For years, I felt that my failed startup was exactly that. A failure, and an embarrassment. Recently, I took to writing about it, hoping that simply having it written down would change my perspective. It did.
I was looking for a job change, and I used this chance to add that failure to my resume. It is a part of my history, whether or not I personally felt that it was a failure. Surprisingly, the instant I sent out my new resume to companies (I previously left it out due to shame), I was invited for interviews with MUCH greater success, and got a few decent offers. Of course, the companies I applied to were different from the ones previously, so I cannot say for sure that putting the startup had a better result, but it seems to be true.
Even during interviews, employees at these companies seemed to light up when discussing my experience with my failed startup. It has allowed me to value those 3 years much more, and no longer look back on it and hide it in shame.
I was looking for a job change, and I used this chance to add that failure to my resume. It is a part of my history, whether or not I personally felt that it was a failure. Surprisingly, the instant I sent out my new resume to companies (I previously left it out due to shame), I was invited for interviews with MUCH greater success, and got a few decent offers. Of course, the companies I applied to were different from the ones previously, so I cannot say for sure that putting the startup had a better result, but it seems to be true.
Even during interviews, employees at these companies seemed to light up when discussing my experience with my failed startup. It has allowed me to value those 3 years much more, and no longer look back on it and hide it in shame.