Work Experience Questions.

[rja27]

Work Experience obviously plays an important role during the MBA application process. Though, how can one know if work experience is going to help their overall chances? What makes for an excellent resume - years worked, employer, title, etc?

Personally, I worked for Google from 2003-2008, now I lead a team of media planners and strategist at a Marketing/Ad Agency. I know, at least subjectively, I have a good resume but how does this translate to an admissions team?

Thanks!

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear rja27,

Great question, thanks for asking it. Yes, title, employer, and number of years worked are important and factor into the evaluation. That is not to say that someone with a VP title is necessarily seen as better or someone from a widely-recognized company is valued more. Those data points are used more as a way to gauge how the individual has progressed in his/her career and if he/she has moved at an average, rapid or slow pace. What really matters is what you have done in your career tenure--accomplishments, contributions, and impact on your employer. There is not a preferred industry or functional role per se, but schools are looking for applicants to demonstrate teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills in addition to a successful track record in whatever his/her career path has been. I always liken the resume and interview components of the application process to be very, very similar to the resume and interview components of a job search. Business school is a professional program, meaning graduates are practitioners not academics, so the interviews and resume evaluations tend to mirror the corporate world.

Hope that helps,
Lisa