Applying for a business startup? Add these things to your resume

If you are planning to apply for a business startup or a small business, you have to get your resume right. Startup employers look for specific attributes when hiring new talent. If your resume reflects these qualities, you will have a higher chance of getting hired.

Fortune 500 companies and big businesses typically look for potential when hiring new employees. They can afford to extensively train new recruits to perform at the level required by the business. However, most startups do not have this kind of time or resources. Simply put, they are looking for employees that can perform at a high level from the get-go.

So, how do you show a startup founder that you can hit the ground running? What things should you add to your resume to showcase your abilities?

Experience at a large-scale business

Business startups rely heavily on their workforce as an asset. Having prior experience working for a big business in the same industry is an advantage for you when applying for a job. Do a bit of name-dropping on your resume and show off your internship at Google or your two-year employment at Amazon.

Entrepreneurial experience

Most startups are lean at the beginning. This means every employee is expected to wear many hats. Entrepreneurial experience on your resume indicates that you are ready to put in the long hours and the extra effort. Some great ways to show off entrepreneurial experience on your resume are to highlight side hustles, talk about a club you founded in college, or describe how you started your own business.

Quantified results

Startup employers like to see solid proof that you are capable of handling things well. The best way to show them this is to highlight quantified results on your resume. Describe past jobs in relation to the results you achieved in each role. Use numbers, percentages, and metrics to quantify your results.

Similar interests

Other than your skills and qualifications, startup employers are interested in one more important thing: your personality. You should let your resume reflect your personality and values. Create a hobbies and interests section for your resume to talk about your interests outside of work. Be sure to avoid clichéd phrases.

Clarity

Startup employers don’t have the whole day to decipher your resume in search of accomplishments and qualifications. To impress a startup founder, your resume should be clear-cut and easy to read. Remove unnecessary fluff from your resume that is masking your true achievements. Use a modern resume format.

Related keywords

Just like when you are applying for a corporate employer, you still need to add the right keywords to your resume. Startup employers are less likely to hire candidates who apply with a generic resume because they are often in search of specific skills and qualifications. Therefore, remember to tailor your resume to the job description using the right keywords.

Portfolio

Startups usually want to hire a person who has done the exact same job before. This is where your portfolio comes in handy. Add links to your digital portfolio, LinkedIn, Behance, GitHub, social media, or blog to your resume. It will give your resume an edge over the others.