Resume as Marketing Tool

Imagine you are invited to interview at that top 10 MBA dream school. You arrive to meet the alumni representative, excited to share your goals and passion for the school. When you pass your resume across the table, your interviewer takes a glance and starts a conversation about your summer as a scuba instructor in college, skipping over the years you spent dazzling your boss at an investment bank.

While personal flair is always a nice touch, you need to focus your resume on the material that is most important and impressive. Since you are applying for MBA programs, think about the experience that highlights your future potential as a leader and a manager. When have you demonstrated strategic thinking? Taken initiative? Or developed personnel around you?

Defining your key unique attributes will set a strong resume strategy and keep you focused. Make sure you know what you want to highlight about yourself, and minimize experience that is far in the past, or less important to your overall story.

Results not Responsibilities

Because your resume is only one part of the application, you have the luxury to outline the responsibilities and scope of your job in the application data form itself. Do not waste resume space with information you have entered elsewhere on the application.

Your job description tells the reader very little about you and your performance. What sets you apart from the other financial analyst in your department? If you were the one who saved money by managing the budget process most effectively, took on special projects outside your day to day, or took the or took the initiative to manage the intern you will want to highlight these achievements.

Focus on tangible, and preferably quantifiable, results. Define how much money you saved, what the result of the project was, and how your efforts to mentor a junior employee led to his or her success in the department. For more on the impact of achievements and not tasks, see this article at BusinessWeek.com.

Remove Industry Lingo

If you spent the last three years as a Bain consultant or banking at Goldman Sachs your MBA admissions reader is likely familiar with your position and the industry lingo. If you worked in any sort of technical capacity or in a non-MBA feeder profession you will need to translate your industry focused resume into an MBA friendly document.

While it may be important in your profession to demonstrate your technical proficiency or familiarity with specific knowledge, in the MBA application process leadership, teamwork and management potential are paramount. Translate any technical language into tangible results that any layman can understand. Focus on the projects where you worked with others and demonstrated leadership. If you impacted the business or strategy of the company in your position, highlight those achievements.

Present Professionally

One of the first tasks you will approach in the MBA program is improving your resume, and you will revisit the exercise again and again during your two years of job searching. Give yourself a head start by writing your resume as if you are already an MBA candidate.

Many programs have online resume books that demonstrate the preferred format and design for MBA resumes. Keep your font simple and your resume to one clean page. And make sure you have checked thoroughly for typos!

Recruiters are an excellent source for resume tips. Check out this excellent guide from the Pinnacle Group.

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If you are feeling stumped by your application essays and need some additional guidance, check out our NEW series of essay guides for MBA applications. Columbia, Harvard, Kellogg, Stanford and Wharton available now. They are seriously terrific and we are proud to say that almost every person who has ordered one has come back for more!

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When approaching the essays for Queen’s MBA application it will be important to highlight your interest in the unique program, as well as the qualities that most MBA programs are seeking: academic achievement, leadership and teamwork skills, demonstrated progression at work.

With a limited amount of words overall, it will be important to focus strategically and make sure you are highlighting your best features in this application.

Essay 1: Please explain why you are applying to a team-based MBA, what you expect to bring to this program, and what you expect the challenges and rewards of this learning model might be. (500 words)

This essay is an opportunity to describe why you are interested in the Queen’s program, and to demonstrate how you will bring experiences from your life and work to contribute to your classmates. An example from your past team experiences, whether work or extracurricular, will provide solid evidence of your own skills.

Essay 2: Tell us something about yourself that we would not find on your resume. (500 words)

This open-ended question allows the flexibility to bring in any aspect of your application strategy that cannot be covered in the other two questions. If you are a fairly typical candidate in many ways, this is a place to describe a unique background, hobby or interest.

A specific example is a great way to focus the essay and demonstrate credibility. By asking this question Queen’s is demonstrating interest in your personal qualities, and the best way to understand your personality and motivations is through an example from your life.

Essay 3: Please describe your short-term and long-term career objectives, and how you expect our program to contribute to them. (500 words)

Ending this set of essays with a standard career goals essay, Queen’s is asking for a significant amount of information in 500 words. It will be important to focus clearly on the key moments in your career that have led to your current goals rather than describing your entire work experience. Focusing most of the essay on describing your career goals, the link between your short- and long-term goals, and why a Queen’s MBA will lead you to achieve your plans will provide the best information for this essay.

If you’re not familiar with Queen’s, researching by visiting the website, attending admissions events, reaching out to current students and even visiting blogs will be helpful to provide specifics about the program that appeal to you and fit with your career goals.

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If you are feeling stumped by your application essays and need some additional guidance, check out our NEW series of essay guides for MBA applications. Columbia, Harvard, Kellogg, Stanford and Wharton available now. They are seriously terrific and we are proud to say that almost every person who has ordered one has come back for more!

We are on Facebook – join the Stacy Blackman Consulting group, or become a friend of Stacy Blackman.

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The close knit UCLA Anderson class is diverse and international, though Anderson is often most attractive to Los Angeles based applicants. Anderson is probably the most prestigious local MBA program, and attracts many applicants interested in Entertainment and Real Estate, some of LA’s more popular industries. Anderson has a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, and it will be important to be familiar with the many UCLA research center programs and electives when preparing your essays.

For applicants who prefer the part time option, UCLA FEMBA is an excellent executive MBA for anyone in the Los Angeles area.

The four required essays for first-time applicants are:

1. Describe the ways in which your family and/or community have helped shape your development. (750 words)

Starting this set of essays with a personal question about your background establishes Anderson’s interest in seeing the genuine person you are. When approaching this question, keep your overall application strategy in mind, and make sure you are presenting a holistic view of yourself. Brainstorming a theme that can take you from the personal tone of Essay 1 to the career goals in Essay 3 may be helpful.

This essay may be an opportunity for you to demonstrate diversity in your background or family circumstances, especially when your diversity is not entirely clear from other aspects of your application. Like other MBA programs, UCLA is interested in a class that will enable each participant to learn from each other’s unique experiences.

Specific examples are always a smart way to demonstrate your personal qualities without sounding generic. In this essay you are invited to tell a personal story. You are unique and a vivid personal memory can be an effective way to set the tone for your application holistically. If you choose effectively, your personal memory will support the overall theme of your essay and support what you say about your family, community and personal development.

2. Describe the biggest risk you have ever taken, the outcome, and what you learned in the process. (500 words)

A behavioral question like this requires a specific example that describes how you operate on a very pragmatic level. It will be important to focus on how you work, think and act in any give situation. This requires being very specific about your thoughts and actions as you respond to this essay question.

Taking risks demonstrates courage and leadership. You should clearly describeyou’re your action was a risk, what was the possible negative outcome, and why you decided the positive implications were worth it. Overall this essay will demonstrate what drives you to accomplish above and beyond your job description or responsibilities.

A key element to this essay is the lesson learned. Whether your risk had a happy ending or not, if you learned crucial skills or life lessons from it that is a positive outcome. Briefly explain what this experience taught you, and preferably where you applied that lesson to a subsequent successful experience.

3. Describe your short-term and long-term career goals. What is your motivation for pursuing an MBA now and how will UCLA Anderson help you to achieve your goals? (750 words)

A fairly typical career goals essay, UCLA is asking for a clear set of career goals that will demonstrate the need for an MBA from UCLA Anderson. Drawing a thread between your past experiences, your MBA from Anderson, and the short- and long-term goals you plan to pursue will be most effective.

Because you have effectively set the stage with questions one and two, you will likely have answered the questions about the passion for your chosen career path and how you operate under pressure. That will allow you to spend more words demonstrating your fit with UCLA and why it is the right program to pursue your MBA.

4. Select and respond to one of the two following questions. We would like you to respond to the question by recording an audio or video response (up to 10Mb maximum) for upload in the online application. If you are unable to submit your response via audio or video, then please prepare a written response instead. (250 words)

In a continued effort to learn more about you as a person, UCLA would like to hear you speak or watch you speak and gesture on video. If you do pursue the video or audio option, it will be most effective to write out what you plan to say ahead of time and have someone help you by providing feedback and recording for you.

The video response may require some editing expertise, though most PCs have basic video editing software you can use. Speaking with poise will be especially important for either the video or audio essay. If you choose video you also need to consider what you wear, and where you decide to record the file.

This essay may be a great opportunity to demonstrate your personality, or it could be risky, depending upon your choices. You may submit a written response if you think that will present your thoughts and personality more clearly to the admissions committee.

a. Entrepreneurship is a mindset that embraces innovation and risk-taking within both established and new organizations. Describe an instance in which you exhibited this mindset.

If you have entrepreneurial goals, a history of working on innovative projects, or simply take a creative approach to your work, this may be the right question to answer. As in a written essay, provide a clear example for your musings on the subject.

b. What is something people will find surprising about you?

If essay 1 did not provide an opportunity to differentiate yourself from others in the applicant pool, this may be the right question to answer. This question is entirely open ended, which could be a gift. Try to remain focused, consider your overall application strategy, along with your strengths and weaknesses when answering this question. Think of a specific example of what you will be discussing, and explain why others would find it surprising.

OPTIONAL: Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (250 words)

Focusing on explanations in this essay, rather than excuses, is very important. Potential extenuating circumstances may be a very low GPA, academic probation or using a recommender other than your current supervisor. Clearly explain the situation, and if it is a situation from the past, explain why you have changed. Providing evidence that you will not repeat the actions in question will be very important.

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If you are feeling stumped by your application essays and need some additional guidance, check out our NEW series of essay guides for MBA applications. Columbia, Harvard, Kellogg, Stanford and Wharton available now. They are seriously terrific and we are proud to say that almost every person who has ordered one has come back for more!

We are on Facebook – join the Stacy Blackman Consulting group, or become a friend of Stacy Blackman.

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Stern seeks candidates who exhibit strong academics, and also exceptional interpersonal skills. Stern refers to this combination as IQ + EQ. Admissions criteria includes academic potential, demonstrated achievement at work, and personal qualities. As Stern explains: “We seek students who embody Stern’s values of mutual support and collaboration and who will be passionate, engaged participants in the Stern community.”

Essay 1. Professional Aspirations
Think about the decisions you have made in your life. Answer the following:
(a) What choices have you made that led you to your current position?
(b) Why pursue an MBA at this point in your life?
(c) What is your career goal upon graduation from NYU Stern? What is your long-term career goal?

Stern divides the standard career goals essay into three distinct sub questions, ensuring that candidates will answer this question thoroughly. While the questions are posed in a certain order, you should choose the essay structure that positions your story best.

When discussing the choices that led to your current position you may start with the major you had in college, an activity that sparked your interest, or even a childhood passion. The key to answering this section of the question is to demonstrate both how you make choices and what motivates you. Your reasons for an MBA may vary from networking to professional credibility. Whatever your own personal reasons may be, make sure you can point to specific aspects of the MBA education and community that are necessary to achieve your goals. Similarly, you should have specific reasons for pursuing an MBA at Stern. What is unique about the Stern program, student clubs, and community that will enable you to achieve your goals?

Your short and long term goals should be both achievable and aspiration. An MBA from Stern will likely open doors for you, and you should demonstrate that you are ready to take advantage of the opportunities that will be presented. Think about your past work experience, MBA education, and future career goals as a trajectory that flows logically in order.

Essay 2. Your Stern Experience
We take great care to shape the Stern community with individuals who possess both intellectual and interpersonal strengths. We seek individuals who are highly intelligent, collaborative and committed to flourishing as Stern leaders. Please answer the following questions:
(a) What is your personal experience with the Stern community? Tell us what actions you have taken to learn about us.
(b) Describe what most excites you about Stern from both an academic and extracurricular perspective.
(c) How do you anticipate making your mark on the Stern community? Be specific about the roles you will take on and the impact you hope to achieve.

This essay is your opportunity to demonstrate your passion for Stern and your interest in attending NYU’s MBA program. Certainly personal experience of the campus through visits or student touch points would be ideal, but even if you are halfway around the world you can illustrate the many ways in which you learned about the Stern experience.

When you discuss making your mark on the Stern community it is both an opportunity to demonstrate what you will bring to the school personally and to demonstrate some of your past community experiences. If you currently lead a team of volunteers to conduct a fundraising drive, explain what you are involved with today, and how you anticipate bringing those skills to the Stern community. Specific and credible examples will be important.

Essay 3. Personal Expression
Please describe yourself to your MBA classmates. You may use almost any method to convey your message (e.g. words, illustrations). Feel free to be creative.

This essay allows you to show who you are as a person, and describe why your classmates will value you as a friend and community member. While you have likely hit professional experiences in essay 1, and community experiences in essay 2, essay 3 seeks to understand who you are as a person.

Reflect upon your unique personal qualities and what is valued most by your friends and family. How would you want your classmates to see you? What are some of the personal stories you would share with a new friend?

Essay 3 also provides the freedom to use any medium you choose to describe yourself. If you are a visual person you may chose a drawing, painting or photo series. If you are a creative writer perhaps it’s a poem or short story. If none of the “creative” approaches feel right to you, feel free to write a standard essay where you explain who you are and introduce yourself to your classmates. The medium is not the most important aspect of this essay, rather the message and content of your composition will demonstrate who you are to the admissions committee.

Essay 4. Additional Information (optional)
Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. This may include current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake the GMAT, GRE and/or TOEFL or any other relevant information. If you are unable to submit a recommendation from a current supervisor, you must explain your reason in Essay 4. If you are a re-applicant from last year, please explain how your candidacy has improved since your last application. If you are applying to a dual degree program, please explain your decision to pursue a dual degree.

Stern is quite clear about who should use the optional essay and who should not. Like many other schools, Stern provides this opportunity for you to explain a low GPA, GMAT or TOEFL. If you are in that situation, avoid excuses. Focus on the facts, and explain why this performance is not indicative of your future performance at Stern.

If you are a re-applicant it will be important to establish what has changed from last year. Have you earned a promotion? Improved your GMAT score? Whatever has developed since last year, highlight why you are a stronger candidate and now ready to enter the Stern MBA class this fall.

Stern requires that you explain why you are not submitting a recommendation from your current supervisor. A few valid reasons are that you have only worked for your current boss briefly, that you are not sharing your MBA plans with your supervisor, or that you work more closely with other members of the team.

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If you are feeling stumped by your application essays and need some additional guidance, check out our NEW series of essay guides for MBA applications. Columbia, Harvard, Kellogg, Stanford and Wharton available now. They are seriously terrific and we are proud to say that almost every person who has ordered one has come back for more!

We are on Facebook – join the Stacy Blackman Consulting group, or become a friend of Stacy Blackman.

I am on Twitter too…click to follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/stacyblackman

When approaching this set of application questions it will be important to clearly assess which of the desired traits are ones that you can demonstrate through your own experience. What are the areas you want to communicate to the Tuck admissions committee? Which essays work best for a work example or a community service example? Be sure to provide specific examples for each essay. Specific examples provide the best evidence of your leadership qualities, team work skills and management potential.

While Tuck does not require a certain word limit, the 500 word guidance should be adhered to. Generally 10% plus or minus the word limit suggestion is reasonable when there is no formal limit.

1. Why is an MBA a critical next step toward your short- and long-term career goals? Why is Tuck the best MBA program for you? (if you are applying for a joint or dual degree please explain how the additional degree will contribute to those goals.)

This standard career goals question requires you to clearly outline your short- and long-term career goals. Your short term goals are the aspirations you have for your job immediately after graduation, while your long-term goals may be 10 or 20 years after you complete your MBA. In this relatively short essay you will need to explain what you have been pursuing in your career thus far, and why you need an MBA at this point in your life, along with your career goals.

“Why Tuck” is an important aspect to this essay, and your opportunity to demonstrate fit. Make sure you have researched the school’s programs and determined your education will suit your plans. By reaching out to current students and alumni you will gain crucial insights that will provide a personal perspective on the culture of the school.

2. Tuck defines leadership as “inspiring others to strive and enabling them to accomplish great things.” We believe great things and great leadership can be accomplished in the pursuit of business and societal goals. Describe a time when you exercised such leadership. Discuss the challenges you faced and the results you achieved. What characteristics helped you to be effective, and what areas do you feel you need to develop in order to be a better leader?

This essay is similar to Kellogg’s leadership essay. As in the Kellogg essay, you will want to define your strengths and weaknesses as a leader. What are you good at, and what do you hope to develop at Tuck? Unlike the Kellogg essay, this version requires that you describe one specific example that illustrates your leadership challenges and strengths.

The example you choose can be from work or community involvement, as “great leadership can be accomplished in the pursuit or business and societal goals.” You will need to adhere to the Tuck definition of leadership and include a team based aspect to your example. As you describe your leadership experience, make sure you explain how you were able to inspire and enable others to accomplish.

3. Discuss the most difficult constructive criticism or feedback you have received. How did you address it? What have you learned from it?

Criticism and constructive feedback is often difficult to hear. In many cases the most difficult feedback to hear can ultimately be the best route to professional growth. In approaching this question, you may want to start by recalling performance reviews and other formalized feedback settings. As you go through feedback you have heard in your career, you may recall informal feedback that was helpful as well.

The key to this question is to discuss your reaction to the feedback. Self-awareness and ability to change are fantastic leadership qualities to demonstrate through this question. Regardless of the feedback you received, and how difficult it was, describing what you learned will be valuable.

4. Tuck seeks candidates of various backgrounds who can bring new perspectives to our community. How will your unique personal history, values, and/or life experiences contribute to the culture at Tuck?

This question provides you with an opportunity to describe why you are different from other applicants. Do you have a unique background? Unusual work experience? Or have you demonstrated a consistent history of community involvement? The part of your application strategy that is most unique and surprising should be described here.

Once you have determined what is special about your candidacy, you need to tie your personal history, values and/or life experiences to how you will interact with your fellow students at Tuck. The most obvious approach is to outline the clubs and organizations you will contribute to. Beyond formal groups, you may contribute your unique perspective to the classroom, provide networking opportunities in your industry to your classmates, or mentor your fellow students.

5. (Optional) Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere that may be helpful in reviewing your application (e.g., unusual choice of evaluators, weaknesses in academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes, etc.). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application.

This is your opportunity to discuss any perceived weaknesses in your application such as low GPA or gaps in your work experience. When approaching a question of this nature, focus on explanations rather than excuses and explain what you have done since the event you are explaining to demonstrate your academic ability, or management potential. If you do not have a weakness to explain, this may be an opportunity to address any additional facet of your application strategy you have not been able to illuminate in previous questions. There is no requirement to complete this question, and it would be wise to use the space for something truly new and important to your application that has not been addressed elsewhere.