14 CV Writing Tips For A Successful MBA Application

Positioning your career plans and professional accomplishments is a crucial part of your MBA application.

For each business school you apply to, make sure your CV speaks to your career plan and that both are aligned with the overall story you are telling about yourself.

A coherent plan lets MBA admissions teams see you mean business before they meet you. So, take note of the following 14 tips to make sure your CV is ready for the application process:

Download: Resume Guide: 10 Top Tips For Application Success

1. Use the right template

Each business school should have a template for you to use, or provide guidelines for a particular content structure and format. 

Typically, schools will ask you to exclude unnecessary personal information as it can distract from the main focus of the CV or resume. 

To ensure readability and flow, business schools will also often ask you to submit a concise one-page resume. To make use of your limited word count, you should remove repetition—for example where job functions overlap. 

2. Highlight your achievements

Show your impact and highlight examples of where you went above and beyond. Show that you have contributed to your chosen industry.

By doing so, you provide concrete evidence of your capabilities and position yourself as a compelling candidate. 

3. Avoid industry jargon and acronyms

Let someone from outside your industry proofread your resume. This will help you identify if your resume can be universally understood. 

Opt for clear, straightforward language, avoiding industry jargon where possible. 

If you notice you have used industry-specific terminology, it is good practice to try to replace it with more widely recognized alternatives. 

4. Provide industry and company context

This is especially important for international applicants. Admissions officers may never have heard of your company or even your job function. Some context on your company (number of employees, turnover, etc.) and information about your industry can help them understand.

5. Quantify your achievements

Outline the actions you've taken and the results, e.g., ‘Increased turnover by 20% to $1.2 million by conceptualizing and implementing a new training program for staff’.

Quantifying your achievements adds credibility and demonstrates the tangible impact of your work. 

6. Provide context for your academic achievements

Admissions officers may not have heard of your university or program. Is this the best university in your continent for this subject? Is the course highly competitive? Were you ranked in the top 10% of your class? Undergraduate marks vary widely by course and country, so an explanation can help. Showcase special academic accomplishments and scholarships.

7. Provide personal context

Perhaps your undergraduate marks were lower because you were working on your business or battling illness. Perhaps you were the first in your family to attend university, or the youngest person ever to be appointed to the company board.

8. Highlight leadership, initiative, and interpersonal skills

These are some of the important qualities to highlight on your CV. You can use 'action words’ such as led, launched, spearheaded, managed, conceptualized, and implemented to showcase your role in projects and emphasize these qualities

9. Show career progression and promotion 

Highlight how your responsibilities and impact have grown over the years, even if you have been in the same job. 

Showing career progression and promotions showcases your ambition and dedication, making you a more attractive candidate to business schools. 

10. Don’t skip extra-curricular activities

Extra-curricular activities such as sport, cultural pursuits, or volunteering can show that you’ll contribute to campus life and have a wide range of interests. These should be authentic and long-standing rather than adopted months before the MBA application. The quality rather than the quantity of these activities matters. 

11. Paint the full picture

Your CV should speak to your post-MBA career plans. Many people go into MBA programs unsure of their next career move or change their minds mid-MBA.

Admissions officers, however, want to see that you can craft a well-thought-out, realistic, and well-researched career plan. 

Unrealistic career goals or the lack of a plan can be a red flag for admissions officers who don’t want unemployable, disappointed alumni on their hands. These plans should be well-researched and should outline your short and long-term goals.

12. Have a backup plan

If you plan to change careers, industry, function, or geography, you’ll need to acknowledge that this can be difficult and have a clear plan for how you’re going to do it. You should also have an elaborate backup plan should these options not work out. 

An effective way to demonstrate that you are capable of making the leap is by showcasing the transferable skills you have earned. 

13. If you are planning to change careers, justify your logic

What is the thread connecting your past experience to your future ambitions? How will you succeed?

Justifying your career change displays your commitment and helps reduce any potential skepticism that those reviewing your resume may have. 

14. Be business school specific

Any business school can help anyone develop a network, for example. How will this business school help you achieve your specific goals? For example, you could discuss this school’s link to employers in your industry, or specific departments in the wider university.

If any part of your application looks like it could be from anyone, about any school, you're on the wrong track.