How to Build a Strong MBA Resume

Over the last few years, I have guided multiple Masters students in the US to navigate their job search journey. There are a lot of common patterns I have seen which need to change. The process of applying for a job and getting an offer requires a bit of a mindset shift. Through a series of posts, I will talk about my experience and what I feel is necessary to make your job search successful. This will be useful for people looking for internships as well as new grad/junior software roles. Stage 1.1 - Preparations <-> Resume This is arguably the most important item here. After applying for a position, the resume for most applications goes through an ATS system that assigns it a score. Once the score threshold is cleared, given the number of applications in the current job market, a recruiter will not spend more than 20 secs reviewing the same. You have exactly "20 seconds'' to impress the recruiter. So your resume needs to be extremely crisp in terms of the content. Tips to improve the contents of your resume. 1. One-Page resume Ensures that the most important things are captured in the first half of the resume 2. Mention the technologies used for each of the experiences. This helps particularly with the ATS system and also with associating the technologies used to solve a particular problem. 3. Sentence formation format <IMPACT> - <WORK DONE> Eg: "Increased revenue by 1%" by "building a system to create multi-parameter contextual ads delivery system." This showcases the outcome of your experience. 4. Experience trumps everything else Job experience is the most important part of your resume. This can be internship experience or any of the prior full time experience. Make sure to add good 4-5 points around what work you have done. Some points to improve the contents of the same would be to include the actual impact of your work, getting alignments and interacting with different teams/partners, improving/optimizing the code thereby reducing infra costs, adding alerting to detect failures early on etc. 5. KISS(Keep it simple, stupid) philosophy is widely used in the Software engineering field. Make sure that your resume does not have complex lines that makes it difficult for the reader to understand your experience. 6. Use PDF Word documents tend to have formatting issues when passed around depending on the editor the viewer opens it in. PDFs are best to avoid any such viewing issues. You can keep your resume in google docs and just export is as PDF everytime you need it. 7. Mentioning non-tech experience is generally not required. Projects have more value compared to these. So unless you need some fillers in your resume maybe don't mention non-tech experience. 8. Get your resume reviewed All the universities have a career center. There are advisors there that will help you with reviewing the same. In the next post we will dive into what the interview process looks like, and how to prepare for each of the steps.

Your resume gets 6 seconds.  But it's not about cramming more in. 🧠 It's about understanding what sticks in a hiring manager's mind: After reviewing thousands of resumes, I've noticed the memorable ones don't follow formatting rules—they follow psychological principles. Here's what actually captures attention: 1️⃣ The Promise, Not the History Your opening line shouldn't summarize your past—it should promise future value. Instead of 'Experienced marketing manager,' try 'Marketing leader who turns customer insights into 40% revenue growth.' The brain remembers outcomes, not titles. 2️⃣ The Thread That Connects Everything Randomly impressive achievements don't create callbacks. A coherent story does. Pick one theme—problem solver, growth driver, innovation catalyst—and weave it through every section. When everything connects, you become memorable. 3️⃣ The Unexpected Detail Generic descriptions blend together. Specific, unexpected details stick. Replace 'Improved team productivity' with 'Created 15-minute daily standup that replaced 3 hours of weekly meetings, saving 10 hours per person monthly.' 4️⃣ The Human Behind the Professional Strategic personality hints make you three-dimensional. A volunteer experience, a relevant certification pursued out of passion, or a side project shows drive beyond the 9-to-5. But keep it relevant—your marathon running only matters if you're applying to Nike. 5️⃣ The Language of Impact Weak: 'Responsible for social media' Strong: 'Grew LinkedIn following 400% by posting customer success stories' The difference? One describes a task. The other paints a picture of results. 6️⃣ The Strategic White Space Dense paragraphs repel readers. Strategic breaks guide the eye. Use white space like punctuation—it controls the reading rhythm and highlights what matters. 7️⃣ The Memorable Close End with forward momentum. Your last resume line should point toward their needs, not summarize your past. Make them visualize you solving their problems. The psychology is simple: • Brains remember stories, not lists • Specificity beats generality every time • Emotion (even subtle) creates connection • Coherence trumps comprehensiveness Your resume isn't read—it's scanned, absorbed, felt. Design for the brain, not the rulebook. Transform your resume into a story that sticks. Build yours with Teal → https://lnkd.in/gJSNk4FN #ResumePsychology #JobSearch #CareerStorytelling #ResumeWriting #HiringInsights #CareerAdvice ♻️ Reshare to help someone craft a memorable career story. 🔔 Follow me for more job search & resume tips.

🔊 Quantify the results on your resume. Show, don't tell. My broken record guidance of the day is to expand beyond the task of your role by including measurable accomplishments. This is the hardest undertaking of writing a resume, whether you outsource it (because a resume writer worth their dime should be asking you these questions) or take the job on yourself. I've included a sprinkling of prompts that will help you brainstorm those outcomes: ✅ Customer Acquisition: How many new customers did you bring in? Example: "Developed and executed a marketing campaign that brought in 500 new customers in three months." ✅Training and Development Impact: How did your training initiatives impact employee performance? Example: "Designed and delivered a training program that resulted in a 30% increase in employee productivity." ✅ Project Completion Ahead of Schedule: Did your leadership contribute to projects being completed ahead of schedule? Example: "Led a cross-functional team that completed a complex software development project two weeks ahead of the deadline." ✅ Innovation Metrics: What innovations did your team introduce, and how were they measured? Example: "Led a team that developed a groundbreaking feature, increasing user engagement by 25% and receiving industry recognition." ✅Cost-Efficiency in Development: How did you contribute to cost-efficient development processes? Example: "Introduced automated testing, reducing testing costs by 25% and improving code reliability." ✅Sales Revenue Influence: How did your marketing strategies contribute to increased sales revenue? Example: "Implemented a new product launch strategy that led to a 25% increase in sales revenue." A simple way to think about transforming a task-oriented bullet point in your resume to include impact is by asking "and then what happened?" Whether it be KPIs, qualitative assessments (like feedback), or value creation--there is an opportunity for you to showcase your unique contributions. #resumetips

Here’s the 4-step process I used to craft resume bullets to help my client land a $200k offer. 1. List out heavy hitting accomplishments. Doesn’t matter if they’re big or small, just get them onto a piece of paper. Examples: - Started a mentorship program - Helped a team spend less time with a task - Increased unique users for an app 2. Determine how you measured success in what you accomplished - Choose metrics that quantify the impact. Examples: - Had 50 people sign up for Q2 mentorship - Reduced 4 hours from a 16 hr process - Added 1.3k new users in 12 weeks 3. List out the actions you took, in order, to achieve the accomplishment. Examples: - Built curriculum, advertised program, etc. - Performed times studies, ran a pilot, etc. - hired a UX designer, overhauled website. 4. Order the information into the following format: “Accomplished ‘Step 1’ by measure of ‘Step 2’ by doing ‘Step 3’ Simple right? The first pass will not be perfect, but it will give you an idea of what an effective bullet looks like. Improve from here. *Note: Yes, this is Google’s XYZ formula for resume writing. We also use other formats to construct effective bullets. It all depends on the target audience. - - - Did you find this helpful? Re-post it ♻️ Follow, Adam for daily job search tips. #jobsearchstrategies #careertips #resumetips

Your resume has 6 seconds to grab a recruiter's attention. Whenever I see a resume starting with "a seasoned professional seeking a challenging career," I die a little inside. 😱 This is your chance to shine, so make it count.  We all have short attention spans, so show recruiters compelling information in the top 1/3 of your resume. Here are 4 things you need to capture a recruiter's interest. 1. Start with a strong summary. ↳ Highlight top skills and accomplishments. ↳ Keep it short – 3-4 sentences that grab their interest. ↳ Weak example – Accomplished professional seeking career growth. ↳ Strong example – Accomplished marketing manager who developed award-winning campaigns for Fortune 500 clients that contributed to a 50% increase in sales. 2. Quantify your accomplishments. ↳ Show numbers, percentages, and metrics. ↳ Weak example - Managed customer accounts. ↳ Strong example - Increased customer satisfaction scores by 25% in six months. 3. Create a custom/targeted resume for each role. ↳ Use Jobscan, ChapGPT, or Teal to score/customize  your resume to a job  description. ↳ Emphasize skills and achievements. 4. Be specific and concise. ↳ In a big pile, resumes look alike. ↳ Your unique success is what sets you apart.  Too many resumes look like a one-size-fits-all, filling the space with buzzwords. Be niche and be you. A well-crafted and concise resume shows you value the recruiter's time and makes you stand out.  Clean white space is your friend when creating resumes. There are millions of templates and formats for resumes. Your unique value proposition will make you stand out. I've worked with many clients who narrowed down their unique skills, targeted them toward the job they were applying for, and received interview requests. What other tips do you have for creating an attention-grabbing resume? If you agree, consider resharing ♻️ and follow me @ruth smith for more content like this. #resumes #careers #jobsearch

Notes from a Recruiter, Day 2: Resumes 📜 I get lots of questions centered around resumes. Having evaluated thousands of resumes as a business/sales recruiter, here are some key insights from the resumes of the top talent I've recruited at Ramp and in past roles: - Simplicity is 🔑: I've seen resumes that are one page, and I've also seen resumes that are 7 pages 😅. If you have a lot of relevant experience for the role, it doesn't have to be exactly one page, but it certainly shouldn't be a novel. Use bullet points to make it digestible, and highlight any quantitative performance metrics/improvements you've made to processes at the company. - Triple-check your spelling 📝: Meticulously spell-check your resume; attention to detail is crucial when applying for a role (I see too many simple spelling errors). No one is perfect, but that's one small thing you can control that can significantly impact your chances, especially in a competitive job market. There are so many tools out there to help with this - Grammarly, ChatGPT, and standard spell-check. - Make it relevant: Customizing a resume to the position/company you're applying for can help set you apart. Whether it's the skills needed for the role or the company's mission and why you support it. Also, double-check the resume copy you're submitting - I review many resumes that include a different company than they are applying for in their summary/objective section. - Get creative💡: Creativity doesn't mean your resume needs vibrant colors or a photo of you - unless it's crucial in that industry. Instead, communicate your WHY—why do you want to contribute to this business and support its mission? Showcase your passion for the product and industry. I don't see enough of this! I'll be sharing more resume tips and tricks in future posts. Feel free to comment with your ideas or questions, and let's elevate your resume game! 🚀 #resumes #resumesuccess #notesfromarecruiter #careersuccess

"Why does my Resume never get a callback?" This is what a client of mine asked on a call. He was depressed from the constant rejections. I saw his Resume, the problem was clear. 🚫 His Resume was too generic, did not stand out at all. "But Rohit, how do I make it stand out?" Well, let me tell you how. 1. Use a Unique Value Proposition (UVP): ↳ Start with a headline that encapsulates your professional identity and unique value. ↳ Make it memorable and specific to your strengths. ↳ This UVP sets the tone for your entire resume. 2. Quantify Your Achievements: ↳ Numbers speak louder than words. ↳ Use numbers to demonstrate your accomplishments. ↳ Whether it's sales increased, costs reduced, or projects led, quantification makes your impact clear. 3. Leverage Keywords Strategically: ↳ Identify and use keywords from the job description. ↳ This ensures your resume aligns with what the employer is seeking and passes ATS scans. ↳ Keywords bridge the gap between your skills and job requirements. 4. Highlight Transferable Skills: ↳ Clearly identify skills that are valuable in many contexts, especially if changing industries. ↳ Show how these skills apply to the position you're applying for. ↳ Transferable skills demonstrate versatility and adaptability. 5. Use a Professional Design: ↳ Opt for a clean, professional layout that makes your resume easy to read. ↳ Avoid excessive ornamentation but consider subtle design elements that reflect your personal brand. ↳ A visually appealing resume can make a strong first impression. 6. Focus on Problem-Solving: ↳ Highlight specific problems you've solved in previous roles. ↳ Describe the challenge, your action, and the outcome. ↳ This approach shows your ability to think critically and achieve results. 7. Customize the Resume for Each Job: ↳ Tailor your resume for each application, emphasizing the experience and skills most relevant to each job. ↳ Customization shows you've taken the time to understand the role and company. ↳ This effort can set you apart in a crowded applicant pool. ✅ Do this and your Resume will stand out in this competitive job market. --------- Follow me for daily content to 10x your Job Search! #Resumewriting #resume #resumetips #resumewriter #resumewritingservices #jobsearch

I recently conversed with an individual who diligently sent his resume to 255 potential employers yet received responses from only five entities. Admittedly, I haven't actively pursued a full-time job for over a decade. Nonetheless, I found his experience disheartening. Upon requesting his resume and cover letter for review, it became evident why he struggled to elicit a response. It seemed he hadn't invested the necessary time and effort to craft his application materials with precision, intention, and self-awareness—focusing on his unique contributions, aspirations, and professional direction. Here are 10 tips we discussed, what did we miss? 💡 Quality Matters: A polished resume and cover letter create a positive first impression for potential employers, showcasing your qualifications effectively. 💡 Customize and Highlight: Tailor your application materials to match job requirements, emphasizing relevant skills and achievements while using keywords from the job description to grab attention and help with the bot reviews. 💡 Attention to Detail: Mistakes or generic content can make you appear unprofessional and disinterested. Take the time to craft personalized materials that align with the job requirements. 💡 Research and Align: Research the company and position to tailor your materials accordingly, aligning your skills and experiences with the organization's mission and values. 💡 Self-Reflection Matters: Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, interests, and values to guide your job search strategy effectively and articulate your career goals. 💡 Adapt to Changes: Job application methods are evolving, including automated responses. Utilize networking, social media, and personalized outreach alongside traditional methods. 💡 Targeted Efforts Pay Off: Focus on quality over quantity in your job search. Target opportunities that match your skills and goals to increase response rates. 💡 Communicate Value Clearly: Emphasize relevant accomplishments and skills that demonstrate your ability to contribute to the organization's success, using clear and concise language and formatting. 💡 Seek Support: Take advantage of resources like career coaches, workshops, online platforms, networking, and mentors to improve your job search and interview strategies. 💡 Continuous Improvement: Reflect on your approach to job searching and applications, prioritizing quality, seeking feedback, and exploring new strategies to enhance your success.