In MBA applications, your résumé is often the very first document the admissions committee reviews. It is your first introduction to the Ad Com, and the way it looks is as important as what it says. A well-formatted résumé immediately signals professionalism, clarity, and attention to detail. Even strong content can lose its impact if the formatting is sloppy.
Having reviewed hundreds of résumés over the past 14 years, I have noticed that the same mistakes appear repeatedly. In this article, I share fourteen of the most common errors I see in résumés, along with practical tips to avoid them.
- Not capitalizing your name
Your name should always stand out at the very top of your résumé. Write it in ALL CAPS and bold so that it immediately draws the reader’s eye.
- Not capitalizing section headers and company names
All sections, such as PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE and EDUCATION should be in caps for consistency and visibility. Likewise, you can capitalize company names (e.g., AMAZON, MCKINSEY) to highlight where you have worked.
- Not italicizing job positions
Your job title should look visually distinct from the company name. Italicizing titles such as Consultant or Product Manager ensures clarity and separates roles from organizations.
- Highlighting or bolding words/results within bullets
There is no need to bold or highlight outcomes. It distracts the reader. Strong writing makes your impact clear without typographical tricks. Admissions officers know where to look for results; let your bullet structure do the work.
- Ending bullets with full stops (periods)
Bullets are not full sentences. So please skip the period. Keep bullets crisp and direct to maintain a clean, professional look throughout your résumé..
- Adding lines, tables, or boxes
These clutter the document and waste valuable space. They may also not be processed correctly by online application systems. Stick to clean, plain text in Word.
- Combining the company name and job title on the same line
Placing both on one line makes the résumé harder to scan. Instead, list the company name first, followed by the job title on the next line. This improves readability and clearly shows your career progression.
- Inconsistent date formats
Switching between “Jan 2024,” “01/2024,” and “January ’24” looks careless. Pick one format and use it consistently across all entries.
Use the same format and order for non-work entries, such as volunteer work, extracurricular activities, or projects, as you do for professional experience, to ensure a cohesive, professional appearance.
- Misaligned text
Dates, job titles, company names, and locations should all align neatly. Poor alignment creates a messy look and distracts the reader from your achievements.
- Using fancy fonts or styles
Fancy fonts make a résumé look chaotic.
Use a clean, professional font (such as Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial) and keep the formatting consistent across all sections for a polished, uniform appearance. Use italics sparingly (only for job positions).
- Using lines between sections
Adding lines between sections doesn’t add value and consumes space. Instead, use white space strategically to separate sections and create visual balance.
- Improper bullet symbols
Avoid decorative bullets such as arrows, dashes, or fancy icons. Use simple, round bullets consistently throughout the document.
- Insufficient spacing
Crowded text makes résumés hard to read. Leave enough space between sections and bullets so that the document looks neat and is easy on the reader’s eyes.
- Uneven margins
Many applicants overlook margin consistency. Uneven or overly wide/narrow margins can make a résumé look unbalanced. Stick to uniform margins for a polished, professional appearance.
Final Thoughts
Your résumé is not just a list of accomplishments; it is a reflection of your professionalism and attention to detail. Clear, consistent formatting allows the admissions committee to focus on your achievements without distraction.
Keep in mind that Ad Com members review hundreds of résumés and rarely spend more than one or two minutes on each. A neat, well-structured, and easy-to-scan résumé helps them quickly understand your profile and the value you bring.
The key is simple: clean, consistent, and professional formatting. When your résumé is visually appealing and easy to read, it creates the right impression and ensures that your accomplishments take center stage.
👉 Need help building your MBA résumé? Email me at poonam@myessayreview.com
Related blogs:
- Avoid these 10 Mistakes when Creating your MBA Resume
- 20 Useful Tips to Craft an Effective MBA Résumé
- Video - How Your MBA Resume Can Boost Your Performance at Work https://youtu.be/xALWJyTtN_I
- Video- Powerful Tips to Craft a Winning MBA Resume https://youtu.be/5K5uasPzGPU
About MER (myEssayReview)
Poonam Tandon, the founder of MER (myEssayReview), is a Ph.D. in English with 14 years of MBA consulting experience and three decades of teaching experience in India and the US. A master storyteller, Poonam has successfully guided hundreds of students worldwide to gain admission into the esteemed MBA, EMBA, and specialized master's programs in the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Throughout her four-decade-long professional career, she has reviewed 11,000+ essays written by applicants worldwide. Poonam was among the top 5 most reviewed consultants on the GMAT Club from September 2012 to December 2023.
You may email Poonam at poonam@myessayreview.com with questions about your application for the 2025-26 application cycle. Sign up here for a profile evaluation.
