In the middle of her MBA application interview, Ariel was asked the question, “How will the skills you have developed during your work in banking transfer to your new career in tech product management?” She was surprised by the question and didn’t have an answer ready. Of course, Ariel knew what her strengths were, and she had talked at length about her proven career success in her essays. But now she was being challenged about her preparation to make the career pivot she had been planning. This example portrays one of several ways that admissions officers and alumni interviewers will consider an applicant’s professional experience as proof of their readiness for MBA studies.
Given business schools’ missions to train the next generation of business leaders, past career accomplishments and progress provide persuasive evidence of one’s capacity to excel in the future. Accordingly, applicants need to understand which details about their careers could potentially catch the attention of an admissions officer. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of one’s profile should have a significant effect on application strategy and storytelling to enable you to turn each experience to your advantage. In this post, we offer a glimpse into the thought processes of admissions officers as they evaluate resumes, essays, and interviews to assess the value of your work experience.
Career Length
The number of years of an applicant’s professional experience acts as a baseline for most MBA admissions committees. Three to seven years of experience is the preferred range, but programs do admit applicants with less or more experience. For example, the Wharton Business School Class Profile says:
“While Wharton MBA students have an average of 5 years of work experience, there is no minimum or maximum years of experience to apply to the program. We encourage those interested…to quantify their experiences and show us how and why they were impactful in their career — regardless of how many years of experience they bring with them to the program.”
As the Wharton disclaimer states, the applicant is responsible for convincing the admissions committee of the quality and impact of their professional experiences. This is especially true for applicants with fewer than the average number of years of experience for a given program. Similarly, a more senior applicant will have to make a compelling case for their fit in an MBA program rather than an Executive MBA.
Advancement + Achievements
On their initial scan of an applicant’s documents, admissions officers will simultaneously be making note of notable career advancement and achievements. Promotions and job changes that denote increased responsibility indicate career progress and will inspire a closer look at a candidate’s achievements and professional growth. Company and industry awards point towards the quality of one’s work. Applicants should make sure that promotions, job changes, significant achievements, and awards stand out on their resume.
Professional Growth
Achievements alone do not paint a complete picture of a career. The underlying factors that support career advancement and achievements – including acquiring new skills, cultivating advanced or specialized knowledge, and developing professional decorum – define an individual’s professional growth. Demonstrating professional growth can help the admissions committee envision one’s potential for future success. For example, even the most successful salesperson shouldn’t create a resume that reads like a list of record-breaking sales statistics. Instead, they should select the most relevant and impactful achievements and tie those to related professional growth such as market research expertise and relationship building.
Specialization + Industry
Other aspects of a candidate’s work experience to consider include their industry or domain knowledge, as well as any specialized roles or skills. Industry experience is especially relevant for those who wish to continue in the same industry post-MBA and for those who are aiming to make a career pivot (more on that below). Specialized knowledge, such as chemical engineering or manufacturing planning, will also get the attention of the admissions officer reviewing an application, as those roles can also convey certain skills or personality traits needed for the applicant’s future career.
Company Reputation
Working for one or more famous companies can be eye-catching, but pairing big names with career advancement packs the biggest punch. World-renowned companies are competitive workplaces, so earning promotions in these environments is looked upon very favorably. However, it might be hard to identify the value in the career experience of someone who works in a big company but has stayed in a junior or cyclical role for several years. When evaluating applicants who have primarily worked at local companies, admissions officers are likely to seek clear growth, advancement, and/or specialization that will help define and qualify the experience.
Pivot Potential
A significant number of MBA applicants target a career pivot following their studies, so admissions teams are well-trained to evaluate an applicant’s potential for making the leap to a new profession. In these cases, admissions officers will want to see an achievable career goal and a set of transferable skills that will help the applicant succeed in their new career. For an engineer seeking to move into product management, this might be soft skills, such as project management or high EQ. Alternatively, a journalist trying to move into general management might lean heavily on their communication skills and international experiences as proof of their leadership potential.
[Conclusion]
Admissions committees are looking critically at your career progress because they want to be convinced of your potential to continue thriving following your MBA. Make the best impression you can by taking a detailed approach to the different aspects of your application. Carefully edit and format your resume to make highlights easy to find. Have an essay writing strategy that focuses on growth and your potential to succeed. Anticipate tough interview questions – such as why you changed jobs – and practice answering them until you feel confident. Taking these steps will ensure that professional experiences are the cornerstone of your application profile.