Prospective MBA students can introduce themselves to business schools in various ways. However, the most commonly required documents are a CV, a resume or a LinkedIn profile. Which one to choose and what is the winning strategy to grab the attention of the admissions officers?

Let’s highlight the most important

Tip 1: LinkedIn is not optional. Your choice is actually between a CV and a resume, simply because nowadays it is a must to have a well-developed and up-to-date LinkedIn profile. Admissions officers will check your LinkedIn profile in addition to your CV/resume and there is a good reason for this that we will explain below.

Tip 2: Tailor. Always tailor your CV or resume to the organisation where you will send it. If you use it for business school, you must tailor it for each of them, because they differ in their focus, culture, requirements, and programme offerings.

Tip 3: Easy to use. The CV and resume should be human-friendly, as well as AI-friendly. It should be well-structured, and easy to read, highlighting the most relevant information. The document format and design should be minimalistic to enable AI to extract the essential highlights. Some organisations which get a lot of applications use AI to screen the CVs or resumes of the applicant pool.

Now, let’s see how all these profiles differ. This can help you effectively showcase your skills in different contexts.

Curriculum Vitae (CV): comprehensive and detail-oriented

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a detailed account of your entire academic and professional journey. It also includes your hobbies, interests, volunteering or community service. They also matter in MBA admissions.

Length: A CV is typically two or more pages long and can be much longer for seasoned professionals.

Content: It includes a full list of your:

  • Educational qualifications
  • Academic achievements
  • Professional experience and achievements
  • Research, publications, and presentations
  • Awards and honours
  • Skills and certifications

Audience: Organisations looking for a comprehensive insight into your academic background, career trajectory, skillset, and interests.

Advantages: A CV is not constrained by length, which allows you to provide exhaustive details about your background. It is particularly valuable for roles that require demonstrating a breadth of knowledge and accomplishments.

Tip: Always keep an up-to-date CV in English and your local language if not English. When you need it, you can tailor and focus it or use it as a basis for your resume.

Resume: concise and targeted

A resume is a shorter, more concise document designed to highlight the most relevant aspects of your career and/or academic background. It is tailored for specific job applications and is the standard in most industries, especially in the US and Canada.

Length: Typically, one page (up to two for experienced professionals).

Content:

  • Recent and relevant work experience
  • Key accomplishments and skills
  • Education (usually listed briefly)
  • Certifications and relevant training

Audience: Recruiters, both in business schools and in companies, seeking candidates for specific programmes or roles.

Advantages: Short, concise and relevant, it is commonly used across industries like business, tech, and marketing or in regions like North America.

Tip: The goal of a resume is to quickly grab the attention of recruiters by presenting the most critical information. Customisation is key – each resume should be tailored to match the programme requirements or job description.

LinkedIn profile: digital and interactive

Your LinkedIn profile is your professional presence on a networking platform. Unlike static documents like a CV or resume, LinkedIn is dynamic and interactive, allowing you to connect with other professionals, share updates, and even apply for jobs directly.

Length: Unlimited, but concise sections are encouraged for readability.

Content:

  • A summary section for your personal brand
  • Work experience, skills, and endorsements
  • Recommendations from colleagues, managers or university professors
  • Posts and articles to showcase expertise

Audience: A broad professional network, business school and corporate recruiters, and potential collaborators.

Advantages: LinkedIn offers features like multimedia uploads, certifications, and links to projects, making it a versatile tool for personal branding essential for networking, building professional credibility, and career growth.

How to use CV, resume, and LinkedIn in MBA application

A CV, resume, and LinkedIn profile each have unique roles in your professional life. While the CV and resume are static documents, LinkedIn is a dynamic platform for networking and personal branding. Understanding these differences enables you to leverage each tool effectively, ensuring your professional story is communicated to the right audience in the right way.

At the initial stages of communication with business schools, you can use a format of your choice – a CV or a resume, but tailor it to MBA application. Highlight experiences, skillset, and achievements that demonstrate your potential for graduate school studies, leadership development, and business acumen. Highlight experiences that make your profile unique.

During your MBA application, the business schools will guide you on the format they prefer – a CV or a resume. The CV has different formats, e.g. the Europass is commonly used in Europe. A link to your LinkedIn profile may also be required, but even if not, include it in your CV or resume. Make sure the facts, dates, and numbers on your LinkedIn profile, CV, and resume are consistent.

Differentiate between personal and professional social media activity. Keep in mind that LinkedIn is a professional network, so keep personal content and activity to other social media channels of your choice.

MBA event and platform profiles

While exploring business schools, you are likely to join MBA events or MBA selection platforms where you will have the opportunity to build a custom MBA profile. In most cases, you can add a link to your LinkedIn profile or upload a CV/resume.

Make sure your MBA event or platform profile is as impressive as your LinkedIn, CV or resume. It will be reviewed by MBA admissions consultants or business school admissions officers. It makes a difference when you upload a professional photo in addition to listing all relevant achievements, experiences, and MBA study preferences.

About the author

Iliana Bobova is a seasoned international education and career coach. In addition to writing articles, she has been the Chief Editor of the annual Access Masters, MBA and EMBA Guide for the past 10 years. She also advises prospective MBA and Master’s students globally during the Access Masters, MBA and EMBA events of Advent Group. Iliana has gained expertise at Harvard University, the International Association of International Education (EAIE), the Institute of International Education (IIE), NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Global Career Development Facilitator, and Randstad RiseSmart, among others.