Can't get a job as a former startup founder

You can be proud of making this realization and being ok with going back into a job. There's nothing wrong with that, and it's much preferrable to burning out in entrepreneurship.

Regarding the job applications, here's how I'd try to navigate those concerns.

1. If they're worried you'll leave to start your own business:

I realized that entrepreneurship is not for me. I excel in management positions like the one you're looking to hire for, not in pulling all the strings at a startup and having to be a jack of all trades. My strength is in procurement and that wasn't enough to make my startup work. Knowing this, I am dedicated to excelling in this role and helping your company.

2. If they see your startup as a failure:

I started my company because of ABC but realized being a jack of all trades isn't for me. I enjoy challenging environments and am not afraid to work hard to solve problems. But I decided that an environment with a clear role definition inside procurement lets me leverage my skills and experience better than juggling everything on the table of a startup founder.

Hope this helps :)

I will say something completely crazy.

I know zero about you, so there is super high chance, I am wrong. So, don't take this personally.

When I wrote your post, it came to me that interviewees are only mirroring your state of mind. They ask the questions that you perhaps want or should ask yourself and they just catch your own question from the air. Am I crazy? Sure I am.

I might be judged for such an approach, but ...

In a similar situation I (90% truth) registered the failure as follows:
"I was contracted by a group of private investors to shape up and test a startup idea, which failed. My job was done!"

See where I'm going with this?

Find a company that values entrepreneurs, and see it as an advantage not a disadvantage when hiring. During your interview, when asked about your startup, make sure to highlight why that experience is beneficial to your new role. Talk about what you learned and why you want to take a break from entrepreneurship for the next 5 years (don't just say 1 year, even if that's how you really feel like).

I've been in your (similar) shoes, and always felt like I could turn it to my advantage during interviews.

Good luck!

IMHO, why would you want to work at a company where the managers have such a narrow view of founders? I'd say, keep your startup on your CV and keep looking for a job where you'll be respected for having been a founder not ostracized.

The experiences you made are so valuable and just make you a better candidate IMO. Some HR people are unable to recognize this, but don't take it off your CV.

What about the position or vertical you are seeking?

• Do they traditionally reward taking risks and thinking outside the box (sorry for the cliche).

Usually cultures that do not support failure and instead use it as a weakness point do not deserve you there. From my modest point of view I'd suggest that you keep everything in your CV because when a company accepts you with your past then there's a big chance that they'd support you no matter what.

Definitely don’t take it off.

I don’t want this to be taken as fluff advice, but there is a real opportunity to use your experience (no matter the outcome) to differentiate you from the field.

Former US President Ronald Reagan completely flipped the outcome of the election in his favor by using this tactic. He was older than any other US President and when asked about his age hindering him leading, he said “I don’t want this to be about age because I refuse to use my younger opponents inexperience against them.”

I say this because fail or succeed, taking a leap into entrepreneurship shows the grit, strong ability to manage ambiguity, learning from mistakes and so much more.

Keep it on there and get the job BECAUSE you’re an entrepreneur not despite it.

Dang, I'm so sorry you're interviewers are looking at your start up in that light. I am sure you've already done this, but I've found the best is to use your failures within your start up to show how you pivoted and learned within the process. Then show employers how these experiences set you apart from other candidates and will enable you to strengthen the companies with whom you interview

At my prior startup (I was not a founder), they valued entrepreneurial spirit, and especially for department leaders gave us the opportunity to run that team like a business within the business. I ran a R&D team, but did marketing, pre-sales, SME work, and yes, R&D as well as team management, budgeting, forecasting, etc. It really was like running a micro-business. The right employers are out there that will value you, and in my experience, failure is the best teacher. Other entrepreneurs knows this. The ones who discount that experience are fools. Good luck to you, keep looking!

Do as with any good job you are looking for - try, try, try until it clicks.
You may get 9 times NO and 1 YES and that's the one that counts. That's the one company that understands you and you are more likely to be aligned then with other companies where you have to "lie" about not being involved with any startups.

IMO you should focus on what you learned from your startup and how you could apply those insights to their bizzzz.

1. Congratulations on taking the bull by the horns and having a real go at building a startup
2. (Echoing many others in the comments) find a company that values your experience as an entrepreneur
3. Highlight all the things you learned (which I'm sure was a lot!) and explain how you can apply your new skills to the role

Do you have all the right pieces in place when building a start up? You need to have the product that people want alongside marketing and networking with potential audiences that may not ever have the thought process to buy a particular product. It takes a long time to have all the pieces in place. I find real-life use cases and reviews go a long way when it comes to selling

That's really interesting @yakattack - It's not something I had thought about, and must have been a shock to you also.

As someone who has interviewed and employed people - I don't understand the thought process of "They must be incompetent" - but I do understand the doubt around "Will they stay on or will they leave". It is a long process to hire someone and you want to invest time in someone who'll stay. It may be an incorrect perception based on your own feelings towards entrepreneurship - but I do understand it from an employer perspective.

I have a gap in their resume because I left full time work for travel for 2 years (or a period of weird employment history depending on what resume I provide) - I can say that employers seem ok with that - so if you leave the gap and when asked, say you were traveling - I think you could get away with it. (Mind you - you may want to come up with a story with where you went - as it always seems to be a point of interest! Perhaps pick somewhere you've been before - you don't want to get caught out!)

I hope that info helps. Good luck!

It's a tricky situation. If you take it off your CV then you'd also need to be careful to not 'slip up' and mention it either in the interview or at any point after you've been hired as that will make you look like you hid it on purpose. But then if you can't get a job without hiding it then...

Personally, I'd keep it on there, as I'd be worried I'd be caught out.

I have been in the same situation as a fintech founder. But next Monday 3rd October (1 year after I closed my startup) I will start a new job as a Product Manager at a VC-backed fintech company using blockchain to democratize access to investment in fractional stocks and bonds in Francophone Africa.

The moral of the story is? Reevaluate your skills, craft your story, and align your experience with the role you want to land. Work on your "pitch" and be prepared to answer why you closed your startup, your biggest challenge, your success or what you learned, and what you will bring to that company based on that experience. Write them down. Build a portfolio, and acquire a new skill if needed. As an example, I choose product management because it's like being an entrepreneur inside a company (intrapreneur) you still need those business, design, and tech skills to collaborate with others. I love that. And you need to influence/convince your manager (instead of investors).

Don't remove your entrepreneurial experience because there are lots of companies out there that value such experience. Select them. Even Facebook looks for entrepreneurs. Be confident and agile in your mindset. I hope my story will inspire you to keep pushing (iterating) in your job search. If you need more guidance let me know.

All the Best my friend.

Include your startup in CV as a project you have made and not as work experience.

You should be proud of what you have achieved by trying and taking action.

Most of the people have never tried anything like you because they're just afraid of failure.

Wear it as a badge of pride.

This is gold