Work experience is not required for entry to the Stanford MBA Program. We welcome applications from college seniors and recent graduates, as well as those with all levels of work experience.
We value diversity of experience in our student body, so no specific industry, function, or background is preferred over another. We are more interested in the impact you have had in your workplace than in the name or stature of the organization.
This section of the application presents the opportunity to describe your employment history. How have you made the most of your professional opportunities? Are you cultivating your leadership and team skills? What impact are you making? We look at your responses along with your letters of reference to understand how you have contributed to your work environment(s).
Here are some specifics about completing this section of the application:
- Don’t list positions held prior to beginning university.
- For each employer, you may add up to four specific job roles, which allows you to describe formal job-rotation assignments, promotions, or other significant changes in your responsibilities. You do not, however, need to tell us about every project you’ve ever worked on for your employer.
- Include full-time and part-time work experiences, as well as paid and unpaid internships. We ask why you left your previous job(s) to help us understand your career path and what has motivated your decision making.
- We also ask you to tell us the industry and job function you hope to pursue after you obtain your MBA, and to provide a brief description of your career aspirations.
Business Resume
Attach your one-page resume. Unless you have a compelling reason, such as more than ten years of work experience, do not submit a resume that is longer than one page.