Crafting an engaging CV can often be a daunting challenge when aiming to accurately reflect diverse entrepreneurial experiences and skills. Our comprehensive guide offers step-by-step instructions and expert tips to help you distil your business acumen into a compelling CV that stands out to potential partners or employers.
Land the job of your dreams with our bespoke guide on how to:
- Design and format your professional business owner CV;
- Curate your key contact information, skills, and achievements throughout your CV sections;
- Ensure your profile stays competitive by studying other industry-leading business owner CVs;
- Create a great CV even if you happen to have less professional experience, or switching fields.
When writing your business owner CV, you may need plenty of insights from hiring managers. We have prepared industry-leading advice in the form of our relevant CV guides.
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Resume examples for business owner
Explore additional business owner cv samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Senior Business Owner
- Structured and concise content presentation - The CV is methodically organized, showcasing each section with precision and clarity. The concise presentation emphasizes relevant achievements, skills, and experiences without overwhelming the reader, ensuring an easy-to-digest format that highlights the candidate's qualifications effectively.
- Clear career trajectory with notable growth - Isla King’s progression from Business Systems Analyst to Senior Business Systems Owner illustrates a well-defined career path characterized by increasing responsibility and influence. The consistent advancement in her career highlights her ability to drive system enhancements and lead cross-functional teams in strategic transformations.
- Emphasizes cross-functional leadership and system optimisation - Through her extensive background in Salesforce integration and agile methodologies, the CV demonstrates King's ability to work across various functions to optimize business systems. The detailed achievements in improving user adoption, operational productivity, and stakeholder engagement underscore her impactful leadership in driving business transformation.
Junior Business Owner
- Structured and Concise Presentation - The CV is meticulously structured, presenting all essential details in a concise manner. Each section has been organized with clarity, demonstrating the candidate’s ability to communicate effectively, aligning with the expectations for a Business Analyst role.
- Progressive Career Path in Technology and Analysis - Ella Bennett's career trajectory reflects steady progress within the field of business analysis. Starting as a Jr. Business Analyst Intern at Atos and advancing to a Business Analyst role at Capita, she showcases clear growth within the industry, emphasizing her burgeoning expertise and dedication.
- Industry-Specific Tools and Methodologies - The CV highlights proficiency with industry-specific tools like Jira and Confluence, and methodologies such as SAFe Agile. This not only underscores her technical adeptness but also her readiness to stay current with and leverage the latest tools to foster agile work environments.
Mid-level Business Owner
- Cohesive and Focused Presentation - The CV is well-structured and concise, starting with a succinct summary that smoothly flows into detailed professional experiences. With clear sections and bullet points, information is easy to digest and navigate, effectively capturing key aspects of Joshua's expertise in business analysis and web content support.
- Impressive Career Progression - Joshua’s career trajectory shows a deliberate progression from a Requirements Analyst to a Business Analyst, demonstrating growth in responsibilities and leadership. He has transitioned across different companies like BAE Systems and BJSS, showcasing versatility and an upward career path within the industry.
- Strong Emphasis on Measurable Achievements - The CV effectively showcases Joshua's contributions through tangible metrics, such as a 30% reduction in user issues and a 40% increase in client satisfaction. These achievements underscore his ability to drive impactful change and deliver significant business value through his roles.
Entry-level Business Owner
- Structured Presentation with Conciseness - The CV is organized with a clear structure, detailing experience, education, skills, and achievements concisely. Each section is easy to navigate, with bullet points that succinctly convey the candidate's responsibilities and successes, ensuring clarity and ease of understanding.
- Consistent Career Growth - Grace Bailey's career trajectory demonstrates a clear progression from an Operations Analyst to a Business Process Manager. This upward movement is indicative of her career growth and increased responsibility, reinforcing her capability in managing larger teams and more complex operations over time.
- Integration of Specialized Tools and Methodologies - The CV highlights a strong proficiency in SAP processes and methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma, indicating a deep understanding of industry-specific tools. Certifications in these areas underscore her technical depth and ability to optimize business processes effectively.
By Role
Business Owner Consultant
- Structured and Comprehensive Presentation - The CV is organized with clear sections for each aspect of the candidate's professional life, from experience to education, skills, and achievements. This structured approach ensures that potential employers can quickly access and assess the most critical information about Ruby Gibson's career.
- Demonstrated Career Growth and Industry Recognition - Ruby Gibson's career trajectory showcases a steady progression through roles with increasing responsibility. Beginning as a Business Consultant and advancing to a Senior Business Consultant at reputable firms such as Deloitte, PwC, and Capgemini, this trajectory highlights her capability and growth within the consulting industry.
- Impactful Achievements with Quantitative Results - The CV effectively communicates Ruby's business relevance through her significant achievements. Utilizing quantifiable outcomes, such as a 30% increase in client satisfaction and a 40% boost in brand visibility, it emphasizes her ability to drive meaningful improvements that enhance client profitability and operational efficiency.
Retail Business Owner
- Strategic Career Growth - Lily Cooper's CV illustrates a well-defined career trajectory, progressing from a Senior Sales Executive at Samsung Electronics to a key role as a Consumer Channel Account Manager at Intel Corporation. This growth highlights her ability to ascend through the ranks within the competitive tech industry, suggesting a strong alignment of skills with leadership requirements that cater to business development and sales management.
- Data-Driven Achievements with Business Impact - The CV emphasizes the candidate's proficiency in generating quantifiable business impacts, such as a 40% market share increase and a 50% reduction in time-to-market. These achievements underscore her strategic approach to leveraging data analytics for decision-making, reinforcing her capability to significantly enhance revenue and streamline operations.
- Diverse Skill Set with Cross-Functional Expertise - The CV presents a comprehensive overview of Cooper's skills in channel sales management and consumer electronics, augmented by her experience in marketing strategy and data analytics. This blend of capabilities is further enriched by her cross-functional collaborations, as evidenced by her work on strategic account plans and successful marketing campaigns, demonstrating adaptability and holistic business insight.
Franchise Business Owner
- Structured and Concise Presentation - William Hall's CV is presented in a clearly structured format, making it easy to navigate through his professional journey. Each section is succinct, yet detailed, providing all necessary information without excessive verbosity. This clarity in presentation ensures that hiring managers can readily identify his qualifications and accomplishments.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - The CV illustrates a well-charted career path, highlighting William's transition from a Sales Executive to a Franchise Business Coach within seven years. This progression exhibits not only vertical growth but also an expanding scope of responsibilities, suggesting strong performance and recognition in his roles.
- Achievement-Driven Impact - Notably, the CV emphasizes achievements with tangible business impacts, such as boosting client satisfaction by 25% and improving franchisee profit margins by 10%. These accomplishments demonstrate William’s ability to translate strategic initiatives into measurable improvements, highlighting his effectiveness and contribution to the business success.
Online Business Owner
- Effective Content Structuring for Clarity - The CV presents information in a highly organized and concise manner, making it easy for readers to quickly comprehend key aspects of the candidate’s professional journey. Each section is distinctly labeled, such as experience, education, skills, and achievements, which allows for seamless navigation and understanding of the candidate’s qualifications.
- Impressive Career Trajectory Highlighting Steady Advancement - Henry White’s career progression illustrates a clear path of growth, from an Operations Analyst role at British Airways to an Operations Manager position at Unilever. This trajectory showcases his ability to continually take on more responsibility and adapt to new challenges while making significant contributions to the companies he has worked for.
- Industry-Specific Tools and Methodologies - The CV emphasizes Henry’s proficiency with process improvement tools and methodologies such as Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and SAP ERP. This technical depth is crucial for someone in operations management, demonstrating his capability to implement advanced strategies that drive efficiency and innovation within the industry.
Independent Business Owner
- Structured Career Growth - Alice Barnes demonstrates a progressive career trajectory, moving from a business analyst role in HSBC to an instructive position at the University of Southampton. Her career path shows deliberate steps towards online education and entrepreneurship, emphasizing growth in pedagogical expertise and digital learning methodologies.
- Use of Digital Platforms and Tools - The CV highlights Alice’s proficiency in employing digital tools to enhance learning experiences, including implementing an online business management module that increased student enrollment by 40%. Her use of digital platforms reflects an industry-specific trend towards online learning environments, showcasing a strong alignment with modern educational practices.
- Measured Achievements with Real-World Impact - The CV is rich with quantifiable successes such as achieving a 50% increase in faculty online course offerings and improving course completion rates by 25%. These accomplishments not only highlight Alice's efficiency and effectiveness but also demonstrate her ability to produce significant enhancements within an educational setting.
Business Owner and Operator
- Strategic Career Progression - Sienna West's CV outlines a clear and strategic career trajectory within the logistics industry. Starting as a Route Planning Specialist and advancing to an Owner-Operator Truck Driver at a prominent logistics firm, it reflects her upward mobility and growing influence in freight management and logistics operations.
- Impactful Achievements with Tangible Results - The CV excels in showcasing achievements with measurable business impact. Increasing load revenue by 30%, achieving a zero-accident safety record, and reducing operational costs by 18% at DHL Freight exemplify her ability to contribute significantly to a company’s success and operational excellence.
- Comprehensive Skills in Freight Management - This CV effectively highlights a well-rounded skill set, emphasizing Sienna's expertise in commercial driving, route optimization, and freight management. It also showcases her proficiency in logistics software and adherence to safety regulations, underscoring her technical depth and practical knowledge in the field.
Business Owner and Manager
- Career Advancement and Consistency - The CV shows a clear career trajectory, moving from an Assistant Product Manager to a Senior Product Manager, indicating steady growth and increased responsibility within the industry. Each role is situated within reputable companies, highlighting stability and an ongoing commitment to the field.
- Proficiency in Agile Methodologies - Explicit mention of Agile methodologies and tools such as JIRA underscores the candidate's proficiency in contemporary project management practices. This technical depth is accompanied by certifications in Agile Product Management, confirming a structured and up-to-date approach to product development.
- Positive Business Outcomes - The achievements section provides a strong narrative on the business impact of the candidate’s roles. By quantifying the increases in user engagement, customer retention, and project efficiency, it demonstrates how their strategic input directly contributed to business success, showcasing an ability to deliver results that align with broader organizational goals.
Business Owner and Director
- Concise and structured presentation - The CV is neatly organized with distinct sections, allowing for quick and easy scanning by potential employers. Key details such as experience and achievements are laid out clearly, highlighting the candidate’s career strengths without overwhelming the reader.
- Progressive career trajectory - Archie Clark's career demonstrates a clear upward trajectory, moving from Media Planner to Senior Media Manager, and ultimately to Business Director. This progression showcases his growing expertise in media strategy and leadership qualities, which are vital for senior roles.
- Impactful achievements - The CV highlights significant achievements that not only reflect numerical successes but also broader business impact. For instance, increasing client retention rates and improving brand perception are strategic accomplishments that resonate well in the industry, indicating the candidate's ability to drive substantial business growth.
Business Owner in Technology
- Concise Presentation and Precision - The CV is structured with clarity and logical ordering, leading from a powerful summary to detailed sections on professional experience, education, skills, and achievements. Each section conveys critical information in an orderly fashion, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the candidate's career progression and accomplishments.
- Dynamic Career Progression in Product Leadership - Alfie Edwards has demonstrated a clear trajectory of growth, advancing from a Product Owner to a Senior Product Owner position. Each role showcases increasing responsibilities and demonstrates a consistent record of leading and delivering impactful projects in well-known companies like Monzo Bank and Sky UK.
- Strategic Use of Agile Methodologies - The CV highlights Alfie's expertise in agile methodologies and stakeholder management, creating a strong narrative around their ability to reduce time-to-market and optimize product development processes. This focus on effective toolsets and frameworks reveals Alfie's technical depth and proficiency in creating high-performance environments within agile teams.
Business Owner in Healthcare
- Strategic Clarity and Structure - The CV is presented in a clear and structured manner, with sections neatly organized under relevant headings, making it easy to follow and understand. This clarity allows potential employers to quickly grasp the candidate's qualifications, experience, and contributions without wading through unnecessary details. Each section is concise, emphasizing only the most important achievements and responsibilities.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - The candidate’s career trajectory is notable for its steady progression through increasingly senior roles in the healthcare banking sector. Starting as an Associate Director and advancing to a Senior Director position at HSBC demonstrates their ability to adapt and excel in the dynamic banking environment. This upward movement indicates strong performance, a deepening expertise in healthcare finance, and recognition from previous employers.
- Quantifiable Achievements and Business Impact - The CV emphasizes the candidate's capacity to deliver significant business results with measurable achievements. By illustrating successes such as a 30% increase in market share, a 50M increase in deposits, and a successful risk reduction by 10%, the candidate showcases their direct impact on the organizations they have served. These figures highlight not just outcomes but their substantial contributions to growth and profitability.
Business Owner in Manufacturing
- Structured and Clear Presentation - The CV is meticulously organized, offering a clear structure that guides the reader seamlessly through Isabelle's career journey. Key sections such as experience, education, skills, and achievements are presented concisely, allowing easy access to the most relevant information.
- Diverse Career Progression - Isabelle's career trajectory illustrates significant growth and adaptability across different sectors of the engineering industry, from aerospace to maritime. Her progression from a Design and Development Engineer to a Senior Manufacturing Engineer showcases her ascending responsibility levels and growing expertise in advanced manufacturing and digital transformation.
- Emphasis on Cross-Functional Leadership - The CV highlights Isabelle's leadership skills through her roles in complex projects requiring cross-functional collaboration. Her ability to coordinate virtual builds, manage production teams, and lead quality assurance initiatives demonstrates her proficiency in leading and enhancing teams to achieve strategic outcomes.
Business Owner in Hospitality
- Structured Career Development - Alexander Jackson's CV illustrates a solid progression within the hospitality industry, moving from a Food and Beverage Manager to a Hospitality Manager. This upward trajectory reflects his capacity for taking on more significant responsibilities and successively leading larger teams, showcasing a robust career growth over more than a decade.
- Innovative Problem-Solving Skills - The resume highlights Alexander's strong problem-solving abilities, as evidenced by his successful implementation of a new ordering system that reduced meal delivery time and a reward system that boosted team morale. These initiatives underscore his capability to identify operational inefficiencies and innovate solutions that improve service quality and team dynamics.
- Comprehensive Skill Set for Hospitality Management - The CV comprises a wide array of industry-specific tools and methodologies, such as menu planning, POS systems, and event coordination. Combined with critical competencies like budget management and food safety, these skills make Alexander well-equipped to handle the multifaceted demands of a Hospitality Manager role, ensuring top-tier dining services and customer satisfaction.
Business Owner in Real Estate
- Effective Presentation and Clarity - Isabelle Reed’s CV is structured in a clear and concise manner, with each section logically organized, making it easy for recruiters to quickly scan through her qualifications and experience. The use of bullet points under each role highlights key achievements and responsibilities, enhancing readability and allowing the impact of her work to stand out.
- Strong Career Trajectory - The CV outlines a clear upward trajectory in Isabelle’s career, moving from an Assistant Project Manager to a Senior Development Manager. This progression demonstrates her growth in the real estate sector and her ability to take on increased responsibilities over time. Each role builds on the previous, illustrating her ongoing professional development and commitment to the industry.
- Achievements with High Business Impact - Isabelle’s achievements are presented with a focus on their business relevance, such as leading land acquisition negotiations that improved profitability by 30% and streamlining processes that reduced resource costs by 20%. These accomplishments not only highlight her expertise but underscore her contributions to business success, showing potential employers the value she brings.
Business Owner in Finance
- Chronological Clarity and Structured Layout - The CV provides a clear and organized presentation of information, with each section logically prioritizing Freya's most recent and relevant experiences. The consistent structure across job roles and responsibilities aids in swift comprehension, ensuring hiring managers can quickly grasp her career progression and key skills.
- Professional Growth and Consistent Industry Engagement - Freya's career trajectory showcases a successful progression within the insurance industry, moving from financial analyst to senior finance analyst roles, demonstrating her growth in both responsibility and expertise. This upward mobility is supported by steadily increasing impacts in her roles, highlighting her capacity for long-term commitment and development in her field.
- Industry-Specific Expertise and Technical Proficiency - The CV uniquely emphasizes Freya’s deep knowledge of the insurance sector, with frequent references to specific processes and methodologies like cost-saving strategies and risk assessment. Her expertise in advanced forecasting and financial modeling also marks her as a standout candidate familiar with industry-specific analytical tools.
Business Owner in Education
- Structured presentation with clear progressions - The CV displays a logical structure, starting with a concise summary, followed by relevant professional experiences that highlight the candidate’s career advancements. Each role is thoroughly detailed with specific duties and achievements, offering a comprehensive view of the candidate's career trajectory and emphasizing their upward mobility in health IT.
- Rich industry-specific expertise and tool proficiency - This CV strongly emphasizes the candidate’s proficiency with essential industry tools and methodologies such as Agile, SCRUM, and Jira, underscoring their technical depth. These elements are crucial in signifying their capability to manage complex projects within the health IT landscape effectively.
- Significant achievements that underscore business impact - The achievements section showcases the candidate's profound impact on business operations by presenting quantifiable success stories. Examples include enhancing patient management efficiency by 30% and a notable increase in user engagement, demonstrating both a strategic and executional understanding of improving healthcare delivery systems.
Structuring your business owner CV layout: four factors to keep in mind
There are plenty of best practices out there for your CV layout and design. At the end of the day, a clear format and concise CV message should be your top priority. Use your CV design to enhance separate sections, bringing them to the forefront of recruiters' attention. At the same time, you can write content that:
- Follows the reverse chronological order in the experience section by first listing your most recent jobs;
- Incorporates your contact information in the header, but do skip out on the CV photo for roles in the UK;
- Is spotlighted in the most important sections of your CV, e.g. the summary or objective, experience, education, etc. to show just how you meet the job requirements;
- Is no longer than two-pages. Often, the one-page format can be optimal for your business owner CV.
Before submitting your CV, you may wonder whether to export it in Doc or PDF. With the PDF format, your information and layout stay intact. This is quite useful when your CV is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS) . The ATS is a software that scans your profile for all relevant information and can easily understand latest study on the ATS , which looks at your CV columns, design, and so much more.
PRO TIP
Use bold or italics sparingly to draw attention to key points, such as job titles, company names, or significant achievements. Overusing these formatting options can dilute their impact.
The top sections on a business owner CV
- Executive Summary offers a snapshot of your business leadership skills.
- Entrepreneurial Experience details the ventures you have started or managed.
- Strategic Achievements showcase your success in driving business growth.
- Leadership Qualities demonstrate your ability to lead and inspire teams.
- Financial Acumen reflects your ability to manage budgets and increase profitability.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Emphasise your entrepreneurial skills by highlighting key accomplishments such as revenue growth, business expansion, or product innovation, demonstrating your ability to drive a company forward.
- Detail your leadership experience, including team building, conflict resolution, and strategic decision-making, to showcase your ability to steer a business effectively.
- Include examples of financial acumen, such as budget management, cost reduction strategies, or investment decisions, to demonstrate your understanding of the fiscal aspects of running a business.
- Reflect on any successful marketing campaigns or branding initiatives you’ve executed, as these are critical in establishing and growing a business presence in the market.
- Provide insights into your network development and partnership achievements, as forging strong relationships is crucial for business growth and sustainability.
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Making a good first impression with your business owner CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for business owner:
Jane Doe CEO & Strategic Growth Specialist | M&A Expert | MBA, Harvard | 20+ Years Leadership Exp.
John Smith Founding Director | Digital Marketing Guru | Google Analytics Certified | E-commerce Expert | 15 Years Industry Insight
Alice Johnson Entrepreneur & Innovator | Tech Startups Enthusiast | Angel Investor | BSc Computer Science | 10 Years Exp.
David Brown Serial Entrepreneur | Business Development Leader | Sales Mastery | 25+ Years of Pioneering Ventures
Emma Wilson Boutique Retail Owner | Fashion Industry Savant | Brand Development | 8 Years Trendsetting Impact
Michael Clarke Restaurateur & Culinary Visionary | Hospitality Management Expert | Michelin Star Experience | Culinary Arts Degree | 12 Years Dynamic Leadership
Catching recruiters' attention with your business owner CV summary or objective
Located closer to the top of your CV, both the summary and objective are no more than five sentences long and serve as an introduction to your experience. What is more, you could use either to entice recruiters to read on. Select the:
- Summary, if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience. Feature your most impressive accomplishments and up to three skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for;
- Objective, if you're just starting your career off. Provide your career goals and answer how you see the role you are applying for will match your professional growth.
Judging which one you need to add to your business owner CV may at times seem difficult. That’s why you need to check out how professionals, with similar to your experience, have written their summary or objective, in the examples below:
CV summaries for a business owner job:
How to meet job requirements with your business owner CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Clearly outline the nature of your business, including the products or services offered, to provide context for your role and responsibilities.
- Highlight significant milestones such as business growth, profit increases or successful product launches to demonstrate your capacity for delivering results.
- Emphasise leadership experience by detailing your role in team development, training initiatives, and management processes.
- Include examples of problem-solving skills by explaining situations where you overcame obstacles or implemented innovative solutions.
- Showcase your financial acumen by mentioning budgets you've managed, investments you've secured, or cost-saving strategies you've implemented.
- Illustrate your strategic planning abilities by referencing long-term business plans you've developed and executed successfully.
- Detail your customer relationship management and business development skills by mentioning client retention rates or successful negotiations that led to partnerships.
- Mention any awards, recognition, or memberships in professional organisations that add credibility to your business expertise.
- Provide examples of your adaptability and continual learning by discussing how you have updated your business model or integrated new technologies in response to market changes.
Work Experience
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Brightside Marketing Ltd
01/2016-12/2020
- Spearheaded the market expansion strategy for a boutique marketing firm, leading to a 150% increase in client acquisition within the first two years.
- Negotiated and secured three high-value contracts with major retail chains, augmenting company revenue by 40% within the fiscal year.
- Implemented an innovative client relationship management system that boosted client retention rates by 25%, significantly enhancing business stability.
Work Experience
Managing Director & Owner
ShopSphere eCommerce
06/2010-09/2018
- Overhauled the operational infrastructure of a struggling e-commerce store, leading to achieving profitability within a year.
- Launched an in-house logistics program that reduced shipping times by 30% and improved customer satisfaction scores.
- Cultivated a strong brand presence through targeted social media campaigns, yielding a 10,000+ follower increment and notable engagement levels.
Work Experience
Business Owner & Software Developer
DevTech Solutions Ltd
05/2012-12/2019
- Championed the development and launch of a new software product line that secured over £500K in sales within the first year.
- Initiated strategic partnerships with two leading tech companies, which expanded our market reach and drove a 35% sales growth.
- Oversaw the company's pivot to remote work during the 2020 pandemic, maintaining productivity and safeguarding against potential revenue loss.
Work Experience
Owner & Head Baker
Hearty Loaves Bakery Shop
08/2011-04/2022
- Built an artisan bakery from the ground up, procuring funding through a successful local crowdfunding campaign that raised £60,000.
- Grew the bakery's presence to 5 locations, resulting in an annual turnover of £2.5 million per annum by 2022.
- Masterminded a waste reduction program that decreased excess production by 20%, increasing overall efficiency and reducing costs.
Work Experience
Entrepreneur & Founder
Caffeine on Wheels Ltd
07/2013-Ongoing
- Pioneered a successful franchise model for a mobile coffee enterprise, leading to the establishment of 15 franchisees within three years.
- Drove product innovation by introducing environmentally friendly packaging that attracted a 12% increase in customer base passionate about sustainability.
- Coordinated the brand's response to COVID-19 by expanding digital services, which saw a 50% uplift in app-based orders.
Work Experience
Chief Operating Officer & Co-Owner
NextGen Electronics Ltd
03/2014-07/2021
- Engineered an aggressive turnaround strategy for an underperforming family business, tripling net profits within four years through rigorous financial management.
- Diversified the company's service offerings by venturing into B2B sales, attracting a client base exceeding 100 businesses.
- Curated a niche product line that became a market leader, contributing to 25% of the company's overall income.
Work Experience
Proprietor & Fitness Coach
FitLife Studios
04/2015-08/2023
- Expanded a local fitness studio into a national brand with 20 locations, increasing the membership base to over 30,000 active members.
- Developed and implemented an online training platform that added an alternative revenue stream, accounting for 15% of total business income.
- Drove community engagement by initiating wellness programs, resulting in partnerships with three major health food retailers.
Work Experience
Founder & IT Consultant
Guardian Cybersecurity Ltd
11/2009-03/2023
- Transformed a local IT consultancy service into a leading cybersecurity firm, recognized by the industry for innovative solutions.
- Negotiated a growth-driven merger with a competitor, effectively doubling the workforce and acquiring a strategic portfolio of intellectual property.
- Rolled out a comprehensive employee professional development plan that led to a 40% improvement in deployment times for security projects.
What to add in your business owner CV experience section with no professional experience
If you don't have the standard nine-to-five professional experience, yet are still keen on applying for the job, here's what you can do:
- List any internships, part-time roles, volunteer experience, or basically any work you've done that meets the job requirements and is in the same industry;
- Showcase any project you've done in your free time (even if you completed them with family and friends) that will hint at your experience and skill set;
- Replace the standard, CV experience section with a strengths or achievements one. This will help you spotlight your transferrable skills that apply to the role.
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PRO TIP
Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
Mix and match hard and soft skills across your business owner CV
Your skill set play an equally valid role as your experience to your application. That is because recruiters are looking for both:
- hard skills or your aptitude in applying particular technologies
- soft skills or your ability to work in a team using your personal skills, e.g. leadership, time management, etc.
Are you wondering how you should include both hard and soft skills across your business owner CV? Use the:
- skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies that are part of the job requirement (and that you're capable to use);
- strengths and achievements section to detail how you've used particular hard and soft skills that led to great results for you at work;
- summary or objective to spotlight up to three skills that are crucial for the role and how they've helped you optimise your work processes.
One final note - when writing about the skills you have, make sure to match them exactly as they are written in the job ad. Take this precautionary measure to ensure your CV passes the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment.
Top skills for your business owner CV:
HARD SKILLS
Business Strategy
Financial Management
Marketing
Sales
Customer Relationship Management
Supply Chain Management
Business Planning
Budgeting
Project Management
Regulatory Compliance
SOFT SKILLS
Leadership
Communication
Problem Solving
Time Management
Decision Making
Adaptability
Teamwork
Negotiation
Creativity
Resilience
PRO TIP
If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
Education and more professional qualifications to include in your business owner CV
If you want to showcase to recruiters that you're further qualified for the role, ensure you've included your relevant university diplomas. Within your education section:
- Describe your degree with your university name(-s) and start-graduation dates;
- List any awards you've received, if you deem they would be impressive or are relevant to the industry;
- Include your projects and publications, if you need to further showcase how you've used your technical know-how;
- Avoid listing your A-level marks, as your potential employers care to learn more about your university background.
Apart from your higher education, ensure that you've curated your relevant certificates or courses by listing the:
- name of the certificate or course;
- name of the institution within which you received your training;
- the date(-s) when you obtained your accreditation.
In the next section, discover some of the most relevant certificates for your business owner CV:
PRO TIP
Order your skills based on the relevance to the role you're applying for, ensuring the most pertinent skills catch the employer's attention first.
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Key takeaways
Impressing recruiters with your experience, skill set, and values starts with your professional business owner CV. Write concisely and always aim to answer job requirements with what you've achieved; furthermore:
- Select a simple design that complements your experience and ensures your profile is presentable;
- Include an opening statement that either spotlights your key achievements (summary) or showcases your career ambitions (objective);
- Curate your experience bullets, so that each one commences with a strong, action verb and is followed up by your skill and accomplishment;
- List your hard and soft skills all across different sections of your CV to ensure your application meets the requirements;
- Dedicate space to your relevant higher education diplomas and your certificates to show recruiters you have the necessary industry background.
