Do Entrepreneurs Need a Resume?

Andrew Coyle Product Design Lead at Flexport

January 30th, 2014

How do founders present their experiences and personal brand? Does a resume matter?

Will Glasson Assistant County Attorney, Multnomah County

January 30th, 2014

I'd say yes, BUT more important is a well crafted personal (online) brand via LinkedIn, Twitter, Angel.co, FD, etc. Everybody vets people through Google searches. Spending extra time on the sites that Google surveys is your own SEO and more powerful than a resume that accompanies a business plan, maybe.

Ben Mathes Startup Generalist. Architecture, UI/X Design, Analytics, Data Science, Culture, Functional Programming.

January 30th, 2014

Ideally it should be short and digestible. E.g. Naval's headline : Sweat: @AngelList , @Venture Hacks @Vast @Epinions ; Money: @Twitter @Heyzap @SnapLogic

Jorge Chang Entrepreneur. Software Architect.

January 30th, 2014

Agree with Will above.

Leverage social media - linkedIn, twitter, angel.co. To really stand out, write a blog, contribute to other tech blogs.

VCs hardly ever ask for resumes.

AngelPad asked for us for our linkedIn profiles - getting peer recommendation on that platform also helps.

Leena MBA Content & Publication Manager at NetApp

January 30th, 2014

What if you're still in the workaday world? I have had to keep my LinkedIn "corporate/professional" because I don't want to give the impression that my attention is split between a day job and a side "effort." In other words, I don't want to be seen as a liability or a flight risk. My dream is to get my company off the ground and be a successful entrepreneur, not to work in an ergonomically-correct cubicle my whole life. Unfortunately, the latter is what is going to pay the bills until my business takes off.

I have had to revert to branding myself in corporate terms and that is what is getting my profile on LinkedIn more attention now. When I mentioned my startups, recruiters got confused, so they are now off my page. The downside to this is that other entrepreneurs out there cannot see that I'm a serious entrepreneur on my second startup.

Any comments on this would be appreciated...

Anonymous

January 30th, 2014

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Rashad Bartholomew Change Everything

January 30th, 2014

Do you need the resume for other founders/team, investors, or customers? You may need different resumes for any of the above. I think having a resume for people interested in you is a thoughtful move. Moreover, the accomplishments and experiences described in a resume represent your personal brand. R

Mark Neild Empowering quietly creative people to prosper through innovative yet authentic and engaging business models

January 30th, 2014

Andrew It depends. When I have been a Mentor. / judge at Startup weekends or lecturing /marking Masters assignments I could see enough to judge capability without caring about the past. What matters is what you do not what you have done. If you are looking for (or to join) a team then there is nothing to go on except what people say about themselves. What is important is what you care about and the skills you bring to the party. It is fairly obvious quite quickly if people can sell, code or lead. Most resumes are works of fiction anyway. That said some investors want them Mark

Stas Oskin

January 30th, 2014

I also recommend LinkedIn, I actually end up sending the public profile link to anyone who wants a CV.
And if they want it printed (yes, it still happens), I just use the export function to get them a PDF.

Lawrence Lerner Digitalization and Transformation Coach

January 30th, 2014

I think you need both. LinkedIn comes across as very traditional. Regardless of your background it puts you into a traditional resume-like format. Create a second more anecdotal style that shares your accomplishments. My LinkedIn is fairly traditional and here is my VC bio.

Mark Neild Empowering quietly creative people to prosper through innovative yet authentic and engaging business models

January 30th, 2014

Leena Surely this is what FD is about. You can have a different persona here Mark

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