Translating Family Business Experience onto a Resume

This Saturday, March 29, is National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day—an event that not only raises awareness of hardworking small businesses, but the important role these establishments play in our economy. While we celebrate the value of small, family-owned businesses in our communities, it is important for those working within a “mom and pop” shop to realize that having a resume is important.

Why Should I Have a Resume If I Am Self-Employed or Work For Family?

Having a resume is important no matter what you are doing or who you are working for. With economic uncertainties hanging in the air and many seeking new job opportunities, it is important to have a resume on hand in case one decides to seek employment elsewhere, or take on an additional job.

Even those who do not plan on leaving a family business can still benefit from having a resume. For instance, those who translate their resume to LinkedIn can boost their branding efforts and increase traffic to their business—simply by building an online presence.

A Career in Family Business Counts

For many reasons, individuals who work for family business or take on the title of “self-employed” will feel as if this experience is not necessarily as valid on a resume as opposed to having a job with a different, possibly corporate, employer. Many women, for instance, will take off work in becoming mothers, to help manage or oversee family business activities. While this may seem like a departure for some, it is important to understand that this experience is certainly suitable for a resume.

What Family Business Experience Can Do For Your Resume

Family business atmospheres often tend to be different than the typical workplace structure, as these establishments often operate with a different sense of teamwork. For instance, in family business many who work there will exchange responsibilities and take on various duties to finish whatever needs to be done. While this dynamic work model can build success for the company, some may not know how their family business experience can translate to job skills applicable for a resume.

While daily responsibilities should be highlighted on a resume, there are other qualifications and competencies that may go unnoticed. In terms of crafting a resume, here are a few things to consider that many family business owners or employees miss out on:

Management Skills

In a family business, overseeing the work of others may not be that noticeable—especially if they are relatives. However, from the outside, any individual that one gives direction to on a regular basis could be seen as a form of management.

“Mom and pop” shop employees should address how many staff members they oversaw, including part-time members. It is also worth noting any team projects that have occurred and required one’s direction. If the business is a true partnership and there seems to be no internal management, individuals should also consider any management they oversee—including vendor relations.

Marketing Skills

For many of those who are self-employed or work within a family business, advertising the company might never seem like marketing. After all, attracting people into the business is how a family makes its living; this often makes all marketing efforts feel like a responsibility rather than a job skill.

Some family businesses are lucky enough to have built up a reputation in their community, allowing most of their revenue to come from word-of-mouth or customer retention scenarios. Regardless, individuals should consider what they have done to increase their customer base.

Managing social media pages and interacting with customers on the Internet can sometimes translate to Internet and content marketing. Additionally, those who build business as a result of communicating directly with others in the community can often identify themselves as having face-to-face marketing, as well as sales, skills.

Certifications and Community Involvement

One of the most important things found on a resume is whether or not the applicant has continued to learn new job skills throughout his or her career. While it is certainly important to list education that may have been completed while working for a family business, it is also essential to note any training courses that were completed or certifications that were maintained throughout the career. For many, these credentials may just be a necessity for keeping up with a family business, but for employers they reveal an effort to stay current.

It is also critical for self-employed or family business professionals to state any community involvement they have that may be tied with their work. Since many “mom and pop” employees are often closely tied to their neighborhoods, those who work at family businesses may be able to highlight local organization memberships, such as being on the Chamber of Commerce. If a business has sponsored a local sports team or hosted a charity event, these instances can also fit within a resume.

Getting a Family Business-Based Resume Started

While many may know what they do on the job at a family business and can describe it in detail, it is important to make sure this information is presented properly on a resume.

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