{"id":44662,"date":"2019-02-04T19:23:20","date_gmt":"2019-02-05T02:23:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/management-experience-for-your-mba-application-necessary-or-cherry-on-top\/"},"modified":"2019-02-04T19:23:20","modified_gmt":"2019-02-05T02:23:20","slug":"management-experience-for-your-mba-application-necessary-or-cherry-on-top","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/management-experience-for-your-mba-application-necessary-or-cherry-on-top\/","title":{"rendered":"Management Experience for Your MBA Application: Necessary or Cherry on Top?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Management
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If you\u2019re thinking about applying to business school, you may be wondering if you need management experience to do it. <\/p>\n

There are many factors that MBA programs<\/a> consider when evaluating applicants, and your professional track record certainly plays a key role. In fact, some schools<\/a> won\u2019t even consider applicants without professional experience\u2014and others place such a high value on it that they\u2019ll provide MBA GMAT waivers<\/a> to those with enough of it! However, regardless of what your work history entails, it\u2019s important to understand the bigger picture of an MBA application\u2014and that a lack of formal management experience shouldn\u2019t keep you from applying.<\/p>\n

Take a holistic approach \u2014 since everything matters.<\/h3>\n

Although applicants with management experience may enjoy a competitive edge<\/a>, it\u2019s important to remember that every component of your application matters. Programs may differ regarding which aspects they prioritize, but you can be sure that they\u2019ll be taking a holistic view of everything \u2014 including GPA, test scores, resume, essays, professional experience, recommendation letters, and how well you perform during interviews. The top schools want to know who you are, and statistics and a resume don’t tell them that. It’s the essays, interviews, and recommendations that ultimately reveal the person beyond the paper.\u201d<\/p>\n

Be creative \u2014 since leadership can be displayed in many ways.<\/h3>\n

Though \u201cmanagement\u201d and \u201cleadership\u201d are different animals<\/a>, there are some aspects that overlap<\/a> \u2014 and admissions committees know that. If you\u2019ve held a formal \u201cmanagement role,\u201d be sure to display how you used strong leadership skills in your work. In the same manner, even without such a title on your resume, there are many ways to show how you\u2019ve been a leader in other roles. This could include things like volunteer initiatives you\u2019ve participated in for your community. As Graham Richmond, graduate and former admissions official at the\u00a0University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School,\u00a0notes in an interview for <\/a>U.S. News & World Report<\/a><\/em>, \u201cThere are many ways to demonstrate leadership and teamwork \u2014 be it in the professional domain or in one’s outside activities. In other words, applicants do not have to be formally managing a team of 10 people in order to have an impressive leadership or teamwork profile.\u201d<\/p>\n

Be compelling \u2014 and give them a reason to want you.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/h3>\n

Perhaps one of the most important things you can do for yourself when it comes to preparing your MBA application is to provide a compelling profile that admission committees will be attracted to. Forbes <\/a><\/em>contributor Shawn O\u2019Connor says<\/a> doing so starts with knowing yourself, and then convincing others that you\u2019re a perfect candidate: \u201cYour MBA application is your chance to share yourself with the admissions committee and convince them that you are an ideal fit for their school. To do this, you need to reflect on who you are personally, professionally, and academically.\u201d <\/p>\n

Having a management position on your resume is certainly a good thing, but may not be a necessity when it comes to finding the MBA program that\u2019s the best fit for your needs. What\u2019s more important is to provide a holistic view of what you bring to the table \u2014 and how your leadership skills are an important component of your candidacy.<\/p>\n

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