Tell Your Story: Personal Branding for MBA Application

If you’re applying to business school, you need to understand that the MBA application process is highly competitive. You’re not just competing against other applicants; you’re also competing for the attention of admissions officers who are reviewing hundreds or even thousands of applications.

To stand out from the crowd, you need to develop a personal marketing message or marketing handle that highlights your unique qualities and multidimensionality. This message should integrate key themes, values, and interests that you want your application to communicate.

Introspection and Research

Before starting to write your MBA application essay, you need to do some introspection. Reflect on your personal, professional, academic, and community experiences to identify the key themes, values, and interests that define you. It’s also essential to research the questions asked by your target schools. This information will help you develop a personal marketing message or handle that aligns with the schools’ mission and values.

Crafting a Personal Marketing Message for MBA application

Your personal marketing message is the foundation of your MBA application. It’s the message you want to convey to the admissions committee, so they see you as a well-rounded, unique, and qualified candidate. To craft a compelling personal marketing message, start by selecting four or five key themes that reflect your multidimensionality. These themes can come from any aspect of your life, such as your professional achievements, community involvement, personal hobbies, family background, or international experiences.

Emphasizing Multidimensionality in MBA application

Both engineers and non-engineers should emphasize their multidimensionality in their MBA application. For example, if you’re an engineer, don’t just focus on your technical skills and quantitative strengths. Instead, highlight your creativity, social impact causes, or out-of-the-box professional experiences. If you’re a non-engineer, make sure to showcase your analytical and business skills, even if they’re not your main profession. The key is to demonstrate that you have a well-rounded background that can contribute to the business school community.

Finding Distinctiveness

To stand out in a sea of MBA applications, you need to find distinctiveness. One way to do this is by incorporating themes that are not traditionally associated with your profession or background. For example, if you’re a software engineer, you could highlight your passion for writing or your experience as a volunteer for a charity organization. Conversely, if your profession is already unique, such as a social entrepreneur or a writer, you should balance your personal marketing message with themes that show your quantitative analytical or business skills.

Incorporating Unusual Experiences into MBA application

Another way to add distinctiveness to your MBA application is by incorporating unusual experiences. For example, if you have a unique family background, such as growing up in a multicultural household, you could use this to showcase your global mindset and cultural competence. If you have a distinctive hobby, such as surfing or mountain climbing, you could use this to demonstrate your leadership, perseverance, and risk-taking abilities.

Asking for Input

Developing a personal marketing message for your MBA application can be a challenging process. That’s why it’s crucial to ask for input from others. You can ask your friends, family, colleagues, mentors, or anyone who knows you well to give you feedback on your themes and messaging. This input can help you refine your personal marketing message and make it more impactful and memorable.

Final Thoughts

It requires introspection, research, creativity, and feedback. But with the right approach and mindset, you can develop a message that showcases your multidimensionality, distinctiveness, and qualifications. Remember to be authentic, concise, and memorable. Good luck!