Resume: Education or Experience first?

Share tips as you apply, write essays, interview...
This topic has expert replies
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Jun 23, 2009 5:33 pm

Resume: Education or Experience first?

by 08w204 » Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:04 pm
I am touching up my resume to apply for an MBA program. I am wondering whether to put my Education as the first thing or my work experience. Many people say that since it is grad school, education should be first. But considering it is business school, I wonder if it is more effective to put work experience as the first item.

Thanks for your help!

User avatar
MBA Student
Posts: 1194
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:42 pm
Location: Paris, France
Thanked: 71 times
Followed by:17 members
GMAT Score:710

by gmat740 » Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:26 am
As a standard, you must your work-exp first.

Hope this Helps

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 2109
Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:25 pm
Location: New Jersey
Thanked: 109 times
Followed by:79 members
GMAT Score:640

by money9111 » Sat Jan 30, 2010 11:51 pm
you always put what's the most recent... so if you're applying for a job right out of college you put your education first... but after that first job... education goes at the bottom and all relevant work experiences goes at the top...
My goal is to make MBA applicants take onus over their process.

My story from Pre-MBA to Cornell MBA - New Post in Pre-MBA blog

Me featured on Poets & Quants

Free Book for MBA Applicants


Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 116
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:30 pm
Thanked: 3 times
Followed by:2 members
GMAT Score:670

by Vitalina » Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:14 am
I had my resumereadby an exp. He said when you are applying for a study program, it's pretty logical to have your education on top of the list

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 2109
Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:25 pm
Location: New Jersey
Thanked: 109 times
Followed by:79 members
GMAT Score:640

by money9111 » Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:55 am
i'm going to have to respectfully disagree with that last statement. the only way I can see that MAYBE being the case is if you just completed a masters program or some educational something... and then are applying to b-school...
My goal is to make MBA applicants take onus over their process.

My story from Pre-MBA to Cornell MBA - New Post in Pre-MBA blog

Me featured on Poets & Quants

Free Book for MBA Applicants


User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:10 pm
Location: Chennai
Thanked: 23 times
Followed by:2 members
GMAT Score:690

by sars72 » Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:21 am
money9111 wrote:i'm going to have to respectfully disagree with that last statement. the only way I can see that MAYBE being the case is if you just completed a masters program or some educational something... and then are applying to b-school...
i agree. I have personally handed over & discurssed my resume with several ad com members and while I have received several comments and suggestions as to how I should tweak my resume, I was never told to put the education section on top. The only suggestion they made regarding the education section was to point out the location of the institute (which I had left out coz my college is reknowned, or so i thought :P ) & any key posts/ responsibilites/ projects during the college period.

MBA Student
Posts: 17
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2009 10:08 am

by palermo10 » Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:33 pm
What about POST-MBA?

If I do a full-time program and apply for work when completed, would I list the MBA at the top? Or the internship I did?

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 2109
Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:25 pm
Location: New Jersey
Thanked: 109 times
Followed by:79 members
GMAT Score:640

by money9111 » Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:38 pm
hhhmmm... i'm thinking maybe in that case you do... Post MBA education/education.. then internship.. then next most recent job? Because if you did an MBA and had an internship... the internship was most likely inbetween your 1st and 2nd year correct? so technically the last thing you did was the last year of your MBA program... and then would have started your job in the summer or fall? i think this is the cadence.... i'm not too sure... anyone else have any ideas?
My goal is to make MBA applicants take onus over their process.

My story from Pre-MBA to Cornell MBA - New Post in Pre-MBA blog

Me featured on Poets & Quants

Free Book for MBA Applicants


Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 11:52 am

by sonalarora » Sat Feb 27, 2010 4:06 pm
I think the order wud be as follows:

1. Work experience (latest first)
2. Education
3. Internship & projects


But I have one more question:

What if one is in undergrad course and has done internship . Can internship come under Work experience. Also if one is helping out in father's business(part time) , thn what will be the order?

Thanks in advance!

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 2109
Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:25 pm
Location: New Jersey
Thanked: 109 times
Followed by:79 members
GMAT Score:640

by money9111 » Sat Feb 27, 2010 4:48 pm
I think if you're in an undergraduate course, then that is the most recent and must come first. Until you have your first FT job education should always be first.

Yes internship should go under work experience - underneath education, until you graduate. Then I think it should go:

FT job
Internship
Education
My goal is to make MBA applicants take onus over their process.

My story from Pre-MBA to Cornell MBA - New Post in Pre-MBA blog

Me featured on Poets & Quants

Free Book for MBA Applicants


Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 11:52 am

by sonalarora » Sat Feb 27, 2010 4:58 pm
Thanks 'Money9111'.
I have another question guys. ( plz bear with me). Where would high school projects/presentation come in? A separate heading called Projects?

And what wud the flow now:

1. Education
2. Work Exp (inc Internship)
3. Projects
4. Accomplishments

?

Thanks

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 2109
Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:25 pm
Location: New Jersey
Thanked: 109 times
Followed by:79 members
GMAT Score:640

by money9111 » Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:14 pm
High School projects? I don't think they are appropriate on a resume. There may be extenuating cases. What type of projects are you referring too?
My goal is to make MBA applicants take onus over their process.

My story from Pre-MBA to Cornell MBA - New Post in Pre-MBA blog

Me featured on Poets & Quants

Free Book for MBA Applicants


Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 11:52 am

by sonalarora » Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:22 pm
I'm making a resume for a cousin. She is an undergrad with one internship under her belt and part time working with her father.
for more content I thought of including 12th grade group projects ( just to show team work, communication & leading abilities)....

What do you think?

Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:53 pm

by taryn123 » Fri Mar 19, 2010 12:38 pm
I am confused about the education first as well. I am currently working towards receiving my MBA and am applying for internships. I have never had any full-time work experience. Should I put my education and then relevant internships?