How to put MBA on resume: Tips & Examples
Obtaining your MBA degree is a significant achievement that is sure to impress the hiring managers. It can instantly set you apart from the competition, showcase your business acumen, and highlight soft skills. In this article, we will show you how to list the finished MBA degree on your resume to gain a competitive advantage (spoiler: your Education section is best) and what details to include next to your MBA credential.
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Why put your Master of Business Administration degree on a resume?
Still wondering if including an MBA degree on your resume is worth it? Here are a few reasons why your MBA is a valuable asset:
- MBA is a significant achievement. Completing an MBA program takes a lot of work. The fact of you completing the program shows that you are ambitious, dedicated, and have impressive leadership skills.
- It proves your business administration knowledge. MBA programs provide specialized knowledge and skills in such business functions like finance, marketing, operations, and strategy. Employers seeking professionals with advanced knowledge in these areas will recognize your business school and qualifications.
- It opens doors to higher-level roles. An MBA is often a must-have for managerial roles with a vast responsibility and executive positions. It showcases your extensive knowledge in driving strategic decision-making and the organization's success.
How to add an MBA degree to your resume?
If you are still not sure how to put MBA on your resume, there are two ways to do it:
List your MBA in the Education section
The simplest way to showcase your degree is to add it to the Education section. Include the business school you attended, the degree, and graduation year. List your degrees in a reverse chronological order. Your recent MBA degree will go at the top of the list above the Bachelor's degree.
- Be sure to include academic achievements or relevant coursework if they align with your target job.
- The best strategy is to include the full name of your degree (Master of Business Administration) and the abbreviation (MBA). It will help you pass an applicant tracking system that the company is using.
- List your GPA if it's 3.5 or higher. Otherwise, you can omit it on your MBA resume.
- If you've recently obtained an MBA degree, consider moving your Education section closer to the top so that it's instantly visible.
Here's an example of how to list MBA on your resume's education section:
University of Pittsburgh 2024
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
GPA: 3.65
Add it to your resume summary
Another strategy is to list your MBA in the Summary of Qualifications section or after your name. This makes sense only if the job position requires an MBA and you want to draw attention to the fact that you're an MBA graduate. If the degree is not a must for your position, adding it to your Education section will be enough.
How to list an ongoing MBA on your resume?
Should you list an ongoing MBA degree on a resume? The answer is "yes". MBA resumes get more attention from hiring managers even if you haven't graduated yet.
When listing the MBA in progress, be sure to add the anticipated completion date. Always use the month and year format so that the employers can see when you're available.
- List the school name, degree, honors and awards, and other relevant details as usual.
- Move the Education section to the top so that the recruiters can see that you're studying and the expected graduation date.
Now that you've learned the basics, let's look at how to put MBA on your resume.
Best MBA resume format example
Here's an example of how to list your MBA or executive MBA in the Education section:
This MBA resume example only includes the basics, such as the school name, degree, and year. If your coursework or achievements are relevant to the management positions you're targeting, you can safely add them.
Tips to write an impressive MBA resume
Now that you know how to include an MBA on your resume, it's time to give your resume a few finishing touches to make it more effective for your job search:
Add a compelling Summary section
Create a summary section at the top to show your strengths, achievements, and career highlights. Write 2-3 sentences summarizing what you can bring to the table and what distinguishes you from other job-seekers. For example:
Highly motivated MBA graduate with 4+ years of experience driving successful marketing campaigns. Has a track record in increasing brand awareness by 20% and generating leads in the e-commerce niche. Seeking a challenging marketing leadership role to leverage data analysis skills and increase brand awareness.
Keep it to 1-2 pages
The best MBA resumes are short and concise. Keep the document to 1 page if you're an MBA graduate with little experience or 2 pages if you have an executive MBA and vast managerial experience. You can cut off the irrelevant or secondary details to focus on your leadership capabilities, project management skills, and measurable results.
Capitalize on the business school name
Make sure that your school name and degree are visible on your resume. If someone in your target company attended the same school as you, it can give you a competitive edge over other applicants.
Add the Skills section
Add the dedicated section to list your soft and technical skills. Read the job posting carefully to understand the employer's requirements, and list the must-have skills under a separate section. Thus, you will prove that you qualify for the job and also optimize your MBA resume with the right keywords, increasing your chances to be shortlisted. Highlight your experience working in teams, taking initiative, and achieving results collaboratively.
Add measurable achievements
For MBA professionals, it is important to showcase measurable results and metrics. Be confident to showcase your successes in team leadership, project coordination, and increasing the bottom line for business. Use numbers and percentages where possible, and give context to your achievements to better illustrate your impact. Example: Led a team of 6 to launch a new product line, resulting in an 18% revenue increase in Q1.
Want more guidance on how to make your resume accomplishments shine? Check out our tips for listing achievements on your resume.
Proofread before sending
59% of recruiters will reject a resume with typos and grammar mistakes. Take the time to proofread the document to ensure that your resume writing is impeccable. Check the capitalization, spelling, job titles, and accuracy. Use an online spell checker to streamline the process.
Use professional formatting
The recruiter will make the first impression about your resume in seconds. Ensure that the formatting is spotless and looks professional. Set readable font size and large margins for better readability. Format your job duties and achievements in bullet points, not paragraphs. Use all caps for resume header and section headings, and add some colors to emphasize the essential details.
Should you put an MBA on your cover letter?
Like with your resume, the answer is "yes". Showcasing relevant leadership experience and the skills you've gained during the MBA program can capture the attention of the hiring manager. Tailor your cover letter towards the specific job opening and discuss relevant qualifications in the first place.
Another major advantage of listing your MBA in a cover letter is that you can expand on specific projects, relevant coursework, and specific skills you've acquired in business school. Thus, you will give highlights of your skills to potential employers before they read your resume.
Conclusion
Putting an MBA on your resume is a surefire way to stand out and increase your chances for a dream job. List your all-important degree under the Education section and in other sections if necessary to ensure the success of your job application. It also helps to include your MBA degree on a cover letter to give the employer a comprehensive picture about your qualifications.
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