RESUME 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 Resumes

Skills to demonstrate for Startup Roles
FAQs

Buzzwords and phrases for Startup Resumes

Founded / Co-Founded
Worked directly with Founder / CEO
Developed business model / requirements
Developed financial model
Pitched
Prototyped
Jack-of-all-trades
Go-to-market
Analytics, data, data-analysis, strategies based on data analysis
Partnership, cross-functional (especially with engineers)
Product roadmap
Customer
Sales
Patents (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 dont 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 dont 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 organization
Bias for action

FAQs
Is 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 Im 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 wont be hired at a startup.