Many times when you read about entrepreneurs and young millionaires who made it big out of nowhere the main motivational encouragement that people regularly regurgitate is that “you don’t need a degree,” “you don’t need any experience,” and plenty of other things that you simply “don’t need” to be successful.
While these assertions are mostly true in that anybody can start a lucrative business without having fancy credentials from the very start, to that same token, you don’t necessarily “need” to run to get to the corner store quickly, but it can certainly help you get there faster than walking, and if the store might close in 5 minutes, you should probably run.
If that simple analogy hasn’t convinced you that you’d be better off launching a startup with a robust resume in hand, then give consideration to the following four reasons as well:
1. Many investors won’t take you seriously without one
The most successful startups are funded by investors in funding rounds that can sometimes raise millions of dollars, depending on how aggressive the founders are at seeking funding and how effective they are at doing so.
Needless to say, Mr. GPA of 4.0 with a flawless resume and perfect credit is going to have a much easier time getting investors to trust him with millions than a guy who’s only had a few low paying jobs and has an amateur-looking resume.
In fact, investors have become so accustomed to skimming through proposals, applications, and resumes that the appearance of these documents alone can determine whether you’re getting in the door or being dismissed without even being given a chance to pitch.
Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to refine and build upon your current resume, and a lot can be done to beef up a resume in just 6 months to 1 year, especially if you’re following the advice of a resume review service.
2. Increasing consumer and client confidence
Not only will investors trust you more if you have a professional looking resume, the same goes for some of the first clients and customers who put their trust in your products or services. A significant percentage of site visitors and leads will in fact examine your “About Us” page and management profiles.
People want to know about the companies they’re dealing with, and it’s a fact that company leaders with powerful resumes are more likely to give the end customer the impression that they’re dealing with a very established and trustworthy organization.
3. Improving the chances of success in the initial stages
With more respect from investors, prospective clients/customers, and other companies willing to do joint ventures with your brand thanks to your stellar reputation is a business leader, you can be assured that the startup will have a higher chance of success than if that trust and confidence were not present.
Amazingly, all that extra “juice” can come from one powerful document that summarizes your professional experiences, strengths, credentials, achievements, and accolades.
If you had to choose one thing to improve that would instantly heighten your startup’s chances of success, it should be the reputation, experience, and resumes of all the company’s leaders, as they are the group that everyone will look to when launch day is approaching.
4. Being equipped with the necessary skills and experience
Of course, a resume isn’t just a fancy piece of paper that says you’ve done something – it’s a list of things you’ve actually done, and with that experience you’ll be much better equipped to handle all of the challenges associated with launching and managing a thriving startup.
That’s why resumes are perhaps the most important documents to have when searching for a job or starting a business, because they show that a person is equipped to deal with the challenges of spearheading a startup, which is not something that the average person is prepared to handle in a professional manner.
Prepare and work towards success rather than hoping for luck
In closing, keep in mind that putting yourself in an ideal position is about preparing yourself with what is needed to succeed in most scenarios (i.e. – being able to capitalize even in heavy competition or when the window of opportunity is about to close).
Rather than aiming to be that rare exception of going from nothing to something without a convincing background, consider going the more reliable and steady route of building your career and resume to give yourself the best starting position possible.