Entrepreneur Resume: Sample and Complete Writing Guide [20+ Tips]

Entrepreneur Resume Sample

Did you run a small business? See our dedicated guide: Former Business Owner Resume Sample

Former entrepreneurs can do all kinds of jobs. Once you know how to write an entrepreneur resume, see our other guides:

• Account Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• Assistant Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• Executive Resume Sample & Guide
• Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• Operations Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• Product Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• Project Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• Store Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• Consultant Resume Sample & Guide
• MBA Application Resume Sample & Guide
• Business Resume Sample & Guide
• Project Coordinator Resume Sample & Guide
• Account Executive Resume Sample & Guide
• Supervisor Resume Sample & Guide

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Sample Entrepreneur Resume—See more templates and create your resume here.

Here’s how to write an entrepreneur resume that gets jobs:

1. Pick the Best Entrepreneur Resume Format

Entrepreneurs start and run businesses, from the one-person shop to the multinational conglomerate. They handle all aspects of business management, from strategy to operation. An entrepreneur resume can prove important business skills the hiring team desires, even if the business failed.

Spoiler alert:

You need to prove you’re disciplined.

A well-laid-out resume can help.

Here’s how to lay out a resume to impress:

• While there’s no perfect resume format, the chronological format of a resume comes close. Start with your recent role, then work backwards.
• The sections on a resume are header, experience, education, skills, and bonus sections like classes or volunteer work.
• Use a clean resume header format with name, title, and contact info.
• Not sure how to write a phone number on a resume? List it under your email and LinkedIn address.
• Export your resume document as a PDF if the online announcement doesn’t say otherwise. PDFs stay formatted correctly.

Pro Tip: What is the best font for a resume? There’s no one answer, but Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, and Cambria are all safe bets.

2. Write an Entrepreneur Resume Objective or Resume Summary

Act fast.

You’ve only got a few seconds before they skim your entrepreneur resume and move on.

The trick?

Most hiring managers know even failed entrepreneurs have lots of marketable skills.

Reassure them with a solid elevator pitch for a job. Write a summary on your resume with:

• One adjective (motivational or hard-working)
• The title of the job you want
• Your years of experience (6+, 3+)
• A goal (raise revenue)
• A snapshot of your skills (budgeting, leadership)
• Evidence of skills (grew clientele, raised revenue)
• Numbers to make it real (25%, 20 months)

Is this a resume for the first job besides your business? Consider writing resume objective statements. They’re similar to summaries, but they talk more about transferable skills.

Pro Tip: “How many pages should my resume be?” A single page works best for most. If you’ve got lots of blistering entrepreneur achievements, feel free to go longer.

3. Customize Your Resume to the Entrepreneur Job Description

This isn’t hard.

But lots of job-seekers blow it.

If you want heaps of interviews, list your entrepreneur work experience in a resume so it looks like the job you’re seeking.

Here’s how to write a targeted resume:

• Add business position titles to your entrepreneur work history similar to the job you want.
• List bullet points with professional achievements that show you’ve done their job already.
• Add numbers to entrepreneur resumes like $1.1M or 28% to show you weren’t just whistling Dixie.

Pro Tip: Can power words for resumes get you hired? Well, they can keep the hiring team’s interest longer, which gives you a bigger shot they’ll like what they see.

4. Tailor Your Entrepreneur Resume Education Section

Here’s a tip:

The education section of a resume should not just list your school, degree, and dates.

Use it as more proof of your abilities.

How?

By adding achievements from your days in school.

Example: they want leadership skills and you were the Student Government Vice President. Put that in your resume!

Pro Tip: Does GPA belong on an entrepreneur resume? If it was mind-meltingly high or you graduated less than one year ago, then show it.

5. List Entrepreneur Skills in Your Resume

Use this job skills list in your entrepreneur resume:

Entrepreneur Resume Skills

You can choose from lots of technical skills in a CV for former entrepreneurs:

• Business management
• Business analysis
• Training
• Project management
• Negotiation
• Hiring
• HR
• Scheduling
• Budgeting
• Business knowledge
• Finance
• Giving presentations
• ERP systems
• CRM
• Computer skills
• Conflict resolution
• Public speaking
• Business development

...and dozens more!

But entrepreneurs don’t just build hard skills. Check out these soft skills too:

• Leadership
• Spoken and written communication
• Interpersonal skills
• Collaboration
• Active listening
• Delegation
• Problem solving
• Organization
• Time management
• Efficiency
• Self motivation
• Critical thinking
• Detail oriented

Pro Tip: Here’s the trick: you don’t need all those entrepreneur resume skills. See which ones the job ad features prominently, then add (and prove) them.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.

Create my resume now

When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

6. Add “Other” Sections to Your Entrepreneur Resume

Entrepreneurs are special.

Show you’re no exception with special “bonus” sections in your entrepreneur resume.

You can add:

• Certifications in a resume
• Activities
• Freelance work
• Conferences
• Kudos from clients
• Publications
• Interests and hobbies
• Honors & awards
• Media appearances & mentions
• Fitness

Listing volunteer work on a resume is a great way to show energy and passion. If you used skills the job requires, make “Volunteering” a special section under “education.”

Pro Tip: Unsure how to list languages on a resume? If they’re needed for the job, make a separate section. If not, leave them out or add them to an under-populated skills list.

7. Send a Cover Letter With Your Entrepreneur Resume

Do you need a cover letter for a job if you’re a former entrepreneur?

Cover letters help a lot.

But it’s vital to know how to write a cover letter so they see your value.

Use this cover letter formatting advice:

• Start with the 3-paragraph approach.
• Know how to open a cover letter so they stop daydreaming about Pokemon. Beginning with your greatest entrepreneurial achievement is sound strategy.
• In the 2nd paragraph of your entrepreneur cover letter, show proof you’re the right choice for the job. (That means more accomplishments.)
• When ending a cover letter, offer something. Example: “I’d love to explain how I grew my client list 25% in 20 months.”
• How many words is a cover letter? 300 to 350.

When following up on a job application, you don’t need to write Moby Dick. Remind them of the biggest proof you fit the role and get out fast.

That’s it!

That’s how to write an entrepreneur resume.

What’s your greatest fear about your startup entrepreneur resume? Do you think a resume for entrepreneurs should hide a failed business? Give us a shout in the comments. We’d love to talk!