Confused about resume format

Expert replies

aritrapaul: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 5; Joined: Sun May 15, 2011 7:02 am

by aritrapaul » Sat Aug 20, 2011 10:18 pm

Hi =)

I am a college senior, preparing my R1 applications for the 2+2 and other similar programs. I was drafting my resume for the past few days, and wanted to get a few things clarified.

What is the preferred order of sections in a college senior's resume? There's education, Work-ex, ECs, Projects and Publications, and Awards and honors in mine.

Awards and honors is definitely the highlight of my resume (2 international and national scholarships, 1 sponsored international study tour etc.). Naturally, I'm inclined to place it in page 1. However, one cannot see the reasons behind the awards unless they go through the ECs and Projects sections.

In Work-ex I have two internships. Although I don't want to put them in page 1, every sample resume I see starts of with work-ex (after education). I have made 6 different versions of my resume, and I am confused right now =(

Any help will be greatly appreciated =)

Source: Beat The GMAT — Ask Stacy Blackman | Sat Aug 20, 2011 10:18 pm

GMAT/MBA Expert

Lisa Anderson: MBA Admissions Consultant; Posts: 3845; Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:57 pmFollowed by: 148 members; Location: Houston, TX; Thanked: 442 times

by Lisa Anderson » Tue Aug 23, 2011 9:39 am

Dear artirapaul,

There are no right or wrong ways to order your resume. However, there are some orders that are most common and the accepted practice. Since you are a college senior, it would make the most sense to have your education section first. After that, I think your work experience as you are applying to MBA programs, which are professional programs, and the reader will therefore be interested in any professional experience you have. After that, I think you can go with what you feel is most significant. Perhaps you could note your scholarships in your education section, as they are related to paying for your education? Likewise, if the international study tour is related to your education (you are receiving credit or it is a university program), then it would also make sense to include it with your education. That way, you are placing emphasis near the top on those two items.

Good luck,
Lisa

Lisa Anderson
Consultant
Stacy Blackman Consulting

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aritrapaul: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 5; Joined: Sun May 15, 2011 7:02 am

by aritrapaul » Wed Aug 24, 2011 9:30 am

Lisa,

Thank you for your thoughts. I was thinking on similar lines myself. Really needed an expert opinion on this. In fact, I have restructured and filtered some redundant material. Now in fits in a single (though more crowded) page

Most B schools encourage 1 page resumes from college seniors. Glad to have got that done.

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