If you have an MBA and are currently looking for work, we strongly recommend that you do not put “MBA” after your name at the top of your resume or on your LinkedIn profile. Here’s why…
Recruiters tend to skim through, and when reviewing resumes for jobs that don’t require an MBA, they don’t expect (nor do they want) to see applicants with an MBA.
So, if the first thing a recruiter sees on your resume is a name with an MBA attached to it, they won’t even think about contacting you.
You might be considered “overqualified”
There are many jobs out there that don’t require an advanced degree, so if you put an MBA after your name on your resume or LinkedIn profile, your application may be rejected as you are overqualified. This is why we don’t recommend putting an MBA after your name.
As a career coach, the letters I advise my clients to put after their name (abbreviations for degrees or qualifications) are only those they need to get the job.
for example:
These acronyms and others like them are the exception to the rule, but the job market is saturated with MBAs and I have many clients who have MBAs and are considered overqualified, so why advertise your MBA and let yourself be screened before even looking at your skill set?
Instead of listing your MBA after your name, list the information in the education section of your resume or LinkedIn profile. That way, if a recruiter needs someone with an MBA, they can find that information there.
This doesn’t mean removing your degree from your resume or LinkedIn profile, it simply means changing how you market yourself so that you don’t come across as overqualified in your job search.
This is one of the many tips and tricks that many people are unaware of, impacting their ability to stand out in this highly competitive job market. Disregard the MBA right now. You don’t need the letters after your name. Trust me.
I wish you the best!
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