11 Skills Learned From Running a Small Business That Will Improve Your Resume

Jul 01, 2010 15 Comments

If you’ve been self-employed or running a small business for a few years and are now looking for a job, then you may be worried about how your employment status will appear on your resume. If you aren’t careful, your “self-employment” may appear to be “unemployment” to your prospective employer. It is essential to highlight all the skills you have acquired from running your own business. Here are a few of them that you might highlight

Results Oriented

Most employees do not understand that they work for their employer for only one reason: results. Most employees think that they are getting paid just to show up. As a small business owner, you have likely developed the habit of working hard to get the result you want. You know that if you stop working, you don’t make any money. You can let your prospective employer know that you will always be looking for the next result you can achieve for them. You have come to them to work, not to mess around.

Responsibility

As a small business owner, you were responsible for everything that happened within your company. You have no problem handling responsibility. In fact, you’ll take on as much as they are willing to give you. The person who is willing to take on and accept responsibility is rare in the business world, and this quality alone will make you stand out.

Self-supervision

You are the type of person who doesn’t need to be told what to do by anyone else. You know what needs to be done, and you do it. You likely supervised a few employees of your own, so you know how much time is wasted baby-sitting employees.

Leadership

As an entrepreneur, you have already demonstrated that you are the kind of person who likes to give orders, not take them. If you had employees working under you, then you have already demonstrated that you are capable of leading people and getting them to work together effectively as a team.

Able to Meet Deadlines

In your business, it is likely that you were forced to juggle many different tasks, prioritize conflicting demands, and meet multiple deadlines. You are able to determine what is most important, and get the most important task done first. This is an important skill in the business world, and you should highlight it to your prospective employers.

Organization

There is a lot of planning that goes into running a business, both on short and long time horizons. Be sure to emphasize all the paperwork you had to keep up with on a daily basis. You likely had to send out invoices, prepare legal and financial documents, create business plans, and manage your budget.

Creativity

Besides being an organized person, you were also a creative person. You had to constantly think about how to do things better. You were an innovator. You have the characteristics of someone who is an originator and an investor.

Able to Sell

In addition to managing a company, it is likely that you had to learn how to sell. You had to sell and market your product and services. You had to learn how to attract and retain customers. You had to learn how to talk to customers and to put yourself in their shoes.

Self-Discipline

As you ran your business, you developed the habit of overcoming the temptation to do less productive tasks. You are a self-starter and a person with initiative. You have the self motivation to get the job done correctly every time.

Focus

Another skill you likely picked up along the way is focus. There is no one more productive than the employee who can block out distractions and focus exclusively on one task to completion. While most employees will spend the majority of the day in idle chit-chat and checking their email, you will be diligently focused on the task at hand.

Company Oriented

As a business owner, you can see the big picture from the employer’s point of view. You know that their main focus is to make a profit, and you will do everything you can to help them achieve that goal. You are aware that your value to the company will depend on how much you help contribute to that objective.

With all of these skills, it is important that you don’t speak of them as personal accomplishments. Rather, what you want to communicate is that each of these qualities will be a contribution to the company. They will help the employer get what they want. Be confident in the fact that you are probably the candidate who can contribute the most value to the employer, and then strive to communicate that.

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About the author

James Adams, is a full time blogger who works with Cartridge Save where he writes about and reviews products such as the HP 21 ink cartridge as well as editing their design blog

15 Responses to “11 Skills Learned From Running a Small Business That Will Improve Your Resume”

  1. John Turner says:

    I have a friend who some time ago went through the process of spending a year or so trying to get a small business off the ground before finally having to concede and return to employment (due to financial reasons).

    There was a fear among potential employers that he would pick up a salary until he had enough resources to make another attempt at setting up a business.

  2. Jae Xavier says:

    Well written article, as I have empathy for the author.

    Now only if other designer and developers can get the gist of this article.

  3. Multyshades says:

    Very useful article on this significant topic, thanks for share these great tips.

  4. Entrepreneur or at-home-parent who has been out of the ‘traditional’ workforce for a while? Here’s how to show how you still have relevant skills « says:

    [...] premise of 11 Skills Learned From Running a Small Business That Will Improve Your Resume is the age-old fears of not being able to prove [...]

  5. Bhaskar Das says:

    Nice article.. Very useful tips for not only those who are making a transition from self employment to looking for a job, but also for those who are into regular employment for many years now..

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts..

  6. Kapil says:

    thx for sharing these tips.I am working with a small talented developers team and this tips would help us to work efficiently.

    Cheers,
    Kapil

  7. Angie says:

    Great points. My only issue is that if you have been self employed and are now seeking employment, doesn’t that suggest that you didn’t do some of the items listed very well, and your business failed because of that? Hence the job search.

  8. Derek says:

    Excellent article, it will help those that wish to transition from self employed to corporate employee!!

  9. chair covers london says:

    really GREAT POST…
    you dont realise you do these things everyday
    defo going on to my cv

  10. denbagus says:

    thank you for your comment :)

  11. denbagus says:

    Helo Angie,, thank you for your great opinion :)

  12. denbagus says:

    Helo Kapil, i hope this tipe can increase your power

  13. denbagus says:

    Hello Bhaskar Das , your welcome

  14. denbagus says:

    hello Multyshades , your welcome

  15. Zackhy'S blog says:

    thank your tips

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