Applying to the Indian School of Business (ISB) can feel like a big phase. It is one of the leading business schools in India and is ranked among the top in the world. The ISB Post Graduate Programme in Management is something many professionally aspire to be a part of each year. But in such a highly competitive environment, you must rise above the crowd. One of the best ways to do that is to highlight your work experience.
In this guide, we will explain how to show your work experience in the ISB application in the right way. You will also learn how ISB looks at your career journey and how you can connect your past work to your future goals.
Why Work Experience Matters for ISB
Work experience is one of the main things ISB looks at in an application. The school wants to know not just where you worked but also what you achieved. ISB believes that students bring different perspectives into the classroom, and those perspectives come from their job roles, industries, and challenges faced at work.
ISB asks for at least two years of work experience before applying. But merely the quantity of years does not suffice. Quality of your work is the very important thing that counts.
Did you lead a team? Did you solve a big problem? Did you bring new ideas that made things better? These are the kind of experiences ISB values.
Understanding ISB’s Expectations
When ISB reviews your work experience, they check three main things:
- Leadership potential – They want to know if you’ve demonstrated any sort of leadership in your work. A leader is not always a manager. Even if you were working on a small project, stepping up, mentoring a junior, or convincing your team to take up a new approach can demonstrate leadership.
- Work impact – What did you achieve at work? Did you save money, increase efficiency or boost profits? Numbers, statistics and solid examples show your impact.
- Learning attitude – ISB seeks people who are open to learn and grow. If your past roles have demonstrated adaptability, curiosity and problem-solving, it communicates to the school that you’re also going to be a strong learner in the program.
How to List Work Experience on Your Resume?
1. Show Achievements, Not Just Duties
Many applicants make the mistake of writing only about their job duties. For example, saying “I was responsible for handling client accounts” does not stand out. Instead, say “I managed 15 client accounts worth $xxx and improved client satisfaction scores by 20% in one year.” This shows impact.
2. Use Simple and Clear Language
And you don’t have to use big words. Keep it short and to the point. ISB admissions officers review thousands of applications. They prefer reading straightforward examples of your work.
3. Connect Work to Leadership
If you led a project, tell what you did and why your role was important. If you didn’t officially hold the leadership role, highlight times when people depended on your decisions.
4. Quantify Your Results
Whenever possible, use numbers. “Reduced project completion time by 30%” is stronger than “helped finish projects faster.” Numbers prove the scale of your impact.
5. Show Growth Over Time
Talk about how you grew in your career. Did you move from an analyst to a senior analyst? Did you take on larger projects each year? Showing growth tells ISB that you are ready for bigger challenges.
6. Link Work to Future Goals
ISB wants to know why you want an MBA now. When you write about your work, tie it into your goals. For instance: “My background in marketing made me interested in business strategy”. I now want to build skills at ISB to move into product management.”
Mistakes to Avoid
- Listing everything – Do not list every small task. Select 3-4 meaningful experiences demonstrating leadership, impact, and growth.
- Being generic- Steer clear of using terms like “helped,” “supported” or “contributed” without specifics. Be specific.
- Ignoring challenges – Talking only about success is not enough. Show how you faced challenges and learned from them.
- Copy-pasting a CV – Your ISB application should go beyond your resume. Add context and tell stories that numbers alone cannot.
Where to Show Work Experience in the ISB Application
- Application form – Fill details of your work, roles, and responsibilities.
- Essays – This is where you tell your story. Use essays to explain your most meaningful work experiences and how they shaped your goals.
- Recommendations – Choose recommenders who can explain your work impact. A manager or senior colleague who saw your leadership firsthand can write a stronger recommendation.
- Interview – Be ready to discuss your work in detail. The panel may ask about your challenges, mistakes, and learnings. Practice answering with confidence.
The Bigger Picture: ISB and Your Career
ISB is just about classes and GPAs. It’s also about laying the groundwork for the long term, in terms of skills, confidence, and networks. The program will introduce you to an international alumni network, mentors and recruiters. Your work experience acts like the foundation. ISB builds on that to prepare you for senior roles.
The ISB course fee may seem high at first, but the return on investment is strong because of the opportunities it opens up. Many students move into leadership jobs or even start their own ventures after graduation.
Another benefit is flexibility. With options like ISB online courses, professionals can continue learning even after finishing the main program. ISB believes learning is lifelong, and this helps alumni stay updated.
Conclusion
Showcasing your work experience in the ISB application is simply about articulating a concise, true and a powerful story. It’s not so much about “numbers of years” but really what you have done, how you’ve grown and what your past journey says about your future direction. Show leadership, proven results, and the passion to learn more.That will set you apart in a field of the toughest M.B.A. applicants.
Jamboree helps students prepare for ISB and other top schools with expert guidance, test preparation and support, making applications stronger and dreams closer.
