Using experience as employee for my new company

[DavidDEC]

Hi all,

I'm starting my own enginering company which will be specialized in the railway sector.
One of the main points in my marketing strategy is to use the work that I did during 9 years for my former employer.

I kindly asked them if could use for my website some renders and CAD pictures of the projects I had worked on. They ruled out that possibility.
I can still make some 3D "dummies" to show my capabilities and fields of knowledge, so that won't be that much of a problem.
But I'm quite unsure of how my newly created company can say "we have worked on this locomotive, and this tram" even though it wasn't the company that did the work, but me as an employee.
Any ideas on how to deliver the message to potential clients that we have the capabilities and the experience even though the company has just been born?

Thank you in advance for any input!

 

[ajack1]

The company cannot claim to have worked on these projects as they have not. You might be able to say employees of the new company have but I would guess that would need careful wording and what exactly is allowed will depend on which country you live in. Be careful as your previous company have specifically said you cannot use certain images they could get funny and a law suit could see you out of business before you even start.

 

[WinelandV]

This may not fully answer you question, but this was discussed in this thread: thread784-368298

 

[DavidDEC]

Thank you guys! I'm getting the idea. I guess it was quite simple, but hard to structure from scratch.

From what you guys say, and what I read in the post these are my conclusions so far...

- Any previous work must be shown as experience of a certain individual and give good credit to the former company. I guess I'll work on showing my resumé in a proper way for marketing purposes, while respecting the ownership of my former company.

- I will use generic ways for translating "previous experience" into "capabilities and range of services" offered by the new company, without mentioning or showing previous projects.

 

[StoneCold]

I often see companies brag that they have a combined experience in the field of 50 years. Meaning that they have ten guys who have worked in the industry for five years. Then they list areas where the new company has competency. I don't see that is a problem with if you can back it up with action.

Regards
StoneCold

 

[Electic]

You only have one chance at maintaining honesty and professionalism, so do not blow this opportunity.

First off there is a LARGE difference between participating on a project as an employee working within some other firm's template, and being the guy who built the template. You will know this well after you have operated your own company for 10 years, and at that point the comparison may almost seem humorous, ....almost.


To communicate that you have the ability to complete the technical aspects of the work, you could list on your personal resume (part of your marketing) the projects completed under previous employment. If you do not wish to publicize who you previous employer was, you could mention this work was completed under the employment of a medium sized firm; though that might still be challenged if a potential customer seeks a reference.

I used my friendly departure from previous employer as a marketing angle saying, "If you had called my employer last year for this project, I am the most likely fellow to have been assigned the work. I have not lost those abilities and now you have closer access".

 

[brandonbw]

I mentioned in the other thread that sometimes I mention previous work at other companies before starting my own. You can still make a decent sounding resume/website for a new company. It would just be more thin and encourage a potential client to ask questions, which is something you want. You either have a connection or are going to start out with the small stuff which won't need a huge statement of qualifications. There is a reason it takes a few years to really get going and get your name out there.

We are almost fully working on word of mouth six+ years later. Its a rough road starting out, but the risk/reward can be well worth it.

B+W Engineering and Design | Los Angeles Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer

http://bwengr.com

 

[DavidDEC]

Well, from what I see in your responses... showing previous experience as employee on my website is not going to make the BIG difference. Also, it's not about me, it's about what the company does.

It's encouraging to learn from you guys that beginnings are rough, but things improve with time and good work.
I'll keep the resume part more or less simple and have confidence that the company will earn a good reputation with time, project by project. Thank you for the responses