MBA Resume Example & How to Write an MBA Application Resume

The average MBA earns $102,495 a year. Half of all MBA grads make even more.

But how do you get into that top-pick school? Stanford and Harvard only let in 6% to 10% of applicants. Other MBA programs aren’t much easier to get in.

Learn how to show your Berkshire-Hathaway-level accomplishments on an MBA resume.

In this guide:

• An MBA resume example better than most.
• How to write an MBA application resume that gets interviews.
• What to put in resumes for MBA applications to gain competitive advantage.
• How to format your MBA resume so you get on the shortlist.

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Do you need a different kind of MBA resume? See these guides: 

• Law School Resume Sample & Guide
• Law Student Resume Sample & Guide
• Graduate School Resume/CV Sample & Guide

Are you writing an MBA graduate resume? Not sure how to list MBA on a resume? See our guides:

• Recent College Graduate Resume
• College Student Resume
• Entry Level Accounting Resume
• Accounting Resume
• HR Assistant Resume
• HR Director Resume
• HR Manager Resume
• Financial Analyst Resume
• Consultant Resume
• Internship Resume
• Business Development Resume
• Business Administration Resume
• Business Analyst Resume
• Chief Financial Officer / CFO Resume
• Business Resume
• Senior Accountant Resume
• PhD Resume
• College Resume Template

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Resume Examples for Any Job.

MBA Resume Example

Now here’s how to write an MBA application resume that gets interviews:

1. Select the Best MBA Resume Format

It’s now or never. The first impression of your MBA application resume is everything. Don’t miss your chance with shoddy resume formatting.

Follow these tips:

MBA Resume Format

• Set a one-page resume length.
• Leave some white space for reading comfort.
• Pick a trusted resume font like 11–14pt Bell MT or Tahoma.
• Lock in your resume margins at one inch.
• Write resume sections for Objective, Experience, Education, and “Other”.
• Put jobs in reverse-chronological resume order.
• For best results, save your resume in PDF format.

Expert Hint: A study by US News shows the top 10 MBA programs have less than a 20% chance of getting in. So—apply to 10 schools and your chances will rise exponentially. But tailor your MBA resume to each school. (See below for tips.)

2. Write an MBA Resume Objective or Summary

Fail!

The screener just torched your MBA application resume.

What did you do wrong? You bored her in the first ten seconds.

To get noticed like Steven Schwarzman, write a standout job objective or job summary.

Include:

1. An adjective (driven, dedicated)
2. Your job title or bachelor’s degree title
3. Years of experience (2+, 4+)
4. Your goal (add value to Arizona State University's student body)
5. Best resume achievements (presided over 20% average revenue gain)

Create it last so you won’t struggle.

See these MBA resume examples:

MBA Resume Example: Objective

Results-driven marketing manager and MBA applicant with 2+ years of experience and solid leadership skills, seeking to add value to Arizona State University's student body. As marketing manager at Zymantine Reach, presided over 20% average revenue gain for 17 clients.

MBA school applicant with strong skills in leadership, marketing, digital marketing, and strategy and planning. Have worked in the real world as a marketing manager. A hard worker and a strong student, driven to excel.

Ouch!

The second of those sample MBA application resume objectives says, “‘I’ll study hard.” The first wins with a 20% revenue gain accomplishment. That shows you do work hard.

“But I haven’t worked in the real world yet! I just got my bachelor’s degree!”

That’s not an issue. Just use your biggest achievement from school instead of work.

3. Add Experience to Your MBA Resume

Real-world experience gives your MBA resume a head start.

Maybe you’ve worked as an:

• Accountant
• Marketing manager
• Financial analyst
• Consultant
• Peace Corps member
• Nonprofit director or assistant

All of those look great in MBA applicant resumes.

But do your career a favor—

Show your most towering achievements from each.

Do it like this sample resume for MBA applications:

MBA Application Resume Example [Experience]

Experience

Marketing Manager

Zymantine Reach Inc., Phoenix, AZ

2017–Present

• Led marketing team of 8 employees to create and implement cross-platform campaigns for 17 corporate clients, including digital and print.
• Used email marketing best practices to increase open rate by 30%.
• Raised conversion rates 18% by using targeted campaigns.

Key Achievement

• Presided over an average of 20%+ in revenue gains for 17 clients, raising revenue by $1.3M per year for one client.

Worlds apart.

The first of our MBA resume examples would make a great applicant. The admissions staff won’t pass her up.

But the second has no achievements or numbers. That MBA candidate resume example is a job description—not a reason to interview you.

Expert Hint: A study by US News shows the average MBA earns six figures. The highest-paid are consultants and financial services, tech, and health-care workers. The lowest paid are in nonprofits and the transportation field. Balance income goals with your life goals before you send your MBA application resume.

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4. Elevate Your Education Section

How can your MBA application resume education section get you in the door?

If you just got your bachelor’s degree, your resume education section will need lots of projects, coursework, and achievements.

If you’ve been in the working world a while, just a couple bullet points will do.

But either way, show you excelled in school.

The dean of admissions doesn’t want a lazy applicant.

Learn from these MBA resume samples:

MBA Resume Example—Education

Education

BS in Business Administration

Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ

• GPA 3.9
• John K. Gallardo Business Leadership program.
• Athletics: swim team co-captain.

See that?

A few accomplishments can cause a paradigm shift.

But what if your GPA is lousy?

If it’s bad or long ago, drop it. Replace it with a big business school achievement.

If it’s recent, you have to show it. But if your classes were hard, add that too. Tough classes can go a long way toward salving unimpressive grades.

Then—pile on your best business school accomplishments to make your bad grades fade.

5. Other Must-Haves in an MBA Resume

Your MBA resume should stand out like a cash cow. But it won’t get there with just education and work history.

It needs a little Ron-Williams-level proof.

To get it, dig into non-work achievements.

Add facts that show you:

• Have a strong work ethic
• Reach goals
• Collaborate well
• Stretch yourself
• Accomplish important things

And if it’s not impressive—it’s got no place in an MBA applicant resume.

Add:

• Certifications
• Projects
• Associations, groups, clubs
• Media appearances
• Publications
• Volunteering
• Freelancing
• Personal interests
• Awards
• Languages
• Conferences

See these MBA resume examples:

MBA Resume—Other Sections

Projects

• Created marketing plan for nonprofit that raised donations 20%.
• Consulted for shirt maker, raising marketing ROI by 27%.

Additional Activities

• Member, American Marketing Association.
• Mentor 7 marketing managers in best practices, resulting in an average 30% increase in KPI attainment and 3 promotions.
• Weekly yoga for self-care and fitness.

Additional Activities

• Smoking meat
• Whitewater rafting

What’s wrong with the second of those MBA resume samples?

It doesn’t show you’ve stretched yourself. Or that you care about the business world.

But—

Did you start a meat-smoking group with 20+ members? Or grow the membership of a whitewater rafting club?

Those things show leadership.

Last, here’s a list of sample skills for a resume that work in MBA application resumes:

MBA Resume Skills

1. Interpersonal Skills
2. Collaboration
3. Communication Skills
4. Problem Solving
5. Time Management
6. Organization
7. Computer Skills
8. Attention to Detail
9. Dependability
10. Adaptability
11. Job-Specific Skills (marketing skills, accounting, finance, etc.)

Warning.

Don’t include all of them. That looks shady.

Only list the skills you’ve backed up with achievements in an MBA resume.

Expert Hint: Write a cover letter for your MBA application resume. Make sure they understand why going to this school is your dream come true, and why you’ll excel there.

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Key Points

Here’s how to write an MBA resume:

• Start with the best MBA resume template. Complete it with your finest business or school achievements.
• Write an MBA application resume objective for the top. Wait until you finish with the rest to write it, so you won’t get stuck.
• Include bonus business achievements like articles you’ve written or associations you belong to. Those show passion and commitment.
• Add an MBA cover letter. Use it to show this school is your first pick, and that you’ll grow while working hard here.
• If the job ad requires it, send the resume by email: here is what to write in the email when sending the resume.

Got questions on how to write good MBA application resume? Not sure how to list MBA on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!

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