Consulting Applications - making mention of your side business

Question

Hello,

II am currently launching a small business (we are still in the product sampling and brand building stages) and I am unsure whether to include it in my CV/Cover letter. One of the companies I'm applying to specifically states that they want candidates who "can demonstrate their commercial flair whether through work placements, their own ventures," so I'm thinking about including it on my CV.

On the other hand, I'm worried that the firm will assume I would not be fully focused on the job, since I would be running my own business.

What are your thoughts? Should I include it or leave it out? And, if I do include it, should I add it in my CV or only in my cover letter?

Answer 1

Hi there,

Q: I am currently launching a small business. What are your thoughts? Should I include it or leave it out? And, if I do include it, should I add it to my CV or only in my cover letter?

If you are applying to consulting you probably know you won’t be able to work on your business while employed (if that’s not the case, you should reevaluate whether to move to consulting).

Given that, I don’t see any issue adding it. They will very likely ask you “Why you are not just continuing with your venture?” and you need to have a good answer for that. But if you do want to work in consulting and not in your venture, that should not be a problem – because you probably have already a good answer. You just need to present it in a structured way.

Given consulting companies look for some kind of entrepreneurial skills, there are definitely pluses in adding your small business experience, and if you have a good answer to the question above, no minuses.

Overall: totally fine to include. Just be ready to present why consulting would be better for you now and that you would be fine not working on the venture actively anymore.

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 2

Hi there,

Absolutely YES! Consulting do love entrepreneurs and even if you are early stage, make sure you explain your target/aim of the business. Many MBBers have their own business or start up while working for MBB and consulting love it, you will get extra points!

Good luck,

Lucie

Was this answer helpful?

Answer 3

Hey there,

You should definitely add it to your resume. Entrepreneurial experience is found in less than 1% if consultants (purely based on my observations of more than 1000 resumes), hence it is a clear marker of differentiation.

Add it and be proud of it!

Cheers,

Florian

Answer 4

Hello,

Launching your own business is an impressive feat - I would definitely include it on your resume and be prepared to talk about it in interviews!

I agree with others here that you will almost certainly not be able to continue working on your own venture while also working at a big consulting firm, both contractually and due to lack of time. I think the advice about preparing an explanation for why you are ready to move on from your own business to consulting is good too.

Answer 5

Whether you include it or not just know that it is extremely unlikely you'll be able to continue with your venture while a consultant. Most firms have clauses built in that state you cannot active work on your own venture outside of the job.

Answer 6

Hi there,

I would personally include it as long as you have the space, have an impressive title, and have truly built something (i.e. it needs to sound legit).

I completely agree with Udayan that you need to be prepared to drop that once you join the firm.

Answer 7

Totally agree with the answers here. Add it, but be prepared to explain why you don't want to pursue it and what your plans for it are when you're not able to run it any more as you've joined a consulting company.

Answer 8

Hi,
I would include it. Entrepreneurship is much appreciated in consulting

Best,
Antonello