3 Strengths To Highlight In Your MBA Resume

One of the most critical components of the MBA application is your resume.

But what exactly do admissions officers look for in MBA resumes? Stacy Blackman, founder of Stacy Blackman Consulting, recently discussed three things that applicants should include in their MBA resumes.

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

MBA admissions officers seek out applicants who can demonstrate leadership potential. That doesn’t mean you have to have held a manager position or started your own company. Still, highlighting leadership experience—both formal and informal—is critical.

“If you formally manage one or more people, don’t leave that information out,” Blackman writes. “Even if you supervise and mentor someone informally, that should go on the resume as well. If you have played a role in training peers, subordinates, or even those senior to you (perhaps on a new type of software), include that on your resume. Anything that shows how you identified an opportunity and took the initiative is a great thing to have.”

CLEAR COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Soft skills, in recent years, have become a standard in MBA admissions. One of the most important soft skills is clear and effective communication.

Blackman suggests applicants demonstrate top-notch communication when writing up their MBA resume.

“Your MBA resume is prime real estate for showcasing savvy communication skills through crisp writing and well-chosen words,” Blackman writes. “You can make even the most mundane tasks shine as you bullet-point your professional accomplishments.”

SHOW GROWTH

Your MBA resume should show your trajectory of professional growth over the years. Blackman says highlighting new skills you learned or new responsibilities you picked up is key.

“You can convince the admissions committee that you have a track record of moving the needle by showing continual progression on the job and giving examples of when you went above and beyond your expected duties and delivered quantifiable results,” Blackman writes.

Sources: Stacy Blackman Consulting, Financial Times

Next Page: Approaching Kellogg’s Video Essays

Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Courtesy photo

How To Approach Kellogg’s Video Essays

This year, the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University is requiring applicants to answer three video essay prompts:

Video essay 1: Please introduce yourself to the admissions committee. – Consider this your opportunity to share what you would want your future Kellogg classmates and our admissions committee to know about you. What makes you, you?

Video essay 2: What path are you interested in pursuing, how will you get there, and why is this program right for you? – This is an intentionally broad question so you can answer honestly and meaningfully. We want to know why you’re pursuing an MBA and why you’re choosing a particular Kellogg Full-Time Program

Video essay 3: This question will be based on a challenge you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from it.

William Kotas, MBA admissions consultant at Fortuna Admissions and former Kellogg Director and Kellogg MBA Alum, recently discussed how applicants should approach the video essay prompts.

PLAN EFFECTIVELY

Kotas recommends that applicants plan their answers prior to recording their video essays. While this may seem obvious, there are ways of planning effectively and ways of planning ineffectively.

“Jot down a few bullets or talking points or outline a quick structure, e.g., main answer and supporting examples,” Kotas writes. “But avoid overly scripting – you want to appear fluid and natural on camera.”

BE CREATIVE

The video essays, in essence, are a medium for applicants to tell their story and demonstrate their personality. Kotas says applicants should be creative in utilizing the video essay medium.

“Among my favorite efforts at a ‘introduce yourself’ video response was from a candidate who gave a brief viola performance, then used an element of the instrument itself as a metaphor to convey his personality and interpersonal style,” Kotas writes.

DEMONSTRATE SUCCESS

Similar to the written essays, the video essays are meant to gauge whether an applicant has the potential to succeed at Kellogg. Kotas recommends that applicants visualize success when approaching the video essay.

“Kellogg takes great pride in identifying candidates who have really self-reflected on what they want, how Kellogg will get them there and how their aspirations support a broader vision for having a positive impact,” Kotas writes. “Nearly every aspect of the Kellogg application has some component geared toward discerning if a candidate is the right fit.”

Sources: Fortuna Admissions, Kellogg School of Management

Next Page: Applying to Olin Business School

Olin Business School classroom

Tips for Applying To Olin Business School

Washington University’s Olin Business School ranked number 1 in Poets&Quants’ 2021 ranking of the World’s Best MBA Programs for Entrepreneurship.

With an acceptance rate of 33%, Olin is selective about who it admits. Business Insider recently spoke to admissions experts about what it takes to get into Olin and what the MBA program’s admissions office looks for in applicants.

BE VULNERABLE

Being vulnerable, while uncomfortable, is valued at Olin. Experts recommend applicants to highlight their personal stories of overcoming obstacles in their essays.

“At Olin, we really appreciate the vulnerability that can come out during the application process,” Ruthie Pyles, associate dean of graduate enrollment management at Olin, tells Business Insider. “Students who have shared ‘memorable moments’ — opportunities, failures, uncertainty, strengths, potential, achievements, questions, concerns — are always well received.”

CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY

When it comes down to it, fit is one of the most important aspects that admissions officers look for in candidates.

“The Olin community is a strong close-knit community that is values-based and collaborative,” Franklyn Nnakwue, who graduated from Olin’s full-time MBA program in May 2020, tells Business Insider.

Nnakwue recommends that applicants connect with current Olin students and alumni to learn more about the culture and community.

“I interacted with current students who shared their experience with me,” Nnakwue tells Business Insider. “I also spent time reading about Olin and the experience of other students. That gave me the insights to accurately convey how I could be a good fit to the admissions team.”

DEMONSTRATE YOUR POTENTIAL

Olin seeks out leaders. To be considered for admission, you’ll want to highlight leadership traits and characteristics that you can bring to the Olin community.

“They value diversity, global competency, and perception and consistently seek feedback,” Pyles tells Business Insider. “They push boundaries in innovation, they accept risk, and they seek leadership opportunities.”

Sources: Business Insider, P&Q

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