Who is really an “MBA candidate?
As an MBA student, I had to develop creative ways to explain that I am going through an MBA program. Nowadays, one of them would be to write “MBA candidate” somewhere at the beginning of the resume.
Generally, MBA students are called “MBA candidates” to indicate that the person is a student enrolled in an MBA program and working toward completing an MBA degree. It is just one of many ways to tell the current MBA in progress.
MBA Candidate Meaning
Below I will explain what an MBA candidate means. And what it entails and how it affects your resume and influences employers.
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Why are MBA Students Called Candidates?
So, who is an MBA candidate, and what difference does it make? Initially, an MBA candidate meant that the person has completed the required MBA coursework and expects formal graduation and an MBA diploma.
But the term has been watered down by the students eager to jump into the business world. They began calling themselves MBA candidates as soon as they started their first classes.
Because it sounds good and important. A mere “graduate business student” vs. “MBA candidate” – read this out loud a few times and feel the difference.
Is not it cool to throw this into the air when you are talking to an object of interest in a bar or nightclub, for example? That works too. I am not a student – I am a candidate! Fine, jokes aside.
MBA is challenging, and anyone who can handle complex business topics has an excellent working brain. It is a matter of pride because MBA is usually more complex than an undergraduate program. Let us ignore undergraduate philosophy, science and engineering majors for this statement.
Also, an MBA candidate sounds particularly good for business college advertising purposes. It indicates getting a professional-level degree and attracts students.
MBA programs are happy to use the term “MBA candidate” to lure more students into pursuing MBA.
They would call you “your excellency and majesty MBA candidate” if that would have helped enrollment. Because an MBA degree is a product for which people pay good money to business schools and colleges.
Finally, “MBA candidate” often means that a student is currently incurring student debt almost at the cost of a house. Being a “candidate” kind of calms down pain and fixes that damaged ego. Sorry, I have a sad sense of humor, and I am doing it again.
What is a “candidate”?
Well, Ph.D. candidates are those who have passed Ph.D. coursework and are about to obtain their PhDs. A candidate is someone who is about to complete or accomplish something. For example, a candidate has made it through an initial selection process and is now among the smaller pool of competing individuals.
NOTE: I am conducting unique and one-of-a-kind micro-MBA seminars online. We teach basic concepts of such core business subjects as economics, finance &corporate finance, investments, management, marketing, digital marketing, strategy and more.
Concepts that everyone needs to know in our social system and in the business world. Based on my own experience as MBA program graduate and business owner. Good preparation and feel if you think about attending getting your MBA degree in the future.
Max Feo, JD, MBA, Tax LLM
Do you put MBA candidate on your resume?
Usually, there is no problem with MBA students putting “MBA candidate” on the resume. It simply indicates that the student is currently enrolled in the MBA program.
Even more so, it may be necessary to show that you are currently pursuing a degree full or part-time.
Therefore, you should include in the resume that you have MBA in progress. The easiest and kind of traditional way for an MBA student now is to call himself or herself an “MBA candidate.” Although, I used to put “MBA in progress” on my resume.
Here is how you can put your MBA on your resume: “Master of Business Administration degree candidate” and then “expected completion on Month, 20XX year.” You can put a dash – there is no set way for that as long it is visible on the resume.
MBA candidate on resume implications
Indicating MBA candidate on your resume has severe implications in the process of job seeking. First, if you are still seeking entry-level positions, an indication of an MBA degree in progress on the resume may make you overqualified. Not a set rule, but it may.
No worries about jobs in Target or McDonalds. They will still take even Ph.D. candidates as long as burger-flipping or isle cleaning work is done.
And as long as AI robots do not replace those jobs in the nearest future (not a joke). But I am talking about starter jobs in your industry.
Seeing an MBA candidate on the resume may or may not set off a red flag for an employer. Some will tell you right away that you are overqualified.
Some will say, let us wait till you complete your MBA. The other will lie to you and never help you in any way.
If an MBA degree in progress is from the top 15 business schools, then it may very well benefit from putting that on a resume.
But if the degree is from the top 300-400 business schools, which are known only locally, then it not that important. Unless you already have substantial work background and some specific skills valuable for that employer.
In such circumstances, being an MBA candidate may give you additional credibility. Especially if the potential position allows for some room for growth.
Some people argue that in the start-up world, MBA is not looked too favorably upon. But it depends on each company and start-up, I guess. Source.
I had a few versions of my resume when I was doing MBA. One was for a more professional position level and another for non-professional jobs if necessary. I did not put MBA on my non-professional jobs-tailored resume.
What being an MBA candidate means for an MBA student?
Frankly, being an MBA candidate changes nothing for MBA students. It does not give any benefits, does not open extra doors. It is just one popular fancy way to indicate to other people that this person is an MBA student.
Many students avoid using these practical terms and just say they are graduate business students. I have not even used “MBA candidate” on my resume.
I used to put “MBA degree in progress” or something to that effect to show that I am currently enrolled in an MBA program working on my degree.
But I have no problem with MBA students distinguishing themselves from the crowd using this way of expression.
All these expressions like “future MBA” (this is conversational only) or “Master of Business Administration student” (this one is suitable for CV) are equally acceptable.
Others put “MBA class of GRADUATION_YEAR.” Some even recommend the following designation: MBA (C), where (C) stands for “candidate.”
I would also use “currently pursuing Master of Business Administration degree at XYZ university.”
What I would focus on is something that distinguishes me from the rest of the MBA candidates. For example, your previous work or other accomplishments. Coding skills. Knowledge of excel. Knowledge of python coding. Started and sold own business, even small one.
Here are the legitimate things to put on your resume.
- Former distinguished military purple heart recipient who led a company of men and women into battle and accomplishing missions.
- Knowledge of specific industry where you started working as a clerk or janitor and worked through all small menial jobs to know the real internal kitchen very well.
That knowledge of ground zero can impact a potential employer who wants someone who knows the industry well to lead a group of lower-ranking employees.
Know how to play violin or paint oil paintings? Mention that in your CV. Hey, even if you are a champion in the online multiplayer computer game or make excellent pizza – show that too. The rule is that you never know what will click that unique string with a recruiter reviewing your resume.
“MBA candidate” in an email signature.
It really makes sense to indicate that you are an MBA student is when you communicate with recruiters, staffing agencies, or HRs of the companies where you apply for a job. Because they require your full disclosure on application.
Otherwise, I would not put “MBA candidate” in the email signature line because it looks kind of pretentious, anxious, and cocky.
Although, most professionals understand the eagerness to show MBA accomplishments in the initial stage. Because they also went through the early career-building process.
Still, I would reserve any designations like MBA until you obtain your degree. Exception, again, is your CV, where you can and should indicate current education.
Conclusion.
This is a short article because the point is clear – “MBA candidate” is acceptable to use but only in certain circumstances. Like when you seek a job where a future MBA degree may be relevant. Otherwise, I see no point in why MBA students are called “MBA candidates.”
For me, MBA was relatively easy because I worked pretty hard on it. Most MBA subjects are very straightforward compare to obscure esoteric topics we had to cover in law school.
MBA nowadays is essentially a commodity degree, unless you obtain it from a top MBA program. I mean, to become a doctor, you need MD, and to become a lawyer, you must complete your JD.
But what you do after MBA? There is no such profession as “MBA.” Thus, I would not use “candidate” too much because it is not that important.
Because the job market is tough and a kid still living in parent’s house, without any education but with great coding skills or excellent social media influencing presence may beat many MBAs, JDs, PhDs, MSs in making money, hands down. Just because they are likable and talk a lot, we live in new and rapidly changing times.
Still, take pride in your accomplishments, even in educational ones. Many people are not capable of studying complex subjects. But you can. Why not take a little bit of pride in your MBA progress? But just a little, be modest.
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Max Feo, J.D., MBA, Tax LLM. (J.D., Rutgers University School of Law, 2012; Tax LLM, Loyola School of Law, 2013)