How to Craft the Perfect MBA Application Resume

Crafting a standout resume is crucial in the MBA application process. Much like a job application resume, your MBA resume should be specifically tailored to fit the business school and program you're targeting. As important as it is, the resume is only part of the MBA application process. Each component of your business school application should reinforce and complement the others.

In this blog, we will explore essential components of an MBA application resume to help you get into your dream MBA program, including strategies for highlighting academic and professional achievements, design best practices, and common mistakes to avoid.

There are many parallels between creating a polished, targeted MBA resume and a successful job resume. Ideally, your resume will provide a snapshot of your professional journey, highlighting your potential contributions to the program and demonstrating your readiness for the challenges of an MBA curriculum.

Before diving into writing your MBA application resume, ensure that the MBA program aligns with your career goals and values. Once that's established, thoroughly understand all admissions requirements for the program, which will help you tailor your resume and successfully complete your business school application.

• Contact Information: Include your name, email, phone number, and LinkedIn profile.
• Work Experience: Detail roles with quantifiable achievements in reverse chronological order.
• Education: List degrees, institutions, years, and relevant honors or GPAs.
• Skills: Technical and business-related skills that enhance your application.
• Additional Achievements: Certifications, awards, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work.

Opinions vary on whether to include a professional summary or objective in your MBA resume. Some experts advise omitting it to save space for more substantial content since your mission is already clear—to gain admission to the MBA program.¹ If you choose to include it, focus on how your skills and qualifications align with the MBA program's unique requirements, detailing your interest in the program and potential contributions to the university.²

Your MBA application resume is a powerful tool to demonstrate to the admissions committee that you grasp what the program offers and are an ideal fit. Accurately aligning your professional experiences and aspirations with the core values of the business school and MBA program creates an impactful narrative that resonates with the admission committee. Tailoring your resume to reflect this alignment showcases not only your qualifications but also your proactive commitment to integrating the program’s offerings into your career trajectory.

When showcasing your academic background on an MBA resume, clarity and relevance are key. Present your degrees in reverse chronological order, detailing the degree type, university, and years attended. If you have extensive professional experience, place the academic information section after your work experience in the resume. Recent graduates should consider positioning it earlier in their MBA resumes to highlight academic strengths.

Essential Points and Omissions: Include honors like GPAs, awards, and scholarships but skip high school information unless it represents a significant achievement.

Extracurriculars and Related Activities: Mention leadership roles in campus organizations or business clubs, and any concurrent work activities that demonstrate commitment and initiative. Highlight these to present a well-rounded profile including technical skills and soft skills valued by MBA programs.

Certifications and Additional Coursework: Position certifications within the education section of your business school resume. Or, if they add value to other experiences listed on your resume, you can use a standalone section with a header like "Additional Qualifications." Include the name, abbreviation, issuer, and date —e.g., "Project Management Professional (PMP), Issued by PMI, June 2022." Feature only relevant coursework that aligns with MBA skills, detailing projects or skills gained, which can demonstrate preparedness and focus.

Effectively highlighting your business acumen and work experience is essential for a strong MBA resume, as business schools seek students who can contribute meaningfully to classroom discussions and projects.

Highlight leadership and management roles to demonstrate your ability to lead teams and drive success and tailor your discussion to reflect an understanding of your chosen MBA program's values. For example, you would want to highlight activities illustrating leadership development, strategic thinking, and collaboration for Seattle U's Online MBA.

Emphasize your business achievements with quantifiable results. Focus on tangible outcomes, such as sales growth, process improvements, or successful project completions, rather than job duties. For instance, including metrics like revenue increase or enhanced productivity provides clear evidence of your impact.

Not all significant achievements can be conveyed in numbers. Highlight relevant achievements and soft skills, especially those that align with the MBA program's focus, by summarizing your actions and results.¹ An example could be "Streamlined workflows through innovative process development, significantly enhancing cross-departmental collaboration and efficiency." These accomplishments can reinforce your compatibility with the MBA program as well as highlight leadership skills.

Design your MBA resume to be professional and easy to read. Use classic fonts like Arial or Times New Roman at a 10-12 point size. Ensure plenty of white space with 1" side margins. Consider bullet points and simple graphics or charts for clarity, but maintain a clean, polished look.¹

Opt for a one-page resume to maintain focus and ease of review. The best MBA resume format highlights your strengths and showcases your alignment with program requirements. Choose from these options:²

• Chronological for structured career paths
• Functional for skill-focused profiles
• Hybrid for diverse experiences

Some typical resume errors that MBA applicants make include excessive length or detail, the use of obscure industry jargon, failure to align your goals with the program values, and typographical mistakes. Many common mistakes arise from rushing, so take your time and review the business school's application instructions carefully to ensure your materials are on target.

• Keep your resume concise and focused on key achievements
• Ensure clarity and readability by using simple language and metrics
• Proofread for typos and grammatical errors. Sometimes it's helpful to read your document from the bottom to top to catch mistakes
• Double-check formatting consistency, margins, and spacing
• If time allows, put the resume aside for a couple of days then review it again
• Ask someone you trust to review your MBA resume for you

Following these guidelines will help you craft a polished, compelling and error-free MBA application resume.

If you want to develop your leadership skills and ties to the dynamic Pacific Northwest business community, consider pursuing the Online MBA at Seattle University. The curriculum is designed around leadership challenges and ethical business practices, preparing you to become a strong business leader with a holistic understanding of essential management practices and strategies.

An admissions outreach advisor will be happy to provide a knowledgeable review of your resume and answer any inquiries about the program or admissions requirements. Take the next step toward your rewarding career as an ethical business leader with the Seattle University Albers School of Business and Economics.