What considerations and questions should you ask yourself to shift to or from entrepreneurship to W-2 employment for your resume and LinkedIn?
Although not a complete list, here are some questions to start thinking about the transition.
FOR ANY TRANSITION
- Have you ensured that your banner, headline, About section, and chosen keywords reflect your future aspirations and contribute to building your new identity and personal brand for your resume and LinkedIn?
- Are you actively displaying ongoing education, certifications, or training pertinent to your future-focused role?
- Have you engaged in appropriate networking groups and established meaningful relationships or partnerships that could support your future endeavors?
- Do you possess recommendations on your LinkedIn profile to bolster your credibility and showcase your skills and expertise?
- Have you sought out and joined relevant groups on and off LinkedIn to expand your network and stay connected within your industry or desired field?
FROM ENTREPRENEUR TO EMPLOYEE
- Have you contemplated changing your title from Owner, Founder, CEO to Managing Director to present yourself more like an employee, especially if your company name does not match your own?
- Have you quantified your achievements, highlighting how you generated revenue, reduced costs, saved time, or optimized processes using a number, dollar amount, or percent for your resume and LinkedIn?
- Have you crafted a compelling narrative explaining your career transition, emphasizing the skills you bring, and expressing why you are reinventing yourself?
- Are you prepared to address any gaps in your employment history and provide context for them during interviews?
- Have you demonstrated that you have either closed down your business or minimized your involvement to alleviate any employer concerns about your commitment during work hours?
- Do you possess a contemporary, well-crafted base resume that you can customize for each job application, omitting elements such as an objective statement, references upon request, street address, or outdated email domains like AOL or Hotmail? Have you thoroughly reviewed these resume tips for helpful pointers?
- Are you actively conducting informational interviews to gather insights and expand your network within your desired industry or field?
FROM EMPLOYEE TO ENTREPRENEUR
- Have you established a LinkedIn Business Page for your new venture to enhance its online presence and credibility?
- Are you actively participating in pro bono mentoring sessions with organizations such as SCORE, the SBDC, or independent entrepreneurial coaches to gain valuable guidance and insights?
- Are you engaging in continuous learning opportunities, such as workshops offered by SCORE, the Great Careers Groups, the Thought Leadership Branding Club, or other community groups or coaches, to develop your skills and knowledge further?
- Have you become a member of your local Chambers of Commerce or business association to network with other professionals and gain access to resources and support?
- Are you regularly writing articles and speaking at events to showcase your expertise and establish yourself as a thought leader in your field?
- Have you ensured that your finances are in order to sustain yourself while building your brand until you secure sufficient client work?
- Have you drafted a comprehensive business plan outlining your venture’s goals, strategies, and action steps?
- Do you have a well-thought-out plan for marketing and advertising to promote your business and attract clients or customers effectively?
- Can you clearly articulate your unique value proposition to differentiate yourself from competitors and attract your target audience?
- Do you have access to the necessary software tools and professional services to manage and operate your business efficiently?
WHERE ARE YOU AT IN THE PROCESS?
Regardless of the circumstances, it’s crucial to meticulously check the dates and other details for accuracy and consistency between your resume and LinkedIn profile. I’ve heard of instances where job offers were retracted due to discrepancies.
If you’re currently employed and considering a side gig, remember that you can create a company page without linking it to your personal profile, which may be good news for some.
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TRANSITION? LET’S CHAT!
Here are a few examples of client transitions I have had or am working on.
- Dry cleaning store to Salesforce administrator
- Corporate strategy and consulting to nonprofit sustainability
- Makeup artist to project management
- Real estate to sustainability
- Business owner of 45 years with no resume to sales
- Graphic designer 1099 to W-2
- Human resources to HR consulting
- Technology to disability services
- Business development to franchise coaching and back
- Executive administration to career services
- Human resources to career counseling
- Higher education to consultant
“If you can dream it, you can do it!” (Silverstein for GE, 1981) You can pivot or reinvent at any time in your career!
NEXT STEPS
- Subscribe to my newsletter on LinkedIn™ for bright ideas to manage your career.
- Join as a member at https://greatcareers.org/membership of the #1 business networking association on the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Book of Lists four years in a row!
- If you need a resume or LinkedIn™ profile to get you to your next step, book a call to chat!
- Follow #GreatCareersPHL
AUTHOR BIO
Lynne M. Williams is the Executive Director of the Great Careers Groups, a volunteer-run 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides career development and networking connections for 1) job seekers in career transition, including veterans, and 2) employed and self-employed for career management.
Aside from writing keyword-focused content for ATS resumes and LinkedIn™ profiles, Lynne is currently writing her doctoral dissertation on LinkedIn™ for Job Seekers. She is a contributing author on “Applying to Positions” in Find Your Fit: A Practical Guide to Landing the Job You Love, along with the late Dick Bolles, the author of What Color is Your Parachute?, and is also a speaker on career topics.
This article is also published on: vista.today, montco.today, delco.today, bucksco.today, philadelphia.today and in the author’s LinkedIn newsletter. A list of articles can also be found in a Google doc.
