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02 Apr 2020, 08:01
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If you find yourself wondering what else you can do to help your MBA chances while sheltering in place, consider looking also at your LinkedIn profile.
There's a lot you can do now to improve how you present yourself on LinkedIn. While adcom members may not look at your profile, if they do it is likely because you are on the bubble of some sort-- maybe adcom wants to better understand your work experience or see how many connections you have to help you in the job search-- so if adcom does look at your profile you want them to view it in a positive way. Here's a link to an article I wrote about this.
But if you don't feel like taking one more click-- here are the 9 tips:
1. Look the Part
While some MBA programs, such as Columbia, ask you to submit a photo in your application, most programs do not. If adcom does view your LinkedIn profile, they want to see a photo that looks like you would excel in the MBA recruiting process—which means a headshot and traditional business attire. Scrub casual photos or an action shot at the summit of a mountain.
2. Connections Matter
When I was on the adcom side reviewing an applicant’s LinkedIn profile, I liked to see the magic number of 500+ connections. This number gave me confidence that the candidate had already built a strong network that could be leveraged in the MBA recruiting process. If you are not there yet, reconnect with high school and college classmates. Send requests to colleagues in your company and in other professional associations and community leadership activities.
3. Match Key Dates from your Resume
While this may seem obvious, I have reviewed the LinkedIn profiles of some applicants and found discrepancies. Don’t give adcom an opportunity to question the validity of any dates or titles in your application. Be sure the dates and titles listed on your company’s website and your LinkedIn profile match your resume and online application.
4. Show Supporting Details
Link to articles you have published or to articles that highlight the impact you have made through your professional or community experiences. Reach out to your professional network to ask for recommendations and endorsements highlighting specific contributions. If adcom glances at your profile and reads a glowing review, you have effectively submitted an additional positive recommendation.
5. Include a Profile Summary
Create a summary statement in first person (rather than third which can sound pretentious) to highlight your leadership and professional impact. Avoid generic buzzwords like “organized” or “creative.” Connect with your answers to Why MBA? And Why Now?
6. Highlight Your Leadership
Use the “Volunteer Experience” section to highlight the organizations you were involved with in college and beyond. There is ample space—much more than you have on your resume—to add key details about your ability to drive impact in these organizations.
7. Add Accomplishments
Highlight ‘extras’ that may have fallen off your resume in the ‘Accomplishments’ section – continuing education in your area of interest – such as Python classes or additional certifications and honors or awards not mentioned elsewhere.
8. Follow Your Leaders
Follow companies and organizations that align with your post-MBA goals. If the companies you follow are investment banks yet your application notes that you want to go into social impact consulting, it may raise a red flag.
9. Presentation Matters
Customize your profile URL to your name and include this simplified link on your resume so adcom can easily find your profile. Proofread.
Use LinkedIn to your advantage to enhance your overall MBA application. Next, review all other social media platforms to make sure everything supports the message you want MBA programs to see.
There's a lot you can do now to improve how you present yourself on LinkedIn. While adcom members may not look at your profile, if they do it is likely because you are on the bubble of some sort-- maybe adcom wants to better understand your work experience or see how many connections you have to help you in the job search-- so if adcom does look at your profile you want them to view it in a positive way. Here's a link to an article I wrote about this.
But if you don't feel like taking one more click-- here are the 9 tips:
1. Look the Part
While some MBA programs, such as Columbia, ask you to submit a photo in your application, most programs do not. If adcom does view your LinkedIn profile, they want to see a photo that looks like you would excel in the MBA recruiting process—which means a headshot and traditional business attire. Scrub casual photos or an action shot at the summit of a mountain.
2. Connections Matter
When I was on the adcom side reviewing an applicant’s LinkedIn profile, I liked to see the magic number of 500+ connections. This number gave me confidence that the candidate had already built a strong network that could be leveraged in the MBA recruiting process. If you are not there yet, reconnect with high school and college classmates. Send requests to colleagues in your company and in other professional associations and community leadership activities.
3. Match Key Dates from your Resume
While this may seem obvious, I have reviewed the LinkedIn profiles of some applicants and found discrepancies. Don’t give adcom an opportunity to question the validity of any dates or titles in your application. Be sure the dates and titles listed on your company’s website and your LinkedIn profile match your resume and online application.
4. Show Supporting Details
Link to articles you have published or to articles that highlight the impact you have made through your professional or community experiences. Reach out to your professional network to ask for recommendations and endorsements highlighting specific contributions. If adcom glances at your profile and reads a glowing review, you have effectively submitted an additional positive recommendation.
5. Include a Profile Summary
Create a summary statement in first person (rather than third which can sound pretentious) to highlight your leadership and professional impact. Avoid generic buzzwords like “organized” or “creative.” Connect with your answers to Why MBA? And Why Now?
6. Highlight Your Leadership
Use the “Volunteer Experience” section to highlight the organizations you were involved with in college and beyond. There is ample space—much more than you have on your resume—to add key details about your ability to drive impact in these organizations.
7. Add Accomplishments
Highlight ‘extras’ that may have fallen off your resume in the ‘Accomplishments’ section – continuing education in your area of interest – such as Python classes or additional certifications and honors or awards not mentioned elsewhere.
8. Follow Your Leaders
Follow companies and organizations that align with your post-MBA goals. If the companies you follow are investment banks yet your application notes that you want to go into social impact consulting, it may raise a red flag.
9. Presentation Matters
Customize your profile URL to your name and include this simplified link on your resume so adcom can easily find your profile. Proofread.
Use LinkedIn to your advantage to enhance your overall MBA application. Next, review all other social media platforms to make sure everything supports the message you want MBA programs to see.
