It’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way. Here’s how you can tell MBA programs you are crushing it without coming off as obnoxious.
The profile characteristics of a top MBA program candidate is, in a word, impressive. Not only do they possess the indicators which are self-evident of achievement and smarts (such as a 700+ GMAT score or a high GPA, credentials which need no explanation), they generally also have a laundry list of other lofty accomplishments which would intimidate even the most ambitious professional.
Sometimes it’s difficult to promote your successes without appearing boastful.
One of the first things you are told when applying to b-school is that you must toot your own horn. If you fail to demonstrate your strengths yourself, there’s nobody else who will. Often this results in essays or interviews where the applicant comes off as arrogant or prideful. While adcoms understand that people have good reasons to be proud of their career, they are always very cautious to make sure they are inviting MBA candidates into their program who also understand teamwork and can play in the sandbox well with others. It’s not that they want to “put people in their place,” but rather, they want to ensure everyone gets along. The MBA curriculum is busy, so the administration and staff can’t be spending their time breaking up arguments or mediating difficult classmate interactions.
How do you draw attention to yourself without turning people off?
In written form, be factual and don’t over-embellish. When writing about your job accomplishments, it’s fine to tell them you were the top sales person in a certain quarter or that you exceeded goals, but don’t go subjective with words like being the “best,” especially referring to yourself as better than others. Business is competitive to be sure, and business school can be competitive as well, but you should never position yourself as being competitive against your colleagues.
Draw attention to progress and upward mobility towards a vision.
The bottom line is, there’s a difference between touting your achievements and weaving a story of success that has propelled you towards a vision for your future. Business schools are attracted to candidates who have a clear understanding of where they are headed and a solid plan for how they will get there. When you can demonstrate steps you have taken or progress you have made in your career to this end, you will be far better positioned than someone who merely describes a goal or metric they have achieved in the workplace. In the end, don’t be nervous about illustrating your accomplishments. If you’re truly crushing it, you won’t have to work too hard for that to be obvious.
For information on how we can guide your business school applications, email us at mba@amerasiaconsulting.com or go to http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/contactProvide