How to Focus Entrepreneurial Experience into a Targeted Resume

Running your own business can be a lucrative career and provide a wealth of experience. It takes hard work and determination to not only get your business up and running but continue to grow and develop. You often have the opportunity to get involved in many different aspects of the company and acquire a diverse range of skills.

When making the transition from entrepreneur to executive and getting back into the more traditional workforce, it can be challenging to fit everything on your resume. How do you show that you would be a good fit rather than being overqualified? Will employers believe that you are ready to stop being your own boss and become an integral member of their organization? Crafting your resume can take some planning and careful consideration.

Determine what type of role you want to have. Shifting from being the owner of a company to being a leader within a company means scaling back your responsibilities. Focus on identifying your strengths and what you excel at. How do you see yourself fitting into another company? Vice President of Business Development? Director of Marketing? Senior Director of Information Technology? This can help you to give direction to your resume and tailor it to the positions you are vying for. During your job search, read a variety of postings to get a feel for what is out there.

Focus on the most relevant skills and accomplishments. Rather than a laundry list of everything you have done, keep the content concise and to the point. Edit it down to concentrate on the experience and skills the employer is most interested in. Show how you align with the goals and objectives of the role. Create a solid list of core competencies that highlights your experience in that specific area.

Don’t forget to include measurable achievements as well. Metrics can provide more solid support for proof of a job well done. Highlight the figures that demonstrate your ability to gain positive results and drive the business forward.

Demonstrate communication and collaboration. As your own boss, you were most likely responsible for many final decisions. In recreating your resume to transition back into the workforce, you want to show your ability to collaborate with others on decision making. You can still position yourself as a leader, but also show that you can be an integral part of a team and build strong relationships and connections. How were you involved with clients? What types of negotiations did you arrange or strategic plans did you create?

Also, how were you involved with employees? Did you engage in any training or professional development? What is your management style? You want to give the employer insight into your leadership style and show your commitment to the success of the organization as a whole. What can you do for both clients and colleagues to support positive outcomes?

How to Focus Entrepreneurial Experience into a Targeted Resume