University of Pennsylvania



-457200-62801500RESUME ADVICE: ENTREPRENEURSHIP / STARTUPS INTRODUCTION The following document is designed to help you edit your Entrepreneurship-focused resume. The advice comes from an analysis of startup job descriptions, the experience of the MBACM office, Wharton alumni working at startups, and startup recruiters. You will find suggestions for the following topics:Buzzwords and phrases for Startup ResumesSkills to demonstrate for Startup RolesFAQsBuzzwords and phrases for Startup Resumes Founded / Co-Founded Worked directly with Founder / CEODeveloped business model / requirements Developed financial modelPitchedPrototyped Jack-of-all-trades Go-to-marketAnalytics, data, data-analysis, strategies based on data analysisPartnership, cross-functional (especially with engineers)Product roadmapCustomerSalesPatents (if applicable)Skills to Demonstrate for Startup Roles Startup experience – hiring managers want to see that candidates understand what to expect when working at a startup: long hours, limited resources, self-starter mentality, proactive, wearing many hats, and a lack of or changing direction of the company.? If you don’t have startup experience, you should highlight as much similar experience as possible.? Any startup business plans you worked on, pro-bono consulting to a startup, clients who were startups, school projects with startups, etc.Flexibility / ability to deal with ambiguity – communicate experiences with changing strategies and plans, show you are comfortable filling more than one role within a company when required.? Give examples of situations that demonstrate your ability to be flexible and pitch in when needed.Proven track record of taking ownership and driving results – no one has time to manage people in a startup culture, and the organizational structure is flat.? Startups look for people who have drive, ambition, and are self-motivated.? Focus on accomplishments that demonstrate this trait.? That includes personal accomplishments unrelated to work,? such as running marathons, raising money for a charity, playing sports at a collegiate level, honors or awards.? Show that you have taken initiative and that you don’t just follow the direction of others.Strong interest and passion for particular sector/domain in which you are applying Strong analytical and quantitative skills; ability to use data and metrics to support business decisions and develop strategies based on data analysis (especially for PM/Customer Analytics/Marketing) Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (sales experience is a plus, especially for BD) Ability to work successfully with/and influence teams across the organizationBias for actionFAQsIs it ok to mention a failed startup on my resume? The short answer to this question is yes. The reality is that most startups fail – and smart entrepreneurs know that. Some startups have even told MBACM that they are looking for “failed entrepreneurs”, because they are looking for candidates who are willing to take risks and who are adaptable to change. If you are going to mention a failed startup experience on your resume, the key is in how you position it – focus on what you achieved vs. why it failed. Be prepared to address questions about the startup in an interview and focus on the positives (i.e. what you learned from the experience, both personally and as an entrepreneur / founding team member). Is it ok to mention a startup I’m currently working on (i.e. will firms be concerned that I am more focused on my own startup than joining theirs)? In general, demonstrating an interest in entrepreneurship by starting up your own business will be something startups admire. However, you must be prepared to answer questions about it in your interview. Startups will ask you “Why would you want to work here if you could continue starting up your own business instead?”, so you should have a clear and compelling answer to this question prepared in advance. Is it ok to use a different format for my startup resume?You are welcome to use a different format when applying to startup jobs on CareerPath or directly. The only time you need to use the Wharton format is for the Wharton Resume Book. Do startups even look at resumes?Yes, but it is not all they look will at. They will also pay special attention to the communication preceding the resume (What was the approach? Who have you spoken with so far?) and your online presence (What does your LinkedIN profile look like? Do you blog? Are you commenting on other blogs? What topics are you discussing and are they consistent with your resume/application?). Not being passionate/interesting is the #1 reason you won’t be hired at a startup. ................
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