This fall and winter, career services departments in business schools worldwide can anticipate an increased presence of corporate recruiters on campus, predicts the Graduate Management Admission Council. MBA programs will want to make those recruiters happy by providing a highly competent pool of candidates for them to meet with. But what do employers really want in candidates?
GMAC answers that question in its 2016 Corporate Recruiters Survey, which asked 842 employers that represent more than 530 companies in 40 countries to identify the most important skills and traits when evaluating MBA and non-MBA business master's graduates as potential new hires for their companies.
Among 12 traits that survey respondents ranked as most valuable, a candidate's ability to fit within an organization's culture was highest overall, followed by the candidate's ability to work in teams and the ability to make an impact.
If companies want team players, you can bet that admissions committees do, too. Schools want to know that applicants are individually capable, but they don't expect you to do everything on your own. They want to see that you are able to work with others to reach a common goal.
The good news is that you can show admissions committees that you already possess this quality. Here are three parts of the application process where you can highlight your teamwork skills.
• Essays: Themes of leadership and teamwork run through many business schools' essay topics, but simply acknowledging that you have worked in teams won't prove to the admissions committee that you know how to do it well. Illustrate your success in this area by citing specific experiences.
For example, talk about a time when you encountered a conflict, such as over ideas on the best way to tackle a project, or personal conflicts with people on your team. Perhaps you worked with someone who was bossy and overbearing or with people who didn't do their share of the work – show how you brought dissenters together to achieve that shared goal.
Mine those workplace or extracurricular experiences where you handled the normal pitfalls of teamwork. Maybe you have successfully dealt with communication challenges stemming from cultural differences, multiple time zones or just working with a client or coworker who preferred to discuss everything over the phone instead of email. The actual situation is irrelevant – the admissions committee simply wants to know that you can succeed in a program that is focused on a team environment and group projects.
• Resume: The MBA resume should include details that explain what you did on a project,showcase specific achievements and results and highlight your increased responsibilities over time. Use these details to demonstrate your ability to work well on a team.
The following examples are from former clients' resumes and help support their abilities to work well with others.
One client from strategy consulting had a bullet point that stated, "Conducted focus groups with influential client representatives to validate and communicate the strategy." Another client from private equity noted, "Considerable client exposure: participated in pitches, due diligence and drafting sessions and preparing Fairness Opinions."
A military applicant displayed his impressive interpersonal skills when he listed on his resume, "Represent and advocate for detainees during Law of Armed Conflict Detainee Review Boards."
Every applicant is different, but most b-school candidates can find some way to convey teamwork experience on their resume. Think of examples of when and how you united people behind a common goal, capitalized on others' talents and skills, instilled a vision, identified a new problem or prioritized the project's needs above personal ones.
• Interview: During an MBA interview, whether it's with an alumnus or admissions staff member, you'll likely be asked about a time when you worked as part of a team. The interviewer is trying to get to know you but is also assessing your fit with future classmates.
If you go to the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, for instance, and work on a project within a study group, will your fellow students like working with you? Will you be timid about speaking up or will you communicate effectively andget things done?
Show off your teamwork abilities by mentioning a situation where you listened to others and bridged a gap between diverse participants to help foster collaboration on a project. Or talk about a time when you boosted morale or facilitated a compromise between two stubborn teammates.
You will likely encounter scenarios like these during business school, and if your interviewer feels you are already well-prepared for the inevitable challenges, your application is much more likely to receive a green light.
Building or running a business is not a solo endeavor. To create anything scalable, you'll need to rely on others.
Even small enterprises require working with others to get things done. Prove you already have the skills in this area, and you'll impress not only the MBA admissions committee but also future employers. | 
