There are three primary aspects to an MBA candidacy:

1. The academic
2. The personal
3. The professional

By the time most people are ready to apply to b-school, their academic profile is set in stone. If your undergraduate GPA and GMAT scores are above the median of admits to your targeted school, then you have a much greater chance at success.

If your personal profile showcases leadership, international exposure, language skills, etc., you'll seem like a strong candidate in the eyes of the admissions committees.

But what about your professional profile? How can you tell if your work experience is a strength or a weakness?

And, if it seems like a weakness, what can you do about it before applying to b-school? Having advised over 3,500 applicants who have targeted the world's leading MBA programs, the MBA Exchange has a solid handle on assessing and improving work experience.

In evaluating your professional background, there are four dimensions to consider:

Duration: how long have you been employed full-time?

Most admitted applicants at top-tier schools have at least 2-5 years of work experience. Less experience raises doubts about real-world exposure that you’d share with classmates. Having even more experience can "raise the bar" in terms of what the admissions committee expects from such an applicant.

Role: what do you do and with whom do you interact?

The scope of responsibilities and level at which you operate are both important. An analyst who is stuck in a workstation all day, crunching numbers, and dealing only with entry-level associates is going to be a far less attractive candidate than a fast-track executive who serves in a more strategic capacity, shows greater independence and accountability, and interacts directly with managers and/or clients.

Impact: what are your tangible, quantified, results?

Job responsibilities and activities are not enough to impress b-schools. Measuring and presenting the positive differences that you, as an individual, make for your team, your company, and/or your customers, is essential. By showing the admissions committee the bottom line value that you deliver, you will score big points for your candidacy.

Prestige: where do you work and will that impress the business school?

Some companies’ recognition give their employees an undeniable edge when applying for an MBA. There are well-known "feeders": top managing consulting firms, investment banks, and technology companies, whose employees are admitted more often than individuals who work for unknown employers. Anyone who believes otherwise is ignoring historic reality.

_Read Part Two of of this article to get Dan Bauer’s advice on how to strengthen your professional weaknesses before you apply to business school._