How to refine your resume for your Executive MBA application

Our Executive MBA applications provide plenty of opportunity to showcase how your experiences, achievements and job responsibilities will help you thrive in the program. One of the key components of your application is your resume. Although most MBA programs don’t require you to create a new resume for the application process, making a few modifications to your current resume can strengthen your candidacy. And if you’ve been in your current role for a while, this is a perfect opportunity to make important updates!

>> Learn more about the Evening Executive MBA program
>> Learn more about the Weekend Executive MBA program
>> Learn more about the Charlotte Executive MBA program

Your resume should:

• Showcase career progression
• Include time spent in each position
• Outline the skills you built in the role
• Quantify results
• Include leadership outside your current employer

Ready to get started? Here are tips from our admissions team about refining your resume for your application:

Illustrate career progression.

MBA programs for working professionals place a significant emphasis on the career progression of candidates. Use your resume to share how your career has progressed through a variety of roles and responsibilities.

Include time spent in each position.

If you have changed roles frequently, use months and years so the review team can understand the actual time spent in each position – this will help the committee understand your promotion timelines. If you have worked for a significant amount of time (more than 5 years) in one position, use bullets to outline how your responsibilities have increased or changed during that time period.

Outline the skills built in the role.

Committee members evaluate your application based on what you will bring to the program. While everyone has areas of opportunity, use your resume to focus on your strengths and how those will benefit your classmates and the program. These strengths can be highlighted in your work responsibilities, volunteering, or other experiences that may benefit you at UNC Kenan-Flagler.

Quantify results.

To provide relative context to your impact on the organization, use quantifiable examples for results. You can consider things such as a % increase, $K new business, or 1% error rate. Even things that seem unquantifiable can be re-packaged! Consider highlighting a 100% project completion rate if you accomplished everything required.

Include leadership outside your current employer.

This tip may seem obvious, but many candidates neglect to include outstanding civic organizations and community groups. If you have multiple affiliations, begin with well-known national organizations such as Habitat for Humanity or the Susan G. Komen Foundation. If you participate in a lesser-known or local organization that the team may not be familiar with, provide additional context regarding the mission of the organization, and how your responsibilities align with that mission.