MBA Application Tips

MBA Resume – 11 Expert Tips, Format, Mistakes to Avoid, Sample Template

Your resume serves as a window into your professional life, showcasing your achievements.

MBA Application TipsSeptember 1, 20248 min read

Your resume is a critical component of your MBA application, serving as a window into your professional accomplishments and potential.

4 Reasons Why MBA Resumes Are So Important

Snapshot of accomplishments: The MBA admissions committee wants to see what you have accomplished in your career thus far — job titles, responsibilities, and significant achievements.
Communication skills: Your resume is often one of the first things an admissions committee reads. Communicating clearly and concisely makes a strong first impression.
Leadership potential: Many MBA programs look for candidates with strong leadership qualities, and a resume is an ideal way to showcase these skills.
Strategic thinking: Admissions committees want to see evidence that applicants can think critically and make sound business decisions.

11 Resume Tips to Impress the MBA Admissions Committee

Length: Your resume should be one page long. You can go up to two pages if your work experience is more than 8-10 years.
Chronological Order: List your professional experience in reverse chronological order. Start with your most recent job.
Focus on Achievements: Focus more on achievements, not just responsibilities.
Use Action Verbs and Quantify: Use specific numbers and percentages to quantify your accomplishments.
Clean Format: Choose a simple, clean format that is easy to scan.
Font Selection: Good fonts include Arial, Tahoma, Times New Roman, Verdana, and Helvetica. Font sizes: Name 18-24pt, Headings 14-16pt, Body 11-12pt.
Highlight Academic Achievements: Prominently feature your GPA, test scores, and other academic accomplishments.
Highlight Leadership Experience: Business schools are looking for leaders — showcase any leadership experiences.
Demonstrate Interpersonal Skills: Describe situations where you have effectively worked with others.
Showcase Problem-Solving Skills: Give examples of times when you have identified and addressed problems in the workplace.
Include Extracurricular Activities: Strong extracurricular activities help your application stand out.

Mistakes to Avoid While Creating an MBA Resume

Too much information: Your resume should be no more than one page and focus on your most recent and relevant experiences.

Technical jargon: Avoid using jargon or acronyms the committee might not be familiar with. Use clear and concise language throughout.

Generic phrases: Avoid clichés like "team player" or "hard worker." Instead, highlight unique accomplishments and skills that make you stand out.

MBA Resume Template

One-page resume
Leave some white space for reading comfort
Pick a readable resume font
Lock in margins at one inch
Write sections for Education, Experience, and Extra-Curriculars
List jobs in reverse-chronological order
Save in PDF format

What Makes a Resume Good or Bad?

Good Example (Objective):

"Results-driven marketing manager and MBA applicant with 2+ years of experience and solid leadership skills, seeking to add value to Kellogg School of Management's class. As marketing manager at XYZ company presided over 20% average revenue gain for 17 clients."

Bad Example (Objective):

"MBA school applicant with strong skills in leadership, marketing, digital marketing, and strategy. A hard worker and a strong student, driven to excel."

Good Example (Experience):

Marketing Manager — XYZ, Inc, Bengaluru, India | 2017–Present

Led a marketing team of 10 employees to create cross-platform campaigns for 17 corporate clients
Used email marketing best practices to increase the open rate by 30%
Raised conversion rates by 18% by using targeted campaigns
Presided over an average of 20% in revenue gains for 17 clients, raising revenue by $1.3M per year for one client