Pursuing an MBA at the top B-schools requires you to have a flawless profile. Most students believe a good GMAT score will suffice. However, that is not true, the GMAT score is one amongst many factors that influence your MBA application. Some other elements such as a well-drafted Statement of Purpose (SOP), Letter of Recommendation (LOR), resume, and relevant work experience contribute significantly and increase your chances of getting into the top B-schools. Hence, to help curate your MBA application, you need a strong profile. It is not only necessary to create a strong profile but also important that you tailor it based on the requirements of your preferred business school.

What is Profile Building?

You must wonder what profile building means? Profile Building is essentially the process of highlighting one’s achievements and skills by developing skills and working on projects that you can add to your resume. An excellent profile sets you apart from other candidates who are also applying for an MBA program. If you are a fresher, a strong profile will help you compete with a candidate with many years of professional experience. Hence, building a profile does not only help with MBA admissions but also comes in handy when you are job hunting. Let us take a look at some ways in which you can strengthen your profile to apply for an MBA program.

Profile Building for MBA

Pursuing an MBA program in India or abroad requires you to take an MBA admission test such as the CAT, XAT, or the GMAT. A good score on any of these exams will help accelerate your MBA application. However, in a scenario, where you haven’t scored well, do not lose hope as you can make up for your scores by building an exceptional profile that will draw the attention of the MBA admissions committee. 

Here are some steps you can follow to build an exceptional and attractive profile: 

Step 1: Certificate Courses

Pursuing a certificate course can be beneficial for your MBA application as it depicts your dedication towards a specific subject area and your keenness to learn. It also helps you develop several skills on a particular subject, let’s say for example economic policies. This will give you an edge over candidates who have taken several years to develop similar skills through professional experience. For example, if you are keen on pursuing an MBA in Global Marketing, having done a certificate course or two in marketing will help you develop skills that you might need in the marketing field.

Step 2: Work Experience 

The MBA admissions committee prefers candidates with work experience over those who lack any kind of work experience. This is because gaining work experience helps ensure you have professional knowledge and hands-on experience. It also helps you in understanding the intricacies of the industry you are interested in. Additionally, you acquire industry-relevant skills which can prove to be helpful both for an MBA and later on in your career. Hence, if you are taking a break before applying for an MBA, you should consider gaining some work experience to add to your resume. However, most MBA programs will require you to have a minimum of 18  to 24 months of work experience. So, make it a point to factor this in when applying for jobs. 

Step 3: Working at Start-Up 

Yet again, the MBA admissions committee prefers candidates (but not mandatory) who have gained experience by working at a start-up. Working at a start-up requires one to adapt and improvise according to the situation. This helps you approach scenarios and situations with utmost curiosity and with creativity. These approaches go way beyond the traditional corporate skill sets you might have gained if you worked at an established company. Hence, having worked at a start-up depicts you are capable of dealing with any professional scenario with much ease and comfort. 

Step 4: Volunteering at an NGO 

Volunteering at an NGO adds significant value to your resume. It depicts that you are socially responsible and withhold certain values. For an MBA application, volunteering at an NGO not only depicts you are dedicated to a social cause, but it also demonstrates your leadership skills. Additionally, when volunteering at an NGO, you tend to develop networking and communication skills. Volunteering at an NGO is also a great way for you to network with other NGOs, prominent industry leaders, and fellow aspirants who might also be looking to pursue an MBA like you.

Step 5: Seek Assistance 

Working towards building a well-rounded profile for an MBA application can be quite overwhelming. In addition, it takes up a lot of your time and energy which might lead to early burnout. One way you can avoid this is by seeking professional assistance from profile builder services. They will ease the process of profile building by assisting you in various ways to enhance your profile. Additionally, most profile builder services offer several courses you can pursue to help develop skills across various industries. In addition to a profile builder service, you can also opt for a career planner service. Most career planner services assist in drafting a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, resume, scholarship applications, and help you prepare for MBA entrance exams such as the GMAT, CAT, or XAT.Additionally, they will also provide you with relevant study material and various strategies to prepare for these MBA exams.

 Now that you are aware of the importance of profile building, you need to invest time and energy into building an excellent profile that will get you into the top B-school, in India or abroad.