Spent the last 5 months working on a start up; should I put this on my CV?

[Peter Loew]

Hi guys,

Hope you're all doing well and that business is thriving!

I spent the last 5 months working on getting a business running here in the UK to deliver a product for a US based company. This was unpaid work; and while I expect funding for the business to come through in the next 2-3 months (hopefully) and the project to start rolling then, I really need to earn some cash in the mean time, that, and of course the show must go on, whatever happens.

My question is: what should I put on my CV to reflect the last 5 months? I can easily describe my work which basically consisted of proposal generation and lots of BA / PM type activities and time in the US, or I could just say I was on an extended holiday.

For some reason I feel slightly dubious about saying I was working on trying to get my own business up and running, etc., etc.

What do you guys think?

P

[Scrag Meister]

I would have it down as a role that you have done.

IMHO, extended holiday is NOT the right thing to put on your CV.

If it is in essence work for your company put that down on there and explain what you have been developing, tech, BA, PM etc.. etc..

[d000hg]

If it's real work, describe it as such. Whether you got paid is immaterial. I would happily tell the client the full story if they asked in interview, but not the agent.

[TheFaQQer]

I would have it down as a role that you have done.

IMHO, extended holiday is NOT the right thing to put on your CV.

If it is in essence work for your company put that down on there and explain what you have been developing, tech, BA, PM etc.. etc..

+1

[Peter Loew]

Thanks, guys. Will put down what I've been doing for my company.

P

[kingcook]

For some reason I feel slightly dubious about saying I was working on trying to get my own business up and running, etc., etc.

All of the contracts you have worked on, past and present, are working on your own business.

Your CV is there to show [potential] clients what experience you/your business has.

So yes, put it on. I would.