UPDATE: This post was originally published on June 27, 2018. It has been updated with new tips and information below.
This time of year, we talk to countless clients who are just starting to prepare their MBA applications. Most international MBA applicants spend so much time and energy taking the GMAT, agonizing over writing perfect admissions essays, chasing after recommenders, and networking with schools that they neglect to give their CV the attention it deserves.
This is a mistake.
Done well, your CV primes the admissions committee, and tells them, “Hey! I’m a great candidate with amazing accomplishments, so pay attention!” A bad CV can ensure your application gets a one-way trip to the “no” pile.
To make sure your CV is working for you, not against you, we’ve compiled a list of the top mistakes we see business school applicants making when applying to elite European business schools, along with advice on how to fix these mistakes.
1. Put work experience first, education second
This really isn’t a place to be creative or to try to stand out.
Business schools like CVs that have professional experience first and educational information second. Period. If you leave education first, they will consider this a mistake.
TOP TIP: when you start business school and begin to search for internships, move the education section back to the top of your CV, now with your business school information right at the top!
2. Use bullet format, not sentences or paragraphs
Even if there is a lot you want to say, don’t use full sentences or, worse, paragraphs.
In today’s fast-paced world, our attention spans are shorter and shorter, meaning that we inherently avoid huge blocks of text because these intimidating behemoths signify we’ll need to really focus in to get the information we need.
As such, you should be able to break your experience at each company down into a few clear bullets that describe what you were doing and what you accomplished.
To make your bullets really shine, make sure you not only include quantifiable outcomes but that you also utilize action verbs to describe your role in each project.
If you were to describe an internship, which option works best?
“Managed weekly reports, sent emails, organized files, analyzed spreadsheets, worked with other interns, joined meetings, shadowed department director, performed research, and prepared presentations to help with SEC regulation compliance.”
Or…
“Partnered with Compliance Director on four analysis and reporting projects, ensuring compliance with SEC regulations.”
Spot the difference? While the first one is more descriptive, the second one speaks to the results and most impressive parts of the internship.
TOP TIP: As a general rule, include no more than 5 bullets per job experience.
3. Include all global exposure – no matter how small
Though all MBA programs value international experience and global exposure, there is an undisputable bias towards more globally-minded candidates in European programs.
IESE Business School, for example, specifically states that it is looking for candidates with an international outlook whose “business perspectives are not limited by borders.”
If you’ve had the opportunity to study or work abroad, the task of demonstrating to the admissions committee that you’re a globally minded professional will be easier for you, like it was for our Brazilian client Marcelo:
Not only did his job allow him to visit many different countries, his bullet points also paint a clear picture of a natural cross-border leader.
But what if you’ve never had the chance to live or work outside your home country?
There are still many ways you can show you think and act globally.
For example, we recently worked with Mariana on her INSEAD application. Though she had built a very successful career in private equity, her firm was focused on domestic investments, limiting her travel opportunities.
After probing deeper into her daily tasks, however, she revealed that she did have regular contact with foreign markets, albeit remotely. With this information, we were able to show that though she was working locally, she was acting globally:
In today’s globalized world, your work likely involves collaborating with people in other countries in some way. Be sure to include this experience to prove to European business schools that you will be a great fit for their diverse, multicultural communities.
4. One page means one page
This doesn’t mean three pages of information put in tiny font on a page with tiny margins.
This means: you have only had a few years of work experience and should be able to be concise and to the point about describing what you have done since starting your career. This should easily fit onto one page.
If you’re having trouble cutting your CV down, show it to a trusted friend or to an admissions consultant. Their “outsider view” is a great asset when deciding what to cut!
5. Include information about volunteer work and extracurricular activities
European business schools are seeking well-rounded, dynamic, and interesting candidates who will add to the community and enhance its diversity. Show them you’re a perfect fit by including information about your volunteer work, travel experiences, and other extracurricular activities.
When it comes to the Additional Information section, the best CVs include:
- Languages: Include the languages you know beyond a basic level, plus any certifications/tests that show your knowledge (ex: TOEFL)
- Travel: Show any cultural exploration and travel interest in this section. Include the number of countries you’ve visited and any unique or memorable trips (ex: backpacking the Appalachian Trail or studying abroad in Mongolia)
- Courses and Certifications: List any training or courses you’ve completed as well as certifications you’ve received after university. Include the name of the institution or program, plus the year completed (ex. CFA Level II, 2016)
- Volunteer Work: Show the admissions committee your humanitarian side by listing volunteer projects you’ve participated in. Name the organization, your role in the organization and the years you participated.
- Personal Interests: List what you love doing outside of the office, including your diverse and interesting hobbies like running marathons, visiting museums, practicing jiu jitsu or scuba diving. Don’t be afraid to show who you are!
6. Focus on quantifiable results and outcomes
If you only make one correction on this list, make this one!
Imagine I am trying to sell you a new sports car. Which car would you buy?
CAR ONE: This car was driven on some of the best roads in the country and was very reliable when used on a daily basis. The car can hold two people and has really nice design. Once, when this car was being driven, it started to rain, which can cause the roads to become dangerous and slick, but this car was really good at handling the difficult situation without causing an accident. For a sports car, this is very good.
CAR TWO: 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds. Named best sports car in the world for the third year running.
I would buy the second car!
It tells me what the car can do in clear, concise, quantifiable terms. I know exactly what it means to go from 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds. I know that winning awards is good. I have no idea what it means that the car “has really nice design.”
Do the same for your profile. Here’s an example:
- Led the execution of several equity offerings in Region X, with extensive client interaction.
- Relevant transactions include:
- Company X in its landmark follow-on offering (US$50 bn)
- Company Y in its initial public offering and follow-on offering (US$2 bn)
While you may know that you managed a big budget project for a client, the reader of your CV does not. They don’t know if a project generated a US$2k consulting fee or a US$5M consulting retainer.
Using dollar amounts, percentages and ratios clues the reader in and subtly allows you to demonstrate how important and impactful your work is.
Find more tips on how to harness the power of data to build a winning MBA CV here!
Make sure your CV is perfect
Many hopeful applicants send off their MBA application CVs thinking they are perfect, when, in fact, they have failed to create clear, compelling sales documents that will ensure their profile stands out from the crowd.
For this reason, it can be a good idea to make sure one of our highly-trained experts reviews your CV in advance. Not only can we help you correct any errors that may have slipped through the cracks, but we can also help you customize your CV and ensure it stands out at elite MBA programs!
Real MBA Essays That Got People In
School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted
