Our 2012-13 on-campus interviewers have been selected. Tomorrow, I'll train 75 MBA2s on how to conduct Ross interviews and what to look for. Let me pass on some tips to applicants based on my interviewer training notes.
- Spend the time and energy to draft a good resume. Your essays aren't the only opportunity to tell us about yourself on paper. The resume is, in some ways, more important and possibly more challenging than the essays because you have only one page to tell your undergrad plus post-undergrad story. It should be clear and concise, yet detailed enough to give us an idea of your skills, experiences and interests. I find that many applicants don't take enough care with their resumes, submitting a version that may be relevant when applying for another job in their current industry, with technical details ad nauseum. Don't go there. You'll miss an opportunity to help the Admissions Committee advocate for you.
- Don't fret over the number of years you've worked. We look for quality of your work experience in terms of the skills and knowledge you've gained, the contributions you've made.
- Don't fret if you work in a "non-business" field or majored in liberal arts. We're looking to create a diverse class. We don't want all of our students to come from one or two industries or one or two majors.
For me, the resume is just as important as your essays. How you describe your experiences matters. What you choose to highlight matters. Think of it as a trailer for the movie about you. It doesn't need to be flashy and exciting. It needs to show that there's substance there. And keep it real. Good luck. Can't wait to learn more about you.
