When MBA applicants reach out to me, the first thing that I eagerly evaluate is the resume.
The snapshot of your professional accomplishments is the first impression.
Essays build on the resume.
Think of the resume as the Chapters of your story and the essays as the narrative.
In these 10 guidelines while editing the MBA Application Resume, we cover:
1) Responsibilities vs. Achievement
3) Exaggerating Role or IMPACT
6) Combining Multiple Achievements
7) Third-Party vs. in-house Validation
8) Complementing Extra-Curricular
9) Top of the class/team/organization
10) Addressing weakness with Pro-Activeness
1) Responsibilities vs. Achievement
Unlike traditional job resume where your responsibilities need equal emphasis as your achievement, the 1-page format in MBA Application requires highlighting only your achievements. The impact of your contribution or your team’s contribution should be measurable and connect with the larger objective of the organization.
2) Repeating Action Verbs
Applicants eager to highlight their leadership skills tend to repeat “Lead” over other action verbs, immediately conveying desperation in your application. No one finds desperate applicants worthy of Ivy league school. Display confidence by embracing diverse action verbs. Here is how we do that at F1GMAT’s resume editing service.
3) Exaggerating Role or IMPACT
This is an all too familiar pattern in MBA Application. Those who can’t convert accomplishments to numbers or find their contributions below par exaggerate their role or impact. It would be in the form of leadership roles or teams managed or the IMPACT the project had on the organization. Breaking down the IMPACT and comparing it to the revenue or size of the project would bring a realistic number to the resume – essential to convey authenticity.
4) Jargon
Most of our editing time is dedicated to translating Jargon for applicants in Finance, Technology Military and Engineering. Marketing and Consulting applicants don’t face this issue apart from a few terms on performance metrics. Unlike resume editing for jobs, an MBA application requires simplifying jargon for a general audience. We target the college-educated person as their vocabulary is the most used in popular discourse and media.
5) Irrelevant Achievements
The eye for positioning and understanding the difference between relevant and irrelevant achievements is essential to stand out. That comes through experience. Our focus has always been on highlighting aspects of the MBA applicant’s personality that is anti-thesis to the typecast and supplements the positive attributes of the typecast.
A military applicant is expected to be disciplined and goal-oriented. A creative streak is the anti-thesis to the typecast.
6) Combining Multiple Achievements
Applicants who did not do the brainstorming will separate two aspects from the same project as two different achievements. Due diligence in Finance could also translate to assisting clients in shortlisting the most feasible strategy. Both can be combined into a single achievement. Brainstorm with us, and you will find interesting achievements that are not obvious for your title.
7) Third-Party vs. in-house Validation
Any recognition from an industry body on your deliverable has weightage over awards from your employer unless it is a validation of your personal contribution. Search for mentions in media, recognition from an industry body/association/non-profit, and contribution for an open platform before highlighting internal awards.
8) Complementing Extra-Curricular
A strategy that has consistently worked in differentiating our clients is the highlighting of extra-curricular that complements the personality traits required for the professional role.
Finance persons managing Marketing
Consultants with excellence in public performance (improv, dancing, public speaking)
Accounting person with interest in skydiving and flying
Marketing person engaging in Investment discussions
9) Top of the class/team/organization
The admission team, with the resume, essays, GMAT score, and GPA, is evaluating your position among your peers.
You must provide information to validate or challenge their biases.
Top 1% in <x> competitive exam (read SAT, GMAT, other standardized tests in your country) will allay fears of your potential to contribute to a quant-heavy MBA program, especially if your GPA is below 3.2.
10) Addressing weakness with Pro-Activeness
A competent consultant can change the dynamics of the MBA application with clever ways to highlight traits that schools find valuable. However, there is a big caveat.
Any corrective steps you have taken to address your academic weakness (online courses) or an extra-curricular to demonstrate your diverse personality traits are valued over manipulation with words or phrasing.
Action speaks louder than words.
Start early. Take decisive action. Then edit your resume.
For Resume Editing, subscribe to F1GMAT’s Resume Editing Service
