[coolr]

Hi Jennifer,

A few more questions on Resume.
1. Should it be always one page?
2. Can I reduce the margins to fit everything in one page? What's the minimum font size I should use?
3. Don't we need to list down both responsibilities and accomplishments for each role? As per your suggestions, accomplishments are key, but how would anyone know what all I did? I want to emphasize that I do performance appraisals for 6-8 people every six months, that I do budgeting and forecasting for the project, that I am responsible for the entire team of 13 people, managing a revenue of more than a million dollars etc. These don't have measurable results or accomplishments associated with them, but these still are important activities and have helped me learn many things.

4. In my 6+ years of IT experience, I have played 4 different roles, mostly being associated with one client department, in the support team. But in between, I have also led other development projects. So while being project lead for the support team, I was also the leader for other project, my time being split 50:50. This happened for two projects (1.5 years). If I try to show all this, I can't fit everything into one page. How do I show this in the resume? Is it okay to divide into two columns the period where I was handling two projects?

Regards,
coolr

[Accepted]

Originally Posted by coolr

Hi Jennifer,

A few more questions on Resume.
1. Should it be always one page?
2. Can I reduce the margins to fit everything in one page? What's the minimum font size I should use?
3. Don't we need to list down both responsibilities and accomplishments for each role? As per your suggestions, accomplishments are key, but how would anyone know what all I did? I want to emphasize that I do performance appraisals for 6-8 people every six months, that I do budgeting and forecasting for the project, that I am responsible for the entire team of 13 people, managing a revenue of more than a million dollars etc. These don't have measurable results or accomplishments associated with them, but these still are important activities and have helped me learn many things.

4. In my 6+ years of IT experience, I have played 4 different roles, mostly being associated with one client department, in the support team. But in between, I have also led other development projects. So while being project lead for the support team, I was also the leader for other project, my time being split 50:50. This happened for two projects (1.5 years). If I try to show all this, I can't fit everything into one page. How do I show this in the resume? Is it okay to divide into two columns the period where I was handling two projects?

Regards,
coolr

Hi, Coolr. Unless the program to which you are applying declares a one-page limit for your resume, you can use two pages. However, in my experience, unless you have multiple community activities and impacts there that you would like to convey in the resume, there is little need for the second page.

The first place to cut would be in the earliest positions - there is no reason why these should share equal billing with your most recent roles, where I assume you are having much larger impacts on the company.

Responsibilities can be a brief summary of your role and number of people you manage in paragraph form under the title, then you can save the more space-consuming bullets for accomplishments and impact.

In terms of font/margins, I would not go lower than 10 pt or less than .6 inch margins all around. Remember that this is a marketing document (where you are the product!); you don’t want the reader to wonder if you know how to prioritize and recognize real value.

Best of luck!

Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
Accepted – Helping you write your best!

From pre-application consulting and strategizing to essay and letter of recommendation editing, resumes, mock interviews, and wait-list tactics - we guide you through the application maze.

Don’t miss these upcoming chats at Accepted:
Yale – with Admissions Director Bruce DelMonico: Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007 at 6:00 PM GMT
London Business School – with Acting Associate Dean David Simpson: Monday, Oct. 15, 5:00 PM GMT
CMU – with Director of MBA Admissions Laurie Stewart: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 5:00 PM

[stereobag]

Hi Jeniffer,

I am planning to apply to the US schools such as UNC, Kelley, Emory and USC for their entrepreneurial focus. Please evaluate my profile and let me know if I can make a cut for these schools. Also, I hail from a very rural background, would highlighting that in my essays about how I have succeded against adversity project me better??

Following is my profile:


Academics and Test scores:
GMAT : 700, V 38 and Q 48
TOEFL:111
Undergraduation in Computers: 81%
Was the placement committe chairmain, won a scholarship and was consistently among the toppers.

Work ex:
4.5 years by the time I Join with a top tier IT services Firm. I have been leading a team of 9 for a period.

Active member of the Organizations R&D team in emerging technologies and was instrumental in chalking out a stratergy for my organizations alignment with Microsoft. My reserach was also published.

Got 3-4 awards for the above work and also for initiating various Knowledge Management activities.

I was also involved in writing a proposal for a $200,000 project which my organization won and also got my clients a savings of 50,000$ for the work I did.

I am currently working in US for a leading Telecom service provider.

Entrepreneurial background:
I co-started a venture with my father to cater to the replacement market for earth moving equipments. I got good exposure to various OEM manufacturers and also developed IT applications to manage my fathers data.

I am currently working on a telecom business product and my venture was launched recently and I am in negotiations with potential investors for expanding it.

Community Service:
In my organization i spearheaded a rural developmental initiative and was instrumental in the women empowerment in a village.
I also worked with CRY for a Child rights campaign.
I am also currently working with a Netherlands based NGO for Youth empowerment in Soppo(Cameroon).

Post MBA goals:
I beleive that as an entrepreneur I need the various business fundamentals which I currently lack to become really successful. Post-MBA, I want to get into IT consulting and work in the telecom domain. Eventually, I want to expand my telecom start up in India to exploit the mobile boom in India.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Stereobag

[archipelago]

Hi Jennifer,

Yet another query on resume!!

I am in the process of applying to some of the US b-schools and was preparing a resume for submitting along with the applications. However I have a few doubts.

1. By Fall 08, I will be completing 3 yrs of work exp. Considering this, will a resume that spans 1.5 pages (font size 11) considered excessive? Should I restrict myself to a strict one page? Chicago GSB - the school that I am applying to doesnt explicitly mention the page limit for the resume.
2. At my workplace, I have got quite a few performance awards. Should I mention them in the resume, maybe under a section called 'Achievements'? I researched on the net and came across a few sample resumes. But none of them had any kind of award listed.
3. Also, should I talk about any academic achievement before my undergraduate degree (i.e., achievements in 10th and 12th std)? Again, no sample resume covered anything prior to the undergradauate degree.

Thanks,
~A

[mz05]

Hi Jennifer,

Thanks in advnace ! This is ravi .

I have few very basic questions !

My profile is

GMAT 700 (a 50/v 34):(
Work Ex 7 Years in BARC (Scientist, R&D)
acads averagge (First >70%)
M.Sc. From IITR (Phy)

Please suggest me which colleges can i target ?

I always got much higher GMAT score in mocks , thats why i opted for MIT, Tucks , Columbia, ISB and Stern. Now i feel that with this score, it will be too optimistic to target these colleges.

now kindly advice me with this profile what should i do ? Shall i target 15-20 ranked schools in us or make a try for europe or else rewrite gmat (please note i am nontechi).

Most importantly , being an average salried man , cost is the crucial factor. Kindly make a comment on the financial prospects (fees/loan/scol etc)

waiting for ur reply

regards
urs sincerly
ravi arora

[nitin98325]

Hi
I am Nitin. I have to write some thing about Versatility of my personal attributes and achievement in one of the application form of B school.
The problem is i have been very average in extra curriculum activities. Nothing spectecular which i can write down. It is like jack of some and master of none.
I think many students face such diffuclt situation. What we should do because if we write some thing impressive then we are exposing ourself to number of question to validate our claims and if we write average then we are simply out of crowd. Can you please advice us
thank you
Regards
Nitin

[ashishdhanuka]

Dear Jennifer

I am planning to apply to the National University of Singapore, MBA program. In this regard, they have an essay "Each of us have been influenced...." Could you share some insights on what is expected from such an essay. Some pointers may actually help


Ashish

[Accepted]

Originally Posted by stereobag

Hi Jeniffer,

I am planning to apply to the US schools such as UNC, Kelley, Emory and USC for their entrepreneurial focus. Please evaluate my profile and let me know if I can make a cut for these schools. Also, I hail from a very rural background, would highlighting that in my essays about how I have succeded against adversity project me better??

Following is my profile:


Academics and Test scores:
GMAT : 700, V 38 and Q 48
TOEFL:111
Undergraduation in Computers: 81%
Was the placement committe chairmain, won a scholarship and was consistently among the toppers.

Work ex:
4.5 years by the time I Join with a top tier IT services Firm. I have been leading a team of 9 for a period.

Active member of the Organizations R&D team in emerging technologies and was instrumental in chalking out a stratergy for my organizations alignment with Microsoft. My reserach was also published.

Got 3-4 awards for the above work and also for initiating various Knowledge Management activities.

I was also involved in writing a proposal for a $200,000 project which my organization won and also got my clients a savings of 50,000$ for the work I did.

I am currently working in US for a leading Telecom service provider.

Entrepreneurial background:
I co-started a venture with my father to cater to the replacement market for earth moving equipments. I got good exposure to various OEM manufacturers and also developed IT applications to manage my fathers data.

I am currently working on a telecom business product and my venture was launched recently and I am in negotiations with potential investors for expanding it.

Community Service:
In my organization i spearheaded a rural developmental initiative and was instrumental in the women empowerment in a village.
I also worked with CRY for a Child rights campaign.
I am also currently working with a Netherlands based NGO for Youth empowerment in Soppo(Cameroon).

Post MBA goals:
I beleive that as an entrepreneur I need the various business fundamentals which I currently lack to become really successful. Post-MBA, I want to get into IT consulting and work in the telecom domain. Eventually, I want to expand my telecom start up in India to exploit the mobile boom in India.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Stereobag

Hi, Stereobag.

Your chances at UNC, Kelley, and Emory are better than at USC. In my experience, USC is a bit more competitive of a program. I definitely encourage you to apply; I just want you to know that earning acceptance will be more difficult to USC. However, you do have some positives that in my opinion you should highlight in the application:
1) your entrepreneurial operations management for the earth-moving equipment business – as long as you highlight the entrepreneurial aspect and not the IT side
2) IT strategy and not just software design
3) spearheading and leading in the community
4) And of course, your good GMAT score doesn’t hurt – but that doesn’t go in an essay!

While overcoming poverty and a rural background is commendable, it only works in an essay if you are able to show it as a strength not a sob story. Don’t bore us with how hard your life was; do tell us what opportunities you sought and how you made the best of a difficult situation to triumph. Those are stories that every ad com loves to read.

Best of luck on the application!

Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
Accepted - helping you write your best!

From pre-application consulting and strategizing to essay and letter of recommendation editing, resumes, mock interviews, and wait-list tactics - we guide you through the application maze.
Don’t miss these upcoming chats at Accepted:
Yale – with Admissions Director Bruce DelMonico: Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007 at 6:00 PM GMT
London Business School – with Acting Associate Dean David Simpson: Monday, Oct. 15, 5:00 PM GMT
CMU – with Director of MBA Admissions Laurie Stewart: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 5:00 PM

[Accepted]

Originally Posted by archipelago

Hi Jennifer,

Yet another query on resume!!

I am in the process of applying to some of the US b-schools and was preparing a resume for submitting along with the applications. However I have a few doubts.

1. By Fall 08, I will be completing 3 yrs of work exp. Considering this, will a resume that spans 1.5 pages (font size 11) considered excessive? Should I restrict myself to a strict one page? Chicago GSB - the school that I am applying to doesnt explicitly mention the page limit for the resume.
2. At my workplace, I have got quite a few performance awards. Should I mention them in the resume, maybe under a section called 'Achievements'? I researched on the net and came across a few sample resumes. But none of them had any kind of award listed.
3. Also, should I talk about any academic achievement before my undergraduate degree (i.e., achievements in 10th and 12th std)? Again, no sample resume covered anything prior to the undergradauate degree.

Thanks,
~A

Hi, archipelago.
Actually, because of Chicago’s specific requests for extra information (the employer’s address, the industry, etc.), I do not doubt that your resume will be 1.5 pages long. Just keep in mind that this is not a standard resume and will not be appropriate for a job interview later. I would even venture to say that if you are invited for an interview, you should provide/bring a “real” resume.
In terms of awards, definitely mention them in the resume. I usually like to list them in the bullet points that detail the project for which an applicant earned the award since this shows more impact for that actual initiative/project.
On the other hand, no, I do not believe that most people should list anything that occurred during high school unless you are a new college graduate or unless it was something amazing like competing in the Olympics!
Good luck on the application!
Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
Accepted - helping you write your best!

From pre-application consulting and strategizing to essay and letter of recommendation editing, resumes, mock interviews, and wait-list tactics - we guide you through the application maze.
Don’t miss these upcoming chats at Accepted:
Yale – with Admissions Director Bruce DelMonico: Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007 at 6:00 PM GMT
London Business School – with Acting Associate Dean David Simpson: Monday, Oct. 15, 5:00 PM GMT
CMU – with Director of MBA Admissions Laurie Stewart: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 5:00 PM

[Accepted]

Originally Posted by mz05

Hi Jennifer,

Thanks in advnace ! This is ravi .

I have few very basic questions !

My profile is

GMAT 700 (a 50/v 34):(
Work Ex 7 Years in BARC (Scientist, R&D)
acads averagge (First >70%)
M.Sc. From IITR (Phy)

Please suggest me which colleges can i target ?

I always got much higher GMAT score in mocks , thats why i opted for MIT, Tucks , Columbia, ISB and Stern. Now i feel that with this score, it will be too optimistic to target these colleges.

now kindly advice me with this profile what should i do ? Shall i target 15-20 ranked schools in us or make a try for europe or else rewrite gmat (please note i am nontechi).

Most importantly , being an average salried man , cost is the crucial factor. Kindly make a comment on the financial prospects (fees/loan/scol etc)

waiting for ur reply

regards
urs sincerly
ravi arora

Hi, Ravi. Wow, sounds like you have a lot of research ahead of you! GMAT score is only one minor factor in the admissions puzzle. Once you’ve earned a 700, you are basically a potential applicant anywhere – meaning you are not an automatic reject. On the other hand, NO GMAT SCORE IS A FREE ADMISSIONS PASS! In other words, I’ve known people with 770’s who were rejected by their top choices because they just were not a good fit with the program.
Your job is to demonstrate that you are a good fit. You need to know what your career goal is and why that MBA program will best prepare you for your goal. As a scientist in R&D you may very well be pigeon-holed as a techie unless you can demonstrate that you are a personable leader who takes initiative and makes an impact on the companies you have worked for.
Once you have determined which schools are the best fit for your academic, social, and career interests, then you must identify those that offer the best ROI. Most of the top programs do not offer much financial aid to any but the top applicants; as you move down the rankings, more scholarships become available – if you prove that you are someone that the school would be thrilled to educate and boast as an alumnus in the future.

Enjoy your research!

Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
Accepted - helping you write your best!

From pre-application consulting and strategizing to essay and letter of recommendation editing, resumes, mock interviews, and wait-list tactics - we guide you through the application maze.
Don’t miss these upcoming chats at Accepted:
Yale – with Admissions Director Bruce DelMonico: Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007 at 6:00 PM GMT
London Business School – with Acting Associate Dean David Simpson: Monday, Oct. 15, 5:00 PM GMT
CMU – with Director of MBA Admissions Laurie Stewart: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 5:00 PM