Tips from Raja Banerjee for ISB application

1) Please stick to one-page resume
2) Devote more space in resume to work experience than education.
3) Get recommendations preferably from work place, not educational institute. Also, request recommender to write more than just one sentence and to cite specific examples.
4) Think clearly why ISB and MBA are crucial at this stage for you. It should come out well in the Goals essay.
5) Use the essays to give us an insight into your professional life. A resume does not capture all the nuances of your daily work life, so the essays should give me an idea of how good you were at work, integrity issues, team work etc.
6) When you say you ranked 20th, also mention out of how many. For example, ranked 20th in the entrance exam for Noname University. Now how do I know if 10,000 people apply there or 25?
7)If you say you got client satisfaction rating of 4/5, give me some context – it’s better to say: the only project in my division to receive CSS of 4/5 ; or, got a CSS of 4/5 – the highest for this account since it started. I need to know how unique it is to get 4/5, is it a big deal?
8)Mention dates in resume, and show progression in responsibilities. For example, if you were onsite for a year, mention that in a separate line in the resume so I know the length of time you worked there. Just saying that you worked in TCS from 1999-2004 and spent some time onsite doesn’t tell me for how long you were onsite.
Most recommenders are shying away from mentioning your weak areas. It would be good if you mention it yourself in the critical evaluation essay maybe.
9)Most resumes are strictly professional, and don’t give any insight into the person behind the resume. You might mention some personal interests, hobbies, sports etc at the bottom. For example, if you have been following the Yankees or the White Sox, or are particularly good at playing some sport, or have piloted a plane, or a Tintin comic book collector etc. I need to know if I want to sit next to you in class or not. If you have a well-rounded personality, you are an interesting person!
10)Do some homework to find out what is taught in an MBA program, and why it would help you. Why an MBA is needed in your career, and what an MBA can do for you.