Many of my clients come to me because their startup endeavors didn’t pan out, with the hopes of returning to Corporate America for some stability, benefits and a steady paycheck. With the right wording, a failed startup can translate into a positive experience for your resume sure to impress hiring managers, recruiters and decision-makers.
Jack-of-all-Trades
When it comes to staffing, no company is leaner than a startup. As a result, most entrepreneurs wind up wearing many hats. From payroll to HR, PR to sales, operations to administration – employees at startups do it all.
To narrow your target, focus on the aspects of the startup role related to that function — while referencing that you’ve supported running all aspects of it. If you’re hoping to run the whole show — but for a small slice of a larger corporate pie — reference it all to showcase skill diversity.
Order from Chaos
Those first hired (or who establish) a startup often face a “Wild West” atmosphere lacking continuity. When you transform chaos into order, you have created an infrastructure.
Highlight your talent for establishing controls and processes by noting your efforts at creating a sales, marketing, communications or finance foundation from the ground up.
By the Seat of Your Pants Flexibility
Many find startup work exciting because you never know what to expect. Essentially, survival in a “fly by the seat of your pants” world means a talent for remaining agile or flexible in an ambiguous work environment – a highly desirable job trait!
Influencing, Buy-in and Funding
Obtaining funding is often a critical component to getting and keeping a company off the ground. Ultimately, the case-building and pitch skills vital to obtaining financial support are often the same needed to succeed in sales and even project management.
If your compelling presentations and persuasive cases succeeded in getting some much needed cash, be sure to note this success.
Failures Become Success
Entrepreneurial endeavors often don’t work out. With some self-reflection and introspection, however, it is easy to see how the experiences learned can position you for a variety of roles.
BOOK NOWfor your free resume consult.
VAFrancoResumes@gmail.com | VirginiaFrancoResumes.com | Call/text 704-771-8572