Comments on: How to list a company acquisition on a resume.

Question: How to list a company acquisition on a resume.

swift — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:17:01 -0800

How do I list a company acquisition on my resume?

I worked for UnknownCoolStartup in 2006, which was then acquired by GiantCorporation in the same year, and I have been working there ever since, working on the same stuff as I did at UnknownCoolStartup, basically. My title has changed, of course.

How do I list this on my resume? Is it something like

UnknownCoolStartup (now GiantCorporation) 2006-2008

GiantCorporation (was UnknownCoolStartup) 2006-2008

GiantCorporation 2006-2008

or separate entries for both jobs (which takes valuable space)?

By: demagogue

demagogue — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:40:13 -0800

I don't know if there's a generally accepted way of doing this, but I vote for:

GiantCorporation (was UnknownCoolStartup) 2006-2008

You get the BAM! name recognition of the large corporation, and then the detail on how that came to be. The thought process of from top-to-down.

By: Xalf

Xalf — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:31:00 -0800

It would be confusing (and maybe misleading) to have separate bullet points for the same job. Demagogue's solution looks good to me. I googled the words resume merger and got suggestions to substitute "formerly" or "acquired" in place of "was."

By: Dasein

Dasein — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:32:59 -0800

I agree with demagogue and Xalf (don't use "was") - and you can explain it in a sentence in your cover letter.

By: kidsleepy

kidsleepy — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:36:04 -0800

GiantCorporation (formerly UnknownCoolStartup) 2006-2008

By: jeather

jeather — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:36:23 -0800

I'd say GiantCoolCorporation (was UnknownStartup until Oct 2006) May 2006 - present, or any variation thereof.

You've spent far more time working at GCC, so it's appropriate to have that one show on your resume. You can explain this in the details of the job instead, if the setup works. I wouldn't use your third example in case they call HR to verify dates of employment.

By: cmm

cmm — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:03:43 -0800

Ah, the 90's. Good times.

I have "Final Resting Place (formerly Intermediate Big Company, formerly Small Startup)" on my resume. I've never really been asked about it, but I'm always prepared to weave the tale of the trail of tears. I don't differentiate years or whatnot. I just group it all together since to me it was one job.

By: swift

swift — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:20:32 -0800

Thanks!

By: WCityMike

WCityMike — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:27:32 -0800

I use "formerly"; one of my employers was absorbed by a bigger company.

By: yclipse

yclipse — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:35:45 -0800

I vote a little differently:

UnknownCoolStartup (now part of GiantCorporation) 2006-2008

The emphasis should be on the company as you worked there. The first name always makes the greatest impression. This shows (1) you had some guts and (2) it paid off.

By: tsnot

tsnot — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:47:19 -0800

GiantCorporation (was UnknownCoolStartup) 2006-2008
makes it sound like the company changed its name

By: anildash

anildash — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:04:37 -0800

In the particular case of your work, I might list the product names or project names instead of actual company names. ActiveBuddy is a bigger name than the former company, and organizing by project puts the focus on what you've done instead of on the branding of the companies. I've appreciated that in resumes I've reviewed from people who've been through startup acquisitions.

By: swift

swift — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:50:11 -0800

Good advice, thanks Anil. I am only slightly creeped out that you know where I work and what I do...

By: anildash

anildash — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:35:21 -0800

D'oh, sorry for the creepiness! I am just a fan of ActiveBuddy and have a good memory.