Top Tips: MBA/MS Résumé

1. Create document in Word format but submit in PDF format (Save as [Your Name] Resume.pdf.)
2. Do NOT use graphics, photos or borders.
3. Margins should be no smaller than 0.5” and should be equal on all sides.
4. Font type must be professional (e.g., Calibri, Cambria, Arial, Helvetica) and font size must be between 10 and 12 for body and 12 and 16 for headers. Use 18-24 point font for your name.
5. Use single line spacing.
6. Name, city/state, cell phone number, email, and LinkedIn URL should be centered.
   • Name should be in BOLD and in UPPERCASE. You can include a nickname or preferred name in parenthesis i.e. ELIZABETH (ELLIE) SMITH.
   • Use your local city, state, zip code for your address (unless you have another address in your preferred geographic location).
   • If you have an online portfolio (Wix, or some other website) you can add the URL in this line as well.
   • for URL’s, make sure they are hyperlinked and you don’t need to include the (https://www.)
7. Maintain consistency throughout your résumé by paying attention to the lines that should be in
   bold, italics bold, etc. This is important.
8. Be consistent in tense use throughout each experience (e.g., use past tense for the entire experience if the experience is past tense). Do not use “ing” when starting a bullet point with an action verb.
9. Limit resume to 1 page unless you have 10+ years of professional experience (maximum 2 pages.)
10. Experiences and Education should be listed in reverse chronological order (most recent listed first).

• Both American University and the Kogod School of Business must be listed as per template.
• Use Master of Business Administration to describe your degree. Kogod does not offer MBA concentrations/specializations
  • Add classes pertinent to the job to which you are applying as “Relevant Coursework”.
• Use Master of Science in [Chosen Field of Study] to describe your degree and list any specializations or minors.
  • Specific classes that are pertinent to the job to which you are applying can be Included in the “Relevant Coursework” section. Do not exceed two lines of listed coursework and omit this section if you need space.
• Study abroad experiences go under Education. Make sure to note if you took courses in another language.
• Only include GPA of 3.00+ unless required by employer in which case you must include it. List GPA to second decimal place and do not round (3.489 would be 3.48.)
• GPA and significant leadership activities are optional. Do NOT list GRE or GMAT scores.

A portfolio is a representation of who you are as a professional. It is a collection of items that showcases your accomplishments and presents who you are as a candidate, they provide evidence for your skills and qualifications.

When should you use a portfolio?

Anytime that you want to visualize your qualifications and abilities. Portfolios may be used to market yourself during a job interview, apply for scholarships, document professional development, secure a promotion, and many other purposes. Each field will vary on what is recommended to include in one’s portfolio and whether they should be physical or online.

Here are a few options for online portfolios:

• EdSpace @ American University
• Canvas Portfolium @ American University. It is integrated with the AU Canvas system so you can pull your coursework directly into your portfolio. Unlike EdSpace sites, which will be retired a year after you graduate from AU, your Canvas Portfolium site will always be available to you and is a great networking tool. Instructions on how to create your portfolio have been emailed or by using your American University email and Selecting AU for your school.
• GitHub
• Wix
• Strikingly
• Creatively
• Additional Options

You can add it to your resume along with your contact information and LinkedIn URL if it is virtual.

For an analytics/coding portfolio here are some tips to help you:

• How-to-Create-a-GitHub-Portfolio/README.md at main · katiehuangx/How-to-Create-a-GitHub-Portfolio · GitHub
• Develop a Stand-out Data Science Portfolio with GitHub – KDnuggets
• How to Make a GitHub Portfolio Website – Data Column | Institute for Advanced Analytics

• Describe the company and industry at the end of the first bullet.
• You can also re-label WORK EXPERIENCE to be FINANCE EXPERIENCE or MARKETING EXPERIENCE etc. to demonstrate relevant experience, followed by an additional section called ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE under which you can list (in reverse chronological order) your other experiences.
• Add a PROJECT/LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE section as needed and depending on your background.
  • PROJECT EXPERIENCE: Great way to highlight class projects, or pro-bono/free-lance projects in which you gained skills and competencies that are relevant to the positions to which you are applying.
    • MBAs can include their consulting project in this section or their experience section, depending on their previous work experience.
    • Include special consulting, analytics, or other projects where you used technical skills.
  • LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE: Can be used to highlight an executive board roles, or extracurricular work you took on in student clubs. This is also a great place for Student Athletes to add in their time as an athlete. Check out more Student Athlete Résumé Tips
  • You can also add in a VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE if you developed relevant skills while volunteering, or you can add it to the LEADERSHIP section.
• Resume needs to be results-oriented and it is very important to quantify your accomplishments and/or results, including the scope of the work and how the work benefited the organization (e.g. cost savings, new business generated, increased sales or profitability, improved efficiency, reduced staffing needs, improved productivity, increased client volume, etc.).
• Make sure you answer questions like “how did you add value?” and/or “how much did you impact the organization?”
• Take a look at the next accordion for specifics on how to write bullet points

Include certificates, computer skills, languages, affiliations, awards, and interests in the SKILLS AND INTERESTS section.

• Only include them if they are relevant, unique, high-achieving and you have the space.

• Provide 2-5 concise, results-oriented accomplishment statements for each work experience. Begin each accomplishment statement with a strong action verb (see Action Verb list).
  • Wherever possible, quantify your accomplishments (e.g. dollars saved, volume of customers, amount of new business generated, increased sales, improved efficiency, reduced staff needs, improved efficiency or productivity), e.g. “Generated a 72% positive response rate by cultivating leads through 20+ calls per week.”
• For an internship or less significant experience, limit description to 2-3 accomplishment statements. For a significant full-time job or experience, use up to 5 accomplishment statements.
• Do not use first person language (“I”, “me”, “my”, “we”, “our”, “us”, etc.)
• For more support check out our Accomplishment Statements resource.
• Add in your strengths or skills as well to highlight how YOU have done the work. See CliftonStrengths in Résumé

Tailor your resume to the job for which you are applying using key words from the job description and make sure that the skills and competencies you are showcasing in your EXPERIENCE sections are relevant to the job.

Most companies use ATS or CRM (Candidate relationship management) software to help with organizing and aligning the hiring process, this has been around for decades. With the rise of AI, most ATS/CRMs are now also using AI to enhance and supplement the hiring process. How to use AI in hiring is also very interesting, check out our AI in Career Management resource along with Guidance on Candidates’ AI Usage \ Anthropic.

As an applicant the few things you need to know about this are as follows:

• Formatting of the resume/cover letter matters for the ATS to parse out the text and read your resume correctly.
• Consistency and common language
  • Your resume should have the basics of all resumes to that it is viewed as an actual resume.
  • You should have easy to understand titles/sections for the resume (don’t get creative).
• You want to use the same keywords and skills/experiences/qualifications in your documents that are stated in the job/internship description.
  • Once an ATS reads your resume, the ATS will enable candidate searches based on skills from the description or words the recruiter or hiring manager chooses.
• Most software companies have their FAQs and information open to the public. Explore how specific ATS works as it gives you an understanding of the system. Examples are provided below.
  • Common ATS/CRM tools: Workday, ICIMS, Greenhouse, Lever, Taleo, BambooHR, etc.

This is a video to explain some more about the ATS, you don’t need to use the software. Remember to use Quinncia to review your document as this will enable you to receive personalized, AI-powered feedback.

Here are some Kogod Career Development Perplexity Spaces you can use:

• Any and General Career Questions | Career Development @ Kogod | Perplexity
• Analyze a Job/Internship Description and Compare it to Resume | Perplexity