Resume Tips for Transitioning from Business Owner to Employee

Be Wary of These Common Pitfalls

Transitioning from business owner to employee is a consideration that many entrepreneurs will face at one time or another in their career. This means closing shop and pursuing full-time employment opportunities.

Letting go of your business dreams in favor of a 9 to 5 is a hard decision to reach. With many trade-offs and factors at play, you need to properly weigh the pros and cons. In business, decision-making often navigates a delicate balance between analytical rigor and gut feeling.

Related: Resume Writing Tips & Advice

Deciding to part ways with being a business owner brings on a whole new range of challenges.

As you begin to build your documents and start exploring job opportunities, it’s wise to be cognizant of the following common pitfalls of making the transition from business owner to employee.

Jack of All Trades (Master of None)

When you’re a small business owner / entrepreneur, it’s common to do a bunch of things. Sales, customer service, accounting, finance, marketing, PR, inventory management, human resources, and more. You do it all!

Naturally, it feels right to highlight your broad ranging skills on your Resume. However, most employers don’t necessarily value those skills as you’d like them to. For instance, your accounting, finance, and HR experience may not be very relevant when applying to a sales job. Employers usually focus on candidates that fit their checklist.

If you insist on casting a wide net, then it’s wise to steer clear of large organizations and instead specifically target small businesses and start-ups where your ability to wear multiple hats is more valued.

Lack of Transparency

Is your business still open? When do you plan on closing or selling it?

Uncertainty over the status of your business can be a problem. It raises many questions and potential concerns about a conflict of interest. Make sure you can clearly answer these questions.

Also, why do you want to make the switch?

For many entrepreneurs, business ownership becomes a big part of your professional identity. Shedding that label and demonstrating the capacity to be a good soldier may take some convincing. So, it’s really important to over-communicate your intentions and help folks understand your motivations.

Missing the Mark

When building your Resume to go from business owner to entrepreneur, it’s important to be picky and choosy about what to include. Rather than throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks, try to figure out which of your many core competencies are most in alignment with your desired objectives.

Although you may be a “Jack of all Trades”, you still have industry-specific knowledge that can’t be taken away from you. Try to leverage your industry knowledge and target opportunities within the industry you know so well.

Use a Cover Letter to share context and tell your story. Although they are somewhat trending downward in terms of importance, Cover Letters still play a very valuable role. A well written one can be very effective in helping folks understand the context of your decision to seek full-time employment.

Visit the Resume Writing Tag for More Tips and Advice >>