I’ve been asked the question about including a failed startup or project on a CV or Resume on Quora not once but twice.

Both times, I’ve endorsed its inclusion because I believe it shows a lot about the calibre and qualities of the professional in question that might not otherwise be noticed including leadership skills and the willingness to pursue an idea.

For the professional who took on the adventure of a startup dreaming he would be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs or even Jeff Bezos, worked the hours and then found certain things didn’t go the way he or she had expected and instead of an Entrepreneur of the Year Award, found they were saddled with a startup that had gone belly up, it is painful.

If you’ve been a successful employee and a star performer before your startup endeavour, having a pet project failing hits our sense of self-esteem, confidence and fear of lost credibility.

Nobody likes to be a failure – I don’t.

But at the same time, an initial failure can lead to a future success.

Edison’s story of untold success post startup failure

The prolific inventor Thomas Alva Edison was expelled from school because he was considered unteachable.

Imagine, if his mother had not believed in him, perhaps we wouldn’t have had the various inventions that provide essentials in our modern life or it would have taken longer.

If you think Edison got the light bulb to work on his first attempt, then guess again. It took lots more than a hundred.

In spite of all of his failures, Edison was a prolific inventor who had amassed several patents by the time he died, including the light bulb and the movie projector.

It’s all about the mindset, robust planning, getting help when required and having a mentor or coach who can guide you through the uncharted waters of a startup.

Not every startup is a success and many fail despite a successful launch. That’s the way it is.

According to an article in FastCompany, “Why Most Venture Backed Companies Fail,” 75% of venture-backed startups fail with 30 to 40 percent of those liquidating assets where investors lose all of their money.

In a more recent article, I read that according to Forbes, 90% of startups fail.

There are often various factors at play in a successful startup as well as in its failure. Some of these factors could be related to you while others are not your fault.

Predicting the success or failure of a startup is difficult even for seasoned Venture Capitalists so why should a budding entrepreneur take the full fall for failure?

I remember back in the early 2000s, when a number of highly respected colleagues who had years of experience in the banking and finance sector and enviable credentials lost money during the dotcom bubble.

It took them some time to recover the losses but the wealth of experience they acquired helped them bounce back with bigger and better ventures.

In case you were too young to remember the dot com bubble, here is a short 1 minute video about it.

Sure, it’s great if you were successful, but even an unsuccessful startups shows initiative, a variety of experience, and many other positive traits.

It’s not just a mildly positive thing to list; if you position it properly, it can become the best part of your resume and a point that might intrigue the interviewer to ask you about it giving you a chance to showcase your true experience and qualities that can be transferred to the job you’re applying for.

The same goes for professionals who start a business but find they cannot make it work and want to go back to a regular job with a steady income.

Here are 3 good reasons for including your failed startup in your Resume or CV.

Reason 1 – You have gained experience that you otherwise would not have gotten in a job

Let me explain, the experience in itself is a small success because you now know what works and what doesn’t and you would have a better idea of where things went wrong and what you could have done differently.

It could have been a good idea, perhaps even a great idea which sounded good enough on paper for a venture capitalist to invest seed money. But the market might have changed, or the product/service might have been ahead of its time.

Think objectively about the reasons why your venture failed.

Then consider and make a list of all that you learned and what you would do differently.

After that, decide how you will present this information in covering letter, curriculum vitae and interview. The latter is important because this question will definitely come up in an interview.

Make the most of the opportunity to shine.

Reason 2 – Employers are looking for accomplishments

Accomplishments matter more than the job description because they indicate your caliber rather than what you have been trained to do.

Even in the days when I was in the corporate world, my CV highlighted what I had achieved in a particular position. The interviewer already has an idea about what the previous job would have entailed. They are looking to see if you added value to the previous organization.

For example, being able to say that you had reduced the debtor cycle from 180 to 45 days. This means you improved the cash flow of the company which adds more value than saying you managed the debtor list.

Likewise, in the case of the failed venture, not everything would have been a failure.  Focus on what you did achieve.

For example, the number of clients you acquired and closed successfully. The training and employment you provided during the startup. Or even the amount of investment capital or funding you raised in the market.

Reason 3 – Those soft skills are valuable to your future employer

Employers want measurable skills but in today’s world, soft skills matter as you rise up the corporate ladder.

The best way to demonstrate them is to incorporate them into your CV along with tangible facts or better yet, include them while wording your hard skills.

Let me put it into perspective.

The Davos Forum, also known as World Economic Forum, is held every year in Switzerland to discuss and analyze the main issues of international concern. This meeting is attended by the most important leaders worldwide.

The topic for 2016 was key competencies and skills that companies will demand in 2020. Based on a study carried out in 15 countries 10 top soft skills were identified.

These skills are relevant to any professional who wants to stay in the job market and get ahead in their career.

While formulating your CV or Resume, consider these skills and look for instances where you can demonstrate the skills while documenting your accomplishment statement (which is what we did in Reason 2).

For example, you could write about your skills of cross-functional co-ordination where you worked across departments to ensure that all contracts complied with business requirements.

The wording you use can incorporate soft skills like people management and co-ordination with others.

Update September 2023: What Skills are Relevant in 2023 and Beyond

The needs of the market change as we undergo technological advances and new industries. As professionals, while our existing skills are important, we need to be ready to upskill or upgrade our skills as required.

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2023 report finds analytical thinking, creative thinking and AI and big data will be top in-demand skills by 2027.

Leadership and social influence and curiosity and lifelong learning are among other skills expected to see growing demand.

Six in 10 workers will require training before 2027, but only half of workers are seen to have access to adequate training opportunities, according to the report.

In the future jobs market, it will pay to have skills that are in demand.

The World Economic Forum has predicted these likely skillsets – and how demand for them could grow – in its Future of Jobs 2023 report.

The report further states that between now and 2027, businesses predict that 44% of workers’ core skills will be disrupted. This is because technology is moving faster than companies can design and scale up their training programmes.

Here are some key growth skills for workers and employers wanting to stay ahead of the change curve.

Final words

If I haven’t already convinced you that it is fine to include your failed project in your CV, then here is a statement of fact that you need to consider.

Your startup might have failed but, and this is an important but, you had the courage to step out of your comfort zone and take initiative on an idea. You worked to make it happen or at least hit some milestones. Your investors liked your idea enough to invest money in it.

You have already proven that you are a leader and can not only think of creative solutions but are able to do the critical thinking to plan and implement those solutions.

Startups have chaotic environments often requiring on the feet thinking. You’ve done it and survived.

Positioning this information properly, you’ll demonstrate many traits that employers would find valuable. If an upgrade of skills is required, they would sponsor it because you’re valuable.

Besides that’s the kind of hands-on experience worth sharing proudly, right?

PS. Want to polish up your CV? Click below to pick up my 19 tips with my compliments.

Win the race to the new job!

At the same time I also learnt 2 other truths.

Firstly, that I was not the only one swimming in the pool of job seekers and secondly that you need to have an upper edge if you are to successfully dog paddle to the shores of a desired job and employment. Nowadays, it is called Unique Selling Proposition (USP).

That was more than 2 decades ago and since then the race to land a job has become more competitive. Before that, one has to not only vie to get the job interview but also beat other equally competent individuals who are selected for the interviews.

The dog paddle race has to be prepared for with diligence and strategy.

One way of gaining this upper edge and improving your dog paddle is to prepare before a job interview. It improves your chances of landing the position. If the ‘Tell me about yourself question’ hasn’t stumped you, then certainly be prepared for the “Why do you want to work for us?” question.

This isn’t so much a trick question as a way that the interviewer can assess how serious you are about the position while checking how much you know about the company.

Your individual truth may possibly be that you need the financial stability to meet your obligations or want to ensure a better career path than what you have right now but that is not the prospective employer’s problem. For them the key issue is whether you have the right credentials and if there is a good match between the two of you.

Here are 9 suggestions to ensure you give yourself the opportunity to shine at the interview.

Preparing for the Interview

1.  Research the employer thoroughly. Learn all that you can about their vision, mission, products, locations, corporate social responsibility drives and policies for a start. This can be done by visiting their website, surf the internet for articles about them, read the papers and even ask among your network for information about them.

Tip: Do read their About Us section on their website for a start. Make notes as you do your research so that you can demonstrate knowledge about the company, its activities and the benefits of working there.

2. Check the company’s LinkedIn Page to see if you have any connection who can tell you more about the company and what they look for in an employee. Start following the company on LinkedIn.

3. Do the same on Facebook and Twitter. The more you know about the company, the more prepared you will be for the interview.

4. Based on your research, make a list of their greatest attributes, achievements, plans, key issues and job description. Then match your own experience and qualities and focus on how you can meet their needs.

5. Consider practicing before the interview with a friend or family member so that you can get your response perfect.

How to stay cool on interview day

When I was preparing for my accountancy exams, I remember our teacher telling us that you can prepare as much as you want but it all comes down to your performance on the day of the examination and if the paper goes your way. We were instructed to stay cool and make sure that nothing fazed us at the last minute.

6. On the day of the interview, make sure that you are at your best. This includes dressing for success and being well groomed. Make sure that you know what attire is appropriate for the organisation. If not, then play safe by going conservative.

7. It helps to also know the exact location of the interviewer’s office or the meeting place. I personally like to do a test run to the location a few days ahead to check out the location, traffic situation and parking arrangements unless I am using the Metro. I also check that the car has enough petrol!

8. Keep an extra copy or two of your resume with you in case your interviewer requests one. The copies also help you to guide the interviewer to the specific areas of your resume when you answer the question.

9. Budget your travel time to ensure that there is lee way for traffic snarls and other unexpected delays. Try to arrive at least 15 minutes before the interview time so that you have a chance to compose yourself. Use this time to look at your documents, pick up more information by observing the environment  and make any other last minute preparations

A well prepared interviewee is able to use their knowledge about the employer and the position and present himself as a viable candidate who can meet their needs. This candidate is looking for a Win-Win situation and knows how best he can achieve it.

Have you ever been asked the Why do you want to work with us question? How did you tackle it? Please do share your experience in the comments box below!

Need more help preparing for that Job Interview?

Check out my guide by clicking on the image below. It’s a useful resource.

Written by: Vatsala Shukla

We often do a lot of volunteer and unpaid work for a cause. Here, the goal is not monetary benefit but the achievement of a desired outcome. We know our efforts count to achieve something greater than ourselves.

In the process, we learn soft skills that we might not in the corporate world like managing a group of 4-year-olds at a birthday party or babysitting. My two cents? It requires the qualities of patience, tact and alertness as any parent would tell you. 

Why it’s important to record these skills in your resume

Well, for starters would you like to change your career?

Have you been out of work? Do you need to justify how you spent your time? Other than putting it down in your resume that you have been applying for jobs in a recessionary market?

Everyone knows how difficult it is but yet the question can be asked at an interview.

As a successful criminal lawyer friend of mine who often does pro bono work tells me repeatedly, if you’ve done the work, put it in your resume.

Experience counts. 

Volunteered my time for Bow Wow Canine Shelter for 2 years where my key role and responsibilities included:

• Reported on time in the morning to walk the dogs/ change dressing of injured dogs
• Planned and coordinated fund raising and pet adoption drives
• Liaised with local authorities when abuse cases were brought to the attention of the shelter
• Provided unpaid staff leadership in the absence of the supervisor
• Was in charge of petitions for preventing cruelty to animals

There may be milestones you achieved.

For example, getting stray dogs vaccinated through the local municipal office’s sponsorship, more volunteer surgeon vets for serious cases, more adoptions and more awareness of kindness to animals in general.

As a starting point, make a list of all the unpaid or volunteer work you have done. Like with regular jobs, compile the dates of the beginning and ending of the volunteer/unpaid work, organization name, position held, job description and any significant achievements and contributions.  Depending on the job you are applying for; bring out the specific skill sets you used. 

Last but not least, do remember to ask the organization that you volunteered for to give you a reference.

Bonus Tip: Update your LinkedIn Profile for Volunteer and Unpaid Work

Once you’ve updated your resume, I recommend you head over to your LinkedIn Profile and update the section Volunteer Experience & Causes for the specific charity that you worked for including dates and the kind of work you did.

A LinkedIn survey reports that volunteer experience can give job candidates an edge with hiring managers.

41% of the professionals surveyed stated that when they are evaluating candidates, they consider volunteer work equally as valuable as paid work experience.

20% of the hiring managers surveyed have made a hiring decision based on a candidate’s volunteer work experience.

Make your profile noticeable by also adding information about the specific opportunities that you are available for. Include your favourite causes like wildlife conservation, animal shelters, autism and similar causes. Here’s how I put my important volunteer work in my profile.

Add your volunteer and pro bono work in your summary. State what motivates and drives you to offer your time and experience for noble causes. If you’re between jobs, include this in your work experience to fill the gap in your employment history.

A word of warning for your resume and LinkedIn Profile – make sure that the information is genuine and correct because potential employers will crosscheck as part of their recruitment process.

Have you ever had a career change because of the skills you picked up while you were unemployed or in between jobs?

Written By: Vatsala Shukla

Updated: 27 May 2023

Does your Resume include Hobbies & Interests?

If you answered in the negative, then read on because this blog post is important for you. Especially if you are seeking a job or career change and need to add value to your Resume or Curriculum Vitae.

The Hobbies and Interests section in the Resume or Curriculum Vitae is often neglected by the job seeker focusing more on work experience and career achievements.

However, this section can play an important role in giving you the edge in landing the job you are pursuing.

This section provides you with the opportunity to showcase your personal side to the interviewer. It also indicates that you do have a life outside of the workplace and are a balanced person.

In some situations, like a first-time job where you don’t have enough work experience or if you have been out of work for some time, including your hobbies and interests can add value to your resume.

Then there are times when it would be provident not to include your hobbies and interests because it might give the wrong message or isn’t required.

What we mean by hobbies and interests 

A hobby by its very nature is an activity that you do in your leisure time. It is something that you’re doing outside of educational and work activities. It might lead to developing a skill that can be transferred to a job description requirement or quality that an employer is seeking.

For example, painting or candle-making hobbies require an eye for detail and patience. They also require creativity. These skills are valuable in the corporate setting too.   

Interests on the other hand are topics that you find interesting and are willing to spend time learning more about them.

For example, traveling, adult education and animal welfare might be topics that interest you and you spend time traveling to new destinations or volunteer your time to organizations that deal with your topic of interest.

What your Hobbies and Interests can reveal about your other skills and talents

There is always a chance that your interests might be shared by the potential employer in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program. In this case, you would provide value to them along with all the other professional skills you possess.

For example, during my consulting and corporate world days, my interest in Tiger Conservation and children’s education matched that of one of my client’s. They had projects in both areas as part of their CSR initiatives.

I got the prestigious assignment because I had an edge over other equally well-qualified candidates who didn’t possess the passion, interest or additional knowledge about those areas.

Sometimes you don’t need to be an expert in an area but need to be well informed.

Done correctly, the right mix of hobbies and interests demonstrates you are a well-rounded individual.

It gives the interviewer a chance to ask you more questions about yourself and the inherent qualities that you bring to the organization apart from your professional skills. 

Are you interested in helping out at the local community centre on weekends? Or support a local charity for fund raising? 

Don’t miss the opportunity to show case your achievement. It demonstrates your Time Management skills as well as civic mindedness.

Remember, not every activity we do requires remuneration. I discuss this more in Putting Unpaid and Volunteer Work in Your Resume.

Taking part in a walkathon and raising funds for an animal shelter is no small achievement. It points to your other talents, attributes and your personality.

An unusual hobby like candle-making or origami would create an interest. It would also demonstrate skills of focus, creativity and problem solving. 

You would also get a quick feel if the interviewer has read your Resume if you are asked about it especially since the location of this section would be towards the end of the Resume.

Do’s and Don’ts of including Hobbies and Interests in the Resume

You need to adapt this precious document to target the position and company that you wish to work for.

You may have 10 different hobbies but not all are required to be put in your Resume. Instead, research the company first. See if these hobbies or interests are relevant to the position and company as signs of non-technical skills or aptitudes.

3 reasons for including your hobbies and interests:

• The application form specifically asks for this information
• You’re new to the workforce, lack sufficient work experience
• Your hobbies and interests give you skills that are relevant relate to the company and/or position

There are times when you shouldn’t include these items in your Resume.  This would be when it is detrimental to your primary goal of getting the job interview invitation or may invite discrimination.

Companies may state they are equal opportunity employers or anti-discrimination but remember, your resume is being looked at by another individual. Their interpretation of company policies might inadvertently go against you.

3 reasons for leaving out hobbies and interests would be:

• Unless relevant to the job you’re applying for, leave out hobbies that reveal your politics, religion, ethnicity or age. Anything that opens up a chance for discrimination is to be avoided.  
• Including the hobbies means leaving off some important information about your career or prior experience
• You’re aware your hobby or interest conflicts with the company’s culture or values

As with all other areas of your Resume/Curriculum Vitae, make sure that you are being honest and truthful. You need to be able to elaborate on the activity if asked a question at the interview.

How should you showcase your talents and skills that are different from your professional credentials?

Key points to consider while drafting this section of your Resume would include:

• Give it a separate title like Additional Professional Activities and Competencies or a simple Hobbies, Interests and other Achievements
• Make sure that it is short and to the point
• Think of 2-3 achievements where you have actually added value to yourself and others that also showcase your talents

I used to mention having played elephant polo in my Resume years ago. During an interview for the position of a Finance Manager with a reputed MNC, I was asked about it and what I learned from elephant polo.

My happy ending was landing the job as I also had the required skill sets and references. Seems the interviewer saw more to me than met the eye!

Learn how to craft a CV or Resume that showcases you in the best light in front of recruiters and potential employers with my CV tips.

Click on the below image and download your copy today.

What about you? Have your hobbies and interests helped you to get to the next stage of the interview process or land a job?