I'm working with a professional resume writer as I haven't had much luck with my current version.

21 Comments

1. AnonymousMay 12,2022 at 2:29PM UTC

   That has been my experience. In a corporate environment, they want to be sure that you are a team player. I took a lower level position at a bigger company and I de emphasized that I had been a co-founder at my last company, as it wasn’t relevant to my corporate job. Eight months after I started, I’ve been promoted to a c-level position, but I got there by demonstrating over and over that, while I have c-level experience, I didn’t need to be in leadership and I was happy to be a team player.

2. Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterMay 12,2022 at 3:08PM UTC

   It really depends on the field you are in - in some fields, such as sales, entrepreneurship is valued (and often words like "entrepreneurial" are included in the job description).

3. Margrit PatelMay 12,2022 at 3:14PM UTC

   As a hiring manager for a large company (80K+ employees) I can tell you that this is not true. We are looking for well-rounded candidates with a breadth of experience. Sounds like you are hands on and a self-starter ... great to highlight on your resume.

4. JJMay 12,2022 at 4:00PM UTC

   This is good to hear but as a job seeker (who started as a contract employee) I have been told multiple times over the past 20 years by numerous HR managers, recruiters, hiring managers and potential bosses to downplay my freelance work and to highlight my full-time roles. It is another disconnect between what HR says it wants and what it actually wants.

5. Chan TumMay 12,2022 at 3:21PM UTC

   It happens. I would highly recommend a cover letter here to highlight your work at your business but also share why you're looking to get back into the corporate life. Also why your entrepreneurial experience would be a great for the organization. Hope this helps and best of luck on your search. - TA professional

6. AnonymousMay 12,2022 at 3:44PM UTC

   It is sad that we have to downplay certain qualities to look like a fit for certain roles but, it works if the goal is getting hired!

7. JJMay 12,2022 at 3:53PM UTC

   You just summarized half of my career experiences. I was good at what I did as a freelancer but companies did not like that I “job hopped” and could not settle down. I made good money, so I was not desperate. I genuinely wanted to work for a large corporation. It has taken a lot of convincing.

8. Barb HansenMay 12,2022 at 5:00PM UTC

   We don't know what is in the mind of corporate HR hiring person reading your resume, so I would have your resume writer write your resume to reflect your entrepreneurial ability to self-start without making it seems like you're "just waiting for an opportunity to jump ship so you can start your own business."

   It's possible to have one resume reflect more than one attribute without your resume seeming disjointed.

   If they are a good resume writer, they should be able to do just that. :)

   Side Note:
   If you have experience in business start-up, you might want to lean into that and try to reach out to some startups in your industry where your entrepreneurial spirit will be welcomed.

   Personal experience:
   I haven't heard the comment mentioned in the post but I have heard corporate recruiters don't want to hire someone who used to work as a consultant (reason: consultants don't really work they just write reports). I had to remind the person saying that comment to me that I did not have the word consultant on my resume but I had used the word "contractor". Anyhoo ...

9. AnonymousMay 12,2022 at 6:38PM UTC

   As a corp HR/Recruiter, I feel very differently about this statement made. I feel an entrepreneur spirit is incredible. It tells me you're a risk taker, problem solver, have ambition, a leader, constant learner. The experience of running your own business is incredible and not for the faint of heart... failed or successful.

10. AnonymousMay 12,2022 at 9:58PM UTC

    The problem with hiring a resume writer is unless they work specifically in the industry you are pursuing, they are not going to know how to set up your resume. Save your money. Proceed direct to linked in. Take your time and look at profiles of indviduals who work in the industry that you in. Linked in now has an option to include your resume. So some of these folks will have their resume along with their profile. If they work for a job in a company you are interested in, just look at how it is formatted and try to mirror it.

    In general, NO, companies do not care whether you started a company or not. What they care about is can you complete the skills and tasks they need for the specific job function they are looking for. The only time a hiring manager or HR will start to ponder on whether they will retain you is if your overall job history (for the past 10 years) shows you hopping from job to job every 1-2 years. Which is a sign. So if you do not have that pattern, that should not be an issue with you. Unfortunately these resume professional writers are subjective and sometimes out of desperation they will say anything and everything to make you feel like you need them to put forth a good resume. So as I said earlier, go on linked in, search for profiles of individuals already in your industry, if their resumes are included there, look at their format, mirror it. Be authentic in your experience. Be sure to highlight as many accomplishments and achievements as possible that are linked to the job sought and you will have no problem.

11. AnonymousMay 12,2022 at 10:59PM UTC

    I already tried to do my resume and LinkedIn profile on my own.
    It got me no where. For months I applied to jobs and didn’t get any interviews. I continually revised my resume on my own to try and improve it. After 6 months of absolutely nothing, I hired a professional. What they produced is much better than anything that I came up with. I’m happy I paid for the service and wish I would have done it sooner.

12. AnonymousMay 14,2022 at 7:51PM UTC

    What I was getting at when referring to linked in is since some folks include their resume on linked in, if you come across some that have resumes that work for companies you are interested in try to mirror the formatting as a tip bc however they format theirs was acceptable enough to get them an interview and job at that specific place.
    If paying for resume services worked for you great. But try to exercise other options and tips as well

13. AnonymousMay 13,2022 at 12:41PM UTC

    What field do you work in?

14. KristenMay 13,2022 at 12:49PM UTC

    Not necessarily. It depends on what you're looking for / targeting in your next role. Entrepreneurial spirit and attitude can be a big plus for some roles. What does your gut tell you that you WANT to do? It's your resume, after all.

15. Jada D.May 13,2022 at 12:57PM UTC

    As a professional resume writer and Recruiting Manager I completely DISAGREE with him. I always ask for freelance/consultant/entrepreneurial experience that we can incorporate. Those are still transferable skills that are useful in your next role. Only include the responsibilities in your business that align with the roles of Interest. Be sure to use quantifiable information so that we can gauge to her impact.

    if it aligns - ADD IT.

16. Afo Ogbeyalu KaluMay 13,2022 at 1:11PM UTC

    If possible, determine if your contracted resume writer has experience creating a functional resume or a combination functional/reverse chronological resume for you. That way your skills and attributes are highlighted, and you get to showcase the unique gifts, experiences, and perspectives gained from your role as a founder/entrepreneur. If he is not familiar with the format, or is still hesitant to showcase those strengths, you may need to replace him.

17. Karen GongawareMay 13,2022 at 2:23PM UTC

    Highlight your skills and what you can bring to the job. No one cares that you are a self-starter or entrepreneur, they care about what you can do for them. Your resume isn't about bragging rights, it showcases your knowledge and abilities as applied to a position. AND you have to change your resume every time to tailor it for each job you apply for.

18. Jennifer TaylorMay 13,2022 at 2:40PM UTC

    I owned my own business for 13+ years and it’s definitely on my resume. My current director loves the fact that I have full business experience. Keep it in your resume. He offered an opinion, that’s all.

19. Rynn StrangeMay 13,2022 at 3:02PM UTC

    I'd have to disagree. Being an entrepreneur going back into the job market just means that you're a go-getter. You would be miles ahead of many other applicants!

20. AnonymousMay 13,2022 at 9:15PM UTC

    I like your angle on this... she is definitely a go getter! It’s sad that she may have to downplay this in order to get interviews with certain jobs... I feel like if it is something she downplays and gets hired, the places that hire her may not be good fits. She may feel in those roles like her skills and potential isn’t valued. In settling for less, the problem comes when you start to believe you are less than you are which can certainly happen. Many are stuck in position which devalue their skills, education and potential.

    The key is to constantly think about personal goals and motivations in order to not get stuck!

21. Emily StarkMay 14,2022 at 3:54PM UTC

    The most important part of creating a stand out resume is connecting your experience to the position in pursuit. As a business owner, you likely wore many hats. I suggest framing your job title to include the title of the job you want or closely related.

    For example- Owner and Technical Director

    From there, lead your experience bullets to match the skills/experiences of your next position. That’ll take the focus away from the uncertainty around entrepreneurship and directly speak to the position you want. Hope this helps!