 | Should you list your experience as an entrepreneur on your resume?posted by Vivian Scott, Group AdministratorSunday, January 24th 2010 @ 5:22 PM (not yet rated) |
The downturn in the economy has turned a lot of people who have lost jobs into entrepreneurs – some because a layoff forced them to figure out how to leverage useful skills into a way to make a living; others experienced it as the push they needed to launch a business they had planned to delve into at some point in the future. They figure, “Since I now have the time to focus on my business, there is no time better than the present to put in the effort to make it work.”
Some entrepreneurs have been wildly successful, while others are experiencing the same financial realities their former employer may have experienced, thus forcing the layoff. An entrepreneur then finds him or herself in the position of having to re-enter the workforce. When a former entrepreneur is seeking new employment, should he or she list entrepreneurial experience on a resume?
There are two schools of thought on this: The first is that the entrepreneur brings a wealth of skills to the table – multitasking ability, organizational skills, budgeting, marketing and public relations skills, etc. The other is that someone who has run his or her own business may not be able to take direction from others, since they are used to running the show. This person may be viewed as a threat rather than an asset. So which approach should you take when writing your resume?
Make the most of your entrepreneurial experience
A great practice is to target each submission of your resume directly to the position for which you are applying. In doing this, you can determine whether or not your entrepreneurial experience can be beneficial or detrimental to your application for that particular job. If at all possible, assign yourself a role other than ‘President/CEO’ or ‘Owner’ in order to give a more appropriate view of your responsibilities. One of the advantages of owning the business is the option to create your own title.
Did your business revolve around the sale of a product? ‘Director of Sales’ might be appropriate. Did your business provide training for individuals or organizations? You might list yourself as ‘Training Specialist.’ Please remember to focus on the area of your responsibilities that allows potential employers to see you as the ideal candidate for the position you are seeking. In that case, ‘Director of Sales’ would not be appropriate if you are seeking a position in the organization’s finance department.
Remember to focus as much of your experience on how you can add value to their organization in the new role, rather than clinging to old titles which may not be relevant.
| | Vivian Scott
Women's Empowerment Coach
Eternal Vision Enterprises |