Today’s posting is for those of you who are just getting started with the process of applying to b-school for the class of 2009. In addition to conducting some preliminary research on MBA programs in which you might be interested, thinking about how you will go about presenting yourself to these schools is another great thing to be doing in the spring. For this reason, working on your resume (or CV) is an excellent starting point for someone embarking on the MBA admissions process. This is true for the following reasons:
1) Nearly every top school requires a resume. This is usually requested as part of the written application. Even if the school does not request a stand-alone resume, they will usually solicit similar information within their application forms (employment history, educational background, etc). In addition, candidates are often required to bring a resume to their admissions interviews as a starting point for conversation.
2) Crafting a resume can often serve as the creative starting point for candidates who are trying to develop their positioning strategy and career goals for the MBA admissions process. Distilling all of your experiences (educational, professional and extracurricular) into a coherent one-page document can often be an eye-opening exercise. Many applicants find that taking this step helps them to gain a better understanding of their key selling points.
3) Since MBA admissions officers are often asking themselves whether or not a candidate seems likely to gain employment upon completion of the MBA program, the resume can be a great barometer of your potential to market your skills and experiences. Obviously, the MBA itself will add to your resume, but the adcom is still curious to see how well you present your experiences prior to earning the degree. Providing the committee with a polished, coherent resume is a great way to demonstrate your potential appeal to campus recruiters.
4) The often daunting process of MBA admissions has to start somewhere! Many applicants spend too much time thinking about essay questions or worrying about recommendations before they’ve actually defined their overall admissions strategy. This is a classic case of putting the cart before the horse. The resume is a nicely defined ‘first step’ that can truly help a candidate make progress down the path towards application.
For those class of 2009 applicants who are beginning to think about the admissions process, the resume is clearly a great place to start. Contact us now to learn more about the Clear Admit Resume Guide and our free initial assessments.
