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myEssayReview
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MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 06 Jan 2012
Last visit: 12 Nov 2025
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14 Common Formatting Mistakes in MBA Résumés 02 Oct 2025, 17:32
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When reviewing MBA résumés, I often find that résumé issues are as much about formatting as about content. Poor formatting can distract admissions officers and reduce the impact of otherwise strong experiences.

Here are 14 formatting mistakes I come across again and again:

1. Not capitalizing your name in the header
2. Not capitalizing section headers or company names
3. Forgetting to italicize job positions
4. Highlighting/bolding words or results inside bullets
5. Ending bullets with full stops (they’re not sentences)
6. Using lines, tables, or boxes that waste space
7. Placing company and job title on the same line
8. Mixing date formats (e.g., Jan 2024 vs. 01/2024)
9. Misaligned text for dates, roles, or locations.
10. Using fonts or styles
11. Using lines between sections
12. Using inconsistent or decorative bullet symbols.
13. Keeping insufficient spacing between sections
14. Having uneven margins

Why does this matter?

Your résumé is often the first document the AdCom reads. Clear formatting conveys professionalism and makes your achievements easy to scan. On the other hand, sloppy formatting creates unnecessary friction.

Takeaway: Keep your résumé clean, consistent, and simple. Admissions officers should focus on your accomplishments and not get distracted by formatting errors.

For explanations and tips on each mistake, read my full blog here: https://myessayreview.com/mba-topics/12-common-formatting-mistakes-mba-resumes/

👉 Need help building your MBA résumé? Email me at poonam@myessayreview.com

Poonam Tandon
Founder and President, myEssayReview
www.myessayreview.com
Email : poonam@myessayreview.com
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