How to Write an Effective MBA Resume

When you apply to a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, you’ll likely be required to include a resume to support your application. MBA resumes differ from those you would submit when applying for a job. Understanding the purpose of an MBA resume and how to write an effective one can help your application stand out.

What is an MBA resume?

An MBA resume summarizes your qualifications for a Master of Business Administration program. Most business schools require a resume as part of the application process, and it helps shape the admission committee's initial impression of you as a candidate. This is why it is important to know what to include in the resume and to take your time writing it.

MBA resume vs. professional resume 

Although an MBA resume and a professional resume both list your experience and achievements, they each serve a different purpose. The professional resume highlights skills and experience that make you qualified for a specific job within an organization. For example, your professional resume likely includes the following:

• Recent or relevant job history

• Volunteer experience relevant to the job

• Strong action verbs

• Accomplishments relevant to the job

• List of relevant skills and certifications

Each item on the professional resume relates to the job you're seeking. The resume intends to show how you're qualified for the position and can benefit the company.

An MBA resume should also include a list of accomplishments and experience, but it should highlight your leadership abilities instead of your skills. The admissions committee wants to see that you have leadership potential and the ability to collaborate and impact a group of people. Some of the best MBA resume examples have the following information:

• Business achievements

• Leadership roles

• Most recent work experience relevant to a business career

• Results achieved as a team leader or project lead

Although the information on an MBA resume and a professional resume are similar, you should customize each resume to highlight your value. An MBA resume should tell the story of why you're the right candidate for business school.

How far back should an MBA resume go?

Your MBA resume should highlight your leadership skills developed through full-time work experience, internships, and other activities, so how far back it goes will vary depending on this experience. However, you should keep your resume to one to two pages, so detail only your most significant and relevant accomplishments during your professional career. 

What is the best MBA resume format? 

The format you choose for your MBA resume can impact your acceptance into the program. One of the most important guidelines to remember when formatting your resume is to keep it easy to read. Your resume may be one in a sea of thousands of applicants, many of which will include similar information. An easy-to-read resume helps the committee members pick up on what makes you stand out.

How long should a resume be for an MBA?

Ideally, your MBA resume should fit on a single sheet of paper and should not require more than two printed sheets. Too much information on the page can feel overwhelming to the people reading it. This means you may need to delete less relevant information from the page to keep enough white space and use an adequate font.

What to include in an MBA resume

The sections in your MBA resume will look similar to the ones you use on a professional resume. They may include the following:

• Contact information: Name, address, phone number, email address, and portfolio link

• Professional experience: Two or three recent jobs highlighting most significant achievements

• Education: Degrees earned with majors and minors, GPA, honors, and achievements

• Achievements and additional information: Extracurricular activities highlighting leadership skills

• Selected skills and certificates: Bulleted list of significant skills, such as business analysis or project life cycle management

Choose the most relevant information to include in these sections, with details that highlight your leadership abilities.

If you recently graduated from school and don't have robust work experience, you can expand the education section to showcase your leadership ability in your classes and internships.

How to stand out as an MBA applicant

The admissions committee will likely read thousands of MBA resumes. As you write, consider ways to differentiate yourself from the other candidates. These tips may help. 

Highlight your influence at work or school.

Business schools want students with a demonstrated record of positive leadership ability because they want graduates who run successful businesses. Successful leaders know how to influence people to bring about change within organizations.

For example, they prefer to see that you oversaw the implementation of a technology tool that boosted sales by 30 percent instead of a list of tasks you perform in your current job.

Include outcomes and results.

You should include concrete examples to demonstrate your leadership skills. For example, "I led a team of six people to develop an implementation plan for a customer relationship management system" is more specific than "I led an implementation team." Be sure to let the committee know what happened due to your leadership so they can see your work in action.

Make your resume easy to follow.

You may never know who reads your MBA resume. They may or may not be familiar with industry jargon. Keep the details you include as simple as possible and avoid industry-specific language that everyone may not understand.

Provide a broad look at your experience and skills. 

Let all facets of your character shine, including experiences outside of work and school, such as volunteering and community work. Don’t focus only on relevant skills and experiences.

The qualities that make someone a good leader extend beyond leadership roles at work. Showing the admissions committee that you're a well-rounded person can help. Include details about languages you speak, work you do in the community, sports and hobbies you enjoy, and awards you've won.

Enhance your MBA resume on Coursera

After you've put together an impressive MBA resume, put it to good use. On Coursera, consider earning the Master of Business Administration from Illinois Tech, where you’ll study cutting-edge topics such as artificial intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity. You can also boost your resume with a Professional Certificate. Through the Google Digital Marketing and E-Commerce Professional Certificate, you’ll learn how to measure marketing performance through analytics, present insights, and attract and engage customers through digital marketing channels like search and email.