Including a failed business on resume?

nhpr

Last year in my spare time I made a speculative jab at a business which I dissolved after eight months. Apparently the reason that no one was selling the audiobook version of the public domain works I chose was... because there's no demand for them.

Anyhow, should I include this on a resume? Even assuming the HR guy sees the good qualities in such a venture -- entrepreneurial spirit, ingenuity, willingness to take calculated risk, etc. --, those can all be negatives in a new hire. Why hire someone if you think he might try to take your business model and recreate it himself, might leave after he gets another idea, ...? I could see either the negatives or the positives outweighing the other, so another perspective or two might be helpful for me.

Everyone

Was this your full time job for those 8 months, or were you doing it on the side? If you had no other employment during that time, it may be better to list it, rather than show a big gap in employment. If you were working somewhere else during the time, I'd say it's up to you if you want to include it.

networker050184

I don't know. If I had a business that failed after only eight months I probably wouldn't list it on my resume, but like Everyone pointed out if you had no other employment at the time you can list it to cover the gap.

earweed

I have to agree with the others. Use it if it helps to cover a gap in time. If you were otherwise employed then it's kind of a flip of the coin whether to include it.

howiehandles

I'd show it, as it shows initiative and drive. So what if it didn't work it, you tried. Unlike most people who talk about doing stuff like that, you took action.

If an employer doesn't look favorably on that endeavor, then that's probably a company that probably just wants drones working for them. You'd also be surprised how many employers find the fact you took on total responsibility very impressive.

When it comes to interview time though, don't reference wanting to go back into business again, unless it was something part time, on the side, even if that is not the complete truth. Express that you want to rejoin the corporate world, and mention words like stability, career, etc.

As a business owner myself who has rejoined the corporate world, although its way down from before, having that experience on my resume didn't hurt me. I was honest and said that I took a chance, learned a lot, but I'm ready to rejoin the corporate world. Don't feel bad about saying that you can transfer what you learned to whatever job you're applying for. While my current job is ok, I am actively seeking new business opportunities, but I'm not telling my employer.

nhpr

Last year in my spare time

C'mon guys. You're not even trying. This was a side project, so it's not for "gap filling." I'm trying to determine whether the positives will be buried under the ultimate result.

Everyone

Is your resume so lite you feel you need it? I ran a side business selling "tunes" for Dodge/Chrysler vehicles for a few years. It's not really IT related so I don't include it on my resume. Although I did use that business name since I already had it registered in the state I was living in at the time as an LLC to run an IT side business for almost a year too. A couple guys I worked with at my main job and I got a contract using my company name to replace some routers, switches, and wireless access points, for a local college at one of their dorms. The business wasn't a failure, but didn't make enough money for me to live off. I only closed it up because I moved to another state.

If you don't have enough for your resume to stand on without it, it won't hurt to include it.

howiehandles

nhpr wrote: »

C'mon guys. You're not even trying. This was a side project, so it's not for "gap filling." I'm trying to determine whether the positives will be buried under the ultimate result.

As I stated before, there are benefits to being a business owner, big or small, side project or not. Initiative being the main one. Sell that during your interviews. The fact that it was a smaller project should be less threatening to employers who might view your business as a threat.

If an employer sees you as a threat due to that past experience, walk the other way. From my experience, its been more of a positive than a negative. I've found many interviewers asking off the record questions about self employment. And for the record, my business was an at home business, which led to obvious questions as I couldn't hide the business under a different address.

Asif Dasl

I vote no. If it's in your spare time, then what you do in your spare time is up to you. I can see the positives of saying you tried to run a business but seen as it was only in your spare time it kind of lessens those positives. If you catch my drift. Looking for an IT job, saying you use your spare time pursuing IT certifications would be a more positive thing to say to HR.

contentpros

@nhpr - I would say put it on your resume. Many of the most incredible and influential people you will ever meet in this industry have most likely been involved in at least one start up and more then likely they have probably been involved in more then one that have failed miserably. Failing (and learning from the experience) is part of how you become successful. There is a certain set of qualities that you find in people that are willing to take a risk and roll the dice on a new opportunity. These are generally not the kinds of people that are going to be happy killing time in a cube farm and being part of the status quo. These people tend to be driven and dedicated to finding a way to make it happen and not your typical "clock punchers".

If you are in an interview and the failed business comes up just try to reach back and talk about the business with the same passion that made you take the risk in the first place. Passion is good and thats why it hurts when the business fails. Anybody that has been down that road will understand.

HTH
~CP

Akaricloud

I would definitely put it. Most new businesses fail but in the process you normally learn a ton. If they bring it up just point out that people learn from failure a lot.