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MBA Resume: Ultimate Guide To Upgrade Your Career (With Examples)

Posted on by admin
05
Jun

Adding a stellar MBA resume to your application can boost your chances of getting accepted into the program of your dreams.
Remember that your MBA resume is likely to be compared to hundreds of candidates’ resumes.
Each at the same level you are. The true way to stand out is through a remarkable MBA resume.

What is an MBA Resume?

An MBA resume may seem like your traditional resume, but it is quite different.

Your traditional resume will highlight your:

  • Contact information
  • Experience
  • Skills
  • Industry knowledge
  • Achievements

Comparatively, an MBA resume highlights all of the above plus your:

  • Business credentials
  • Teamwork skills
  • Leadership potential

Every inch of your resume should boost your credibility as an employee, a solid team member, and a great leader.
Your resume should scream that you are a star candidate among your competing applicants.

MBA Resume Objective – Importance of an MBA Resume in a Business School Application

But why exactly are MBA resumes used?
We have good old traditional resumes, so why should you create a dedicated MBA resume for your business school applications?
For one, it is the backbone of your applications.

It will showcase what you will bring to the organization should you be accepted to become a leader in the future.
Moreover, the information you add to your resume is sure to be included in follow-up questions during your interview.
If you nail your resume and give it the attention it deserves, you are in a better position to answer such questions.

Finally, your MBA resume will reflect your writing skills.

You shouldn’t just be accomplished; you should be able to share your accomplishments with clarity and coherence.

MBA Resume Format: What Should the Best MBA Resume Look Like?

Now that you understand the importance of an MBA resume for your business school application, we shall move on to how your MBA resume should look.
Formatting is crucial when it comes to naming your resume. A shabby, poorly formatted resume will reflect poorly on your skills.

On the other hand, a carefully crafted resume for MBA application with properly laid out sections and formatting will be preferred instantly.

a.    Length

The first thing to work on is the length of your resume.
If you submit any more than a single page, your applications may be rejected.
No recruiter has the time to read through any more than a single page.

Therefore, you need to carefully select the limited information that should be added to the list.

b.    Font & Spacing

The next thing to consider is your font style and spacing.
Don’t use fancy calligraphic or italic fonts on your resume.

Instead, go with the classic:

  • Arial
  • Calibri
  • Times New Roman

These are all great examples of classic font types.
When typing, try to keep your font size to 11-12 points. You can add slightly bigger 4-point fonts for headings.
Be sure to write your text broken up into small sections or bullets instead of a paragraph so it is spaced out.

This will make your MBA resume much more readable.

If your employer has any difficulty reading your resume or notices any formatting issues, they may not even go through the remainder of your resume.

c.     Color

Adding flashy colors to your resume may not be the best choice.
Flashy colors will distract the reader from the actual content of your resume, making them undesirable.
Stick to the classic black and white colors for your resume.
Alternatively, you can add a darker tone such as navy blue, burgundy, or dark green; these can complement your resume without taking away from the content.

d.   File type

The final thing you should give notice to is your resume file type.
If you are sending your resume as an image, it’s likely to drop in quality as you submit it through the application portal for your business school.

Instead, always send your resume in PDF format. It will never drop in quality and looks more professional.

What to Include in Your MBA Resume?

You understand how MBA should be formatted so your content can shine through.
But what content are we exactly adding to an MBA resume? Here is what you should add:

  • Your Contact Information: Your full name, professional title (or educational degree if you aren’t experienced), contact number, and email together with a link to your portfolio (if available).
  • Your Summary/Objective: Your summary should be a distinct accumulation of your experiences, what you hope to achieve and what you have achieved so far. It should be intriguing enough to pique the reader’s interest since it is usually displayed at the top of your resume.
  • Your Work Experience: You should enlist your professional experience in reverse chronological order, i.e., going from the most recent position to the oldest. For each position, enlist some key achievements or tasks you performed to highlight what you learned on the job.
  • Your Achievements: You can add in all types of extracurricular activities, business certifications, projects, clubs/associations, etc., that you believe will make you stand out. Also, remember to add relevant achievements. For instance, playing football isn’t a big deal, but leading a football team to multiple victories may be intriguing.
  • Your Skills: Preferably enlisted in bullets, you need to add some of your most important business or industry skills. It’s also recommended that you don’t go overboard when adding skills, 10 is the sweet spot, and any more will seem like you are overdoing it.

How do You Write an MBA Resume?

You are all set to write your MBA resume, but where do you start?
Here are some steps you can follow to write the perfect MBA resume.

  1. To start, remember that you need to build a resume around one page, so be as concise as possible. Avoid adding unnecessary details about your skills or your work experience.
  2. Instead, add the key information to help the assessing party easily analyze your qualifications. Go through our list above to see what content you should be adding to your resume.
  3. Make sure you properly format your resume to look professional and easy to read.
  4. Always prioritize your important points; when listing your experience or your skills, the most significant points should always take the lead.
  5. Quantify your achievements; add the sales or revenue you helped generate and the costs or time you helped save. Adding statistics will make your data more concrete.
  6. Try to add projects or teams you led to showcase your leadership.
  7. Finally, be sure to proofread your resume. Any errors that pass through will make a terrible first impression on the admissions team.

Should I Put My MBA GPA on my Resume?

Your grade point average is a score that represents your performance in your college/university.

There are some cases where putting your GPA on your resume may be a good idea.

For instance, if you are still at college or recently graduated, adding your GPA may be relevant.
Moreover, if you have a high GPA standing around 3.5 and above, you should add your GPA to your resume.

But where do you add the GPA?
Always place it next to your educational section in parentheses. Placing your GPA anywhere else wouldn’t be relevant.

Should You Put MBA Next to Your Name on Resume?

As we mentioned earlier, when you state your name, you should also include your title or educational degree.
So yes, if you have a Master’s in Business Administration, you should definitely include that next to your name on your resume.
An MBA degree isn’t easy to obtain and can therefore boost your credibility in the eyes of recruiters.

Should I Put MBA in My Email Signature?

Getting an MBA is a pretty big deal. So you can go on ahead and add it to your email signature.
Some might find this unnecessary, but it can greatly impact people who receive your emails.
They will be reminded that you have a successful academic history.

It will also put on a good first impression if you communicate with someone professionally and even more so if your degree is relevant to your job.

MBA Resume Skills

When creating your MBA resume, have you wondered what skills should be highlighted?
Some skills are more relevant than others when you consider your MBA experience.
For instance, you should always include skills that showcase leadership abilities.

Communication and interpersonal skills are also important; most employers look for graduates that can communicate clearly with those around them.

Thinking outside of the box or thinking strategically is also a core skill needed to stay afloat in today’s competitive market.

And finally, never miss out on your time management skills. People love punctual individuals.

Best MBA Resume Examples

The best way to start writing your MBA application resume is to look for MBA resume examples.
Take a look at David’s resume.

This resume is clear-cut, with all the information you need to assess his qualifications, plus David has added plenty of statistical data to showcase his achievements; this is always a bonus.

Next, take a look at Aria’s resume.
She’s created this resume using a fairly simple format making it easy to read and yet professional!