By Kristen Walsh
The MBA résumé — required of most graduate schools’ MBA application process — is one of the first impressions you make to admission officers. And given the volume of résumés hitting their desks, it’s critical to make yours stand out.
“You can use your professional résumé as the basis for the MBA résumé, but you should tailor it toward an MBA application — much like you might tailor your résumé to different job positions,” says Gordon Berridge, associate director of graduate admission at Bentley.
Most graduate schools, including Bentley’s MBA programs, accept both the American résumé and the international style of the curriculum vitae (CV); the right choice depends on the region you live and your professional background.
Whichever one you choose, Berridge suggests following these guidelines:
1. Use Basic Formatting
If you’re artistic, great. But when it comes to your résumé and CV, keep formatting simple and traditional. Save creativity for your portfolio (depending on the program you're applying for).
Berridge recalls one MBA résumé that had numerous odd boxes with bullet points. “It was confusing, and challenging to stay focused on the content.”
Recruiters spend only six seconds reviewing a résumé. Admissions counselors will give your résumé more attention, but you need to make it easy for them. Create a document that is legible, with easy-to-follow formatting. Use space wisely. (White space is good and helps readability.)
2. Follow the Correct Length and Language
Berridge has received résumés and CVs in foreign languages. When you’re applying to American MBA programs, keep all text in English — that includes the résumé, essays, recommendations, transcripts, and so on.
As for length, that varies depending on where you are in your career. If you’re a recent college graduate with limited work experience, stick to one page; Seasoned professionals can expand to two or more pages. Remember, usually the shorter, the better.
For international applicants, a CV can be multiple pages, as it includes a lot more information than a traditional American-style résumé.
3. Make a Brief Statement of Intent
Real estate is tight, but Berridge likes seeing a brief statement at the top of the MBA application résumé about why you’re applying for an MBA. What’s your goal? How will an MBA help your career thrive?
Need inspiration? Think about summing up topics you covered in your MBA essay.
4. Incorporate the MBA into Job Descriptions
Within the job descriptions, describe your accomplishments, and then specify how an MBA could have affected the results. Example: “I manage five people and here’s how an MBA could help . . .”
Also tie in how your accomplishments and experience could contribute to the MBA program.
“In addition to professors, MBA candidates learn from other students around them — their experiences, backgrounds and cultures,” says Berridge. “What kind of value do you bring?”
5. Highlight Transferrable Skills
Be sure to include transferrable skills in your job descriptions: examples of how you’re effective with collaboration, leadership, entrepreneurship, problem solving and innovation, etc.
6. Be Honest
If you left a job to study, say so! Example: “For the last six months I've been focusing on studying for my GMAT, studying for my TOEFLs and applying to grad school.” Include this as one of your job descriptions to show counselors how seriously you are taking this process.
7. Avoid Abbreviations and Industry Lingo
“As much as I try to stay on top of everything, our program accepts people from all different experiences and I can’t delineate the nuances of every industry,” says Berridge.
He received one résumé, for example, from an engineer who used abbreviations throughout the document. “It was hard for me to understand and measure accomplishments because I wasn’t familiar with the terminology.”
If there’s a term that shows up throughout your résumé and you want to leave it in, define it or give the full meaning the first time you use it. But do this sparingly.
8. Proofread
Be sure there are no grammatical and spelling errors. Enlist a colleague or friend to proofread, too. (This rule of thumb applies for all areas of your application.)
“Decide what looks good to you. What is pleasing to the eye and easy to read?” asks Berridge. “We accept MBA résumés from people with all different levels and types of experience. Make it easy for us to learn what you do and how it ties into our program.”
This résumé will also come in handy when you decide to apply for funding — learn where to find MBA scholarships.