact on the world.

Applying as an International Student

There are all types of MBA students, including international students. Much of the MBA admissions process is the same whether you’re an international or domestic student. However, there are some important differences that international students need to keep in mind when considering their MBA admissions requirements. 

Similar to everyone, international students will need to submit transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays, and the GMAT test. Just like other applicants, international students will want to demonstrate their unique qualities and experiences that make them a perfect fit for the MBA programs they’re applying to. 

However, international students will also need to complete an English proficiency test (if it’s not their native language). Also, while the same MBA interview and MBA essay tips apply to everyone, international students should note that they’ll have virtual interviews. Therefore, there may be some nuances in your approach to the interview. Although, the general preparation will be quite similar. 

Most importantly, if granted MBA admissions, international students will need to apply for a visa in order to complete their studies! If you’re concerned about the interview and other aspects of MBA admissions, international students may look to find MBA admissions consulting. These experts will help you with everything from essays to interviews. MBA admissions statistics show us that MBA admissions rates are quite selective, so gaining expert advice can only help your chances!

Asking for help from MBA Consultants

Looking at MBA admissions statistics, you’ll find many of the top programs have acceptance rates between 10-30%. Whether you’re looking to gain Harvard MBA admissions or UCLA MBA admissions, you’ll want to do everything you can to give your application an edge.

For some students, this may simply mean giving yourself ample time to prepare your application. This includes practicing for the MBA interview, researching and applying MBA essay tips, and making sure your application has a cohesive narrative. However, other students may want to enlist the help of MBA admissions consulting professionals. 

With MBA admissions so competitive, MBA admissions consulting is becoming more popular. MBA admissions consulting is similar to any type of college counseling. The job of experts providing MBA admissions consulting is to help you craft your most competitive application. An MBA admissions consulting professional will guide you through the entire MBA admissions process. 

Benefits of MBA admissions consulting

There are plenty of benefits of MBA admissions consulting, but probably the biggest one is that these services streamline the application process. Of course, MBA admissions consulting experts won’t complete your application for you—but, they’ll guide you every step of the way, which alleviates a lot of stress for many applicants. With so many admissions requirements, MBA admissions consulting services will keep students on track, organized, and prepared to meet their top programs’ deadlines. 

MBA admissions consulting experts also help applicants prepare for the most stressful parts of the application process: the MBA interview, GMAT/GRE, and essays. The best MBA admissions consulting experts will likely have you do a mock interview with them to prepare for the real thing. And, with such extensive experience, an MBA admissions consulting expert will also provide the best MBA essay tips. They know what works and doesn’t and will be able to help craft your most competitive application. Additionally, they can give you some pointers on taking standardized tests and alleviating some of the anxieties that may come along with these types of exams. 

CollegeAdvisor has a team of experts who can provide MBA admissions consulting. They’ve helped hundreds of students get into their dream programs. In addition to personalized MBA admissions consulting, CollegeAdvisor also has plenty of free online resources. So, take advantage of the many guides and articles available when preparing to apply for an MBA.

Planning your MBA Admissions Strategy

No matter if you’re applying for Stanford MBA admissions or Columbia MBA admissions, your application strategy should center around answering these two questions: “Who are you?” and “Why should you be accepted to the program?”

Of course, every aspect of your application must work together to answer these questions. When crafting your application, think of every requirement as an essential piece of the puzzle. Without one piece in place, MBA admissions won’t have a full, accurate picture of you as a candidate. Here are a few final tips to help you plan your MBA admissions strategy:

MBA Admissions Tips 

Reflect upon your experiences.

Self-awareness is an important aspect that MBA admissions look for in their candidates. They want to see applicants who are committed to both personal and professional growth. Consider your unique qualities: What are your strengths? How has your background shaped your values? What have you accomplished? What are your future goals? All of these questions should be answered upon reading your application. Self-reflection is the first step to get you started in your MBA admissions process. 

Be selective

While looking at lists or articles about the best MBA programs may help you get motivated, it’s not the best way to find the perfect program for you. After reflecting upon what you want from a program, you’ll be able to seek out those that will meet your preferences, needs, and interests. Additionally, consider the program’s admissions requirements. Do you have the scores and grades to be competitive? Do they offer your area of interest and focus? Can you foster important and meaningful connections there? There are plenty of types of MBA programs, so you can certainly find the perfect fit for you!

Start early

There are many moving pieces in an MBA application. You’ll need to stay on top of deadlines and ensure you submit all of your requirements in a timely manner. Be sure to take the GMAT test or GRE test early in case you need to improve your score . Also, you’ll want those scores available when seeking out viable programs where you’ll be a competitive candidate. Start researching programs and building important relationships with recommenders well before round 1 application deadlines. Additionally, look for opportunities to grow and develop in your current position. Not only will it give you important experience, but it will help enhance your MBA application.

With so many students interested in top MBA programs in the world, there are plenty of resources to help you when applying to all types of MBA programs. Take advantage of them! For example, look at successful essay examples or interview tips from accepted students. This information is readily available online and even on some schools’ admissions sites.

You might also look to see your MBA admissions statistics by using this calculator —you can even see your chances by specific programs. And, whether applying to Stanford , Harvard , Georgetown , UCLA , or any of the other top MBA programs in the world, you’ll want to make sure you have time to prepare your materials and craft your best application.

MBA Admissions Challenges – Final Thoughts

Navigating everything from the GMAT or GRE to interviews to essays may feel like a huge undertaking. However, you’re not alone! Plenty of students take on an MBA each year, meaning they also made it through the competitive application process.

In this article, we covered the many parts of an MBA application including the resume , essay, recommendation letter for graduate school, and cost. We also looked at ways to make your application stand out—even if you have a low GPA or GMAT/GRE scores.

We understand that applying for an MBA is a lot of work, but CollegeAdvisor is here to help you through the application process. Use our online library of free resources to help you with everything from honing your test-taking skills to creating an application narrative. And, if you’re interested in personalized attention, one of our advisors can create an application strategy to help you get accepted to your dream MBA program, guiding you through each step of the admissions process.

This article was written by senior advisor Courtney Ng and Sarah Kaminski. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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