Is it okay to mention my failed startup on my resume?
My startup failed for a number of reasons; some of those reasons being my fault and some of those reasons not. Should I still highlight this on my resume as my main experience and where I gained most, if not all, of my credentials?
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Nov 5, 2015
Flaunt it! Not everybody can show up their failure with a pride because there is a grind and hustle behind it.
Jul 7, 2015
Leave it out. Believe me, been there. No future employer wants to hear that you failed. As far as they're concerned, it is 100% your fault, period.
Apr 18, 2015
Alexandra,
MBA studies do not teach you all...You have more to share with this wonderful experience. There is no success without failure.
Best Luck, Naziha
Apr 16, 2015
Here is my opinion,
If you are using a resume, this means you are applying to a company who wants to see your work experience.
Wording is key here and how you present yourself.
Example 1
#1
My name is Brandon Krieger and I ran a business from 2001 to 2003. I failed at being successful in business and ran into challenge after challenge. It was so bad I had to close my business down and now I am looking for work.
#2
My name is Brandon Krieger I ran a business from 2001 to 2003. It was one of the best learning experiences I have had. I now understand what is involved to run a business. I learned from challenges as well as success I had. I have now decided to take my experience from that and apply to your company.
Wording is key. We all understand business is difficult and we all go through our struggles. As an employer I want to work with someone who has done that and learned from it, is grateful for the experience, can express what they went through in a positive way and that business they ran didn't negatively effect them.
Everything you do in business is a learning experience, it's all on how you express it.
Good luck
Apr 16, 2015
Although failure is a fact of life people are usually hired based on their success and therefore I'm not sure if advertising your failures is the best idea. Recently, I read an article about cover letters which suggested that talking about your low points could be interpreted by the employer as you being fearful of a challenge and having a lack of confidence. Also, given how little time they spend looking at resumes do you really want them to spend it reading about your failures?
Apr 16, 2015
It's always a good choice to include your work experience, especially if that experience covers a length of time 1 year or longer. If highlighting your entrepreneurial experience is important, list your failed attempt. Be sure to include why you started it and what you were looking to accomplish. Show something you accomplished in the process (some facet of building a business or some personal development benefit) and talk about what you learned from this experience and why that learning will benefit the company you are talking to about a job.
Companies today are looking for people with initiative and drive. Turn your experience into a solid benefit for the next company that looks at you and your failed business start up will become a developmental asset.
Apr 15, 2015
I would not highlight the startup on the resume, but would I would highlight the knowledge and experience I have gained.
Apr 15, 2015
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.
Everyone has failures but as long as you learn and understand "why it failed?" And have the conviction to try again. Hiding something will always end in being compromised in terms of trust.
Apr 15, 2015
Alexandra,
You dont have credentials, you have experience. Your resume is much more about the person you want to be in your career search and highlighting your experience and qualifications in that light. So as part of your functional resume, this experience is very key.
In the chronological work experience part of your resume (brief), of course you include it. Some people will be excited by your self starter, risk taking attitude, others will not. The goal of your resume is to get you through the system of keywords and scanning that keeps your resume in play until a human sees it. If you lack the skills (keywords) and have blanks in your employment history, you are probably not going to be considered.
I feel many of the other suggestions here about making for a great conversation are on point. The way you deal with failure and take accountability for it (no blame game) is your opportunity to stand out, but only after you get the appointment.
Apr 15, 2015
It is perfectly ok. Many times individuals who may have a failed in a start-up learn more than one that went ok and grew. We have all heard that anyone who fails in any endeavor learns a great deal from such failure...which is true. It gives the individual the opportunity to grow and be more succesful in the future.
Apr 13, 2015
Absolutely, even if you failed, you learned and experienced so many things which a lot of people wont be able to. This is definitely worth mentioning.
The fact that you know what went wrong is also going to tell them good things about you.
Apr 13, 2015
You should. It is great way to show your enterpernual streak. However, it will be good to mention/disucss, the lessons learnt and what new you will do if given another opportunity.
Apr 10, 2015
You should not. You must to.
It is always ok to tell the truth, to be honest and sincere.
And nobody is silly. They will always know sooner or later.
The less smart lights its cigarret in a light boat. Be aware of that.
Apr 10, 2015
Apr 10, 2015
Always be honest and forthright in your interview and resume...Learning to fail forward fast is an excellent learning tool and do not be afraid to discuss...Nobody is perfect and seasoned people need to experience failure
Apr 10, 2015
Yes, you should mention that because your mess is your message. Those prison life's will teach you how to go to paradise life. You’ll have to convince the recruiter of what you have learnt and that it’s valuable for their business.
Apr 9, 2015
Yes, I believe it shows courage to do so. But my question would be why you're applying for a job again, instead of start up again and show how you've learned from earlier mistakes.
Apr 9, 2015
Fortune favors the bold, I don't know why are you feel shyness to mention failed startup, if you have genuine, honest, and logical reason for fail project then must mention, otherwise first you work on it then mention,because if they get it by their own research ,so its totally against you.
Apr 9, 2015
Why would you? What type of position are you applying for? Some hiring managers might see your failure quite differently from the way you see it. Although it was a learning experience for you, a hiring manager might see it as a failure and who wants to hire a failure. In the proper context, the startup might be beneficial -- like in the face to face interview. You should review different resume formats and choose one that highlights job-related experiences, without indicating the startup if possible. Talk to a career coach about this.
Apr 9, 2015
I would not. I would verbally talk about some of your challenges but not put it to print.