If you are applying through recruiting software companies or working with software recruiters, you can include a side business and a blog on your resume when they strengthen your candidacy. Keep your most relevant paid experience first, then place your side business after that either as a separate experience entry when it has a real brand presence and clear scope, or in an Interests and Activities section when it is a smaller project. List your blog contribution in the same secondary area, highlighting writing and communication skills. This article explains where each item belongs, what to write, and how to keep it ATS friendly for software recruiting companies.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Yes, include both when they add signal: Entrepreneurship, creativity, and writing are legitimate strengths when framed as outcomes and skills.
- Keep your resume top loaded: Put current and relevant paid work first so ATS and software recruiters see it immediately.
- Use the right section: Brand level side businesses can be an experience entry; smaller projects belong in Interests and Activities.
- Make it ATS friendly: Use plain text headings, consistent dates, and measurable outputs like revenue, volume, or publishing cadence.
- Do not distract from core fit: Side projects should support your target role, not compete with it.
- AI can reduce recruiter workload: StrategyBrain AI Recruiter can automate early LinkedIn outreach and follow up so recruiters spend more time evaluating the resume content that matters.
When you should include a side business or blog
In the original scenario, a recent marketing graduate asked whether to include a handmade fashion hair accessories business and occasional food blog contributions. The recruiter guidance was clear: include both, because they demonstrate entrepreneurship, creativity, and writing ability. That advice still holds in 2026, including when your resume is first screened by recruiting software companies.
Include them when they strengthen role relevant skills
- Side business: Shows initiative, customer focus, sales, branding, and execution.
- Blog contribution: Shows writing, research, editorial discipline, and communication.
- Both: Provide interview talking points that are more concrete than generic soft skills.
Do not include them when they create confusion
If the side business suggests you are not committed to the role, or if it is unrelated and takes up space needed for core achievements, keep it minimal or omit it. This is especially important when software recruiters are scanning quickly and ATS systems are ranking resumes based on role keywords.
Where to place them on your resume
The biggest risk is placement. Even if your side project is current, do not put it at the top of your Professional History. Recruiting software companies and human reviewers both reward relevance and clarity.
Rule 1: Keep Professional Experience focused on paid, relevant work
Lead with your current role and the most relevant achievements. This is the section most ATS parsers and software recruiting companies prioritize for matching.
Rule 2: Choose one of two placements for the side business
- Option A: Add as an experience entry when it has a registered business name, recognizable brand presence, or meaningful scope.
- Option B: Add under Interests and Activities when it is a smaller side project or informal selling to friends and family.
Rule 3: Place blog contributions in a secondary section
Blogging is valuable, but it should not crowd out your core work history. Put it in Interests and Activities, Projects, or Selected Publications depending on your field and seniority.
How to write each entry (ATS safe)
ATS friendly means the resume can be parsed reliably and understood quickly. ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System, which is software used by recruiting software companies and in house teams to store, search, and rank candidates.
Side business: what to include
- Role title: Founder, Owner, or Maker, choose the most accurate.
- Scope: Product type and sales channels, described in plain language.
- Outputs: Units sold per month, revenue range, repeat customer rate, or production volume, only if you can state it accurately.
- Skills: Marketing, customer support, inventory, pricing, content creation.
Blog contribution: what to include
- Topic area: Food reviews in the example, but keep it specific.
- Cadence: Monthly, quarterly, or occasional, be honest.
- Impact: Editorial responsibilities, research depth, audience engagement, only if verifiable.
- Transferable skills: Writing, interviewing, analysis, storytelling.
Formatting checklist for recruiting software companies
- Use standard headings like Professional Experience, Projects, Interests and Activities.
- Use consistent date formats like 2024 to 2026.
- Avoid tables, text boxes, and unusual symbols that break parsing.
- Keep bullets to one idea each and start with action verbs.
Copy ready examples
Example 1: Side business as an experience entry
Founder, Handmade Fashion Accessories Business | 2024 to Present
- Designed and produced fashion hair accessories and managed end to end fulfillment.
- Built a repeatable order workflow including customer communication, packaging, and delivery timelines.
- Created product descriptions and promotional content to support sales and brand consistency.
Example 2: Side business in Interests and Activities
Interests and Activities
- Handmade fashion accessories: ongoing small business project focused on product design and customer service.
Example 3: Blog contribution in a secondary section
Interests and Activities
- Food blog contributor: wrote occasional restaurant reviews with a focus on clear writing and structured recommendations.
What to say in interviews
Software recruiters often use side projects as a signal for initiative. Prepare a 30 second explanation that connects the project to the role. For example, explain how running a small accessories business improved your customer messaging, prioritization, and content creation.
How StrategyBrain AI Recruiter fits into modern recruiting workflows
Many software recruiting companies now combine ATS screening with high volume sourcing on LinkedIn. In our internal workflow tests during January 2026, we found that the biggest bottleneck was not finding profiles, it was the repetitive first touch messaging, follow up, and basic interest confirmation that consumes recruiter hours before a resume is even reviewed.
Where AI Recruiter helps
- Automated LinkedIn outreach and follow up: StrategyBrain AI Recruiter can connect with candidates that match defined search criteria, introduce the role, answer common questions, and confirm interview interest.
- Always on candidate communication: It responds 24 hours a day and can communicate in the candidate’s native language, which helps reduce delays across time zones.
- Resume and contact capture: When a candidate is interested, it can request a resume and capture contact details so recruiters can focus on qualification and interviews.
Why this matters for your resume content
When early stage outreach is automated, recruiters spend a higher share of time on evaluation. That makes clarity and relevance even more important. A well placed side business entry and a clearly described blog contribution can become positive differentiators instead of noise, especially when they are framed as evidence of execution and communication.
Scope boundary
StrategyBrain AI Recruiter can help confirm interest and collect resumes, but it does not replace the recruiter’s final qualification step of assessing whether your resume matches the job requirements.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Putting side projects above paid experience: This can reduce relevance signals for recruiting software companies and human reviewers.
- Over describing hobbies: Keep it concise and outcome oriented.
- Using unclear labels: Avoid vague headings like My Stuff. Use standard headings.
- Claiming metrics you cannot defend: Only include numbers you can explain in an interview.
- Letting the project look like a conflict: If it is ongoing, clarify that it is part time and does not interfere with work.
FAQ
Should I include my side business on my resume when applying through recruiting software companies?
Yes, if it supports the role by demonstrating relevant skills like marketing, sales, operations, or leadership. Keep your paid and relevant work experience first so software recruiters see your core fit immediately.
Where should a small side business go on a resume?
If it is a small project without a formal brand presence, place it in an Interests and Activities or Projects section. If it is a structured business with clear scope, you can list it as an experience entry after your main work history.
Can I include an occasional blog contribution on my resume?
Yes. Blogging can demonstrate writing and communication skills. Put it in a secondary section and describe the topic, your role, and your publishing cadence in plain language.
Will an ATS parse my side project correctly?
Usually yes if you use standard headings, consistent dates, and simple bullet points. Avoid tables and text boxes because they can reduce parsing accuracy.
How do software recruiters view side projects?
Many treat them as evidence of initiative and execution, especially for early career candidates. The key is to connect the project to job relevant skills and keep it concise.
Does StrategyBrain AI Recruiter replace recruiters at software recruiting companies?
No. It automates early LinkedIn outreach, follow up, and interest confirmation, then collects resumes and contact details for recruiter review. Final qualification and hiring decisions remain human led.
Can StrategyBrain AI Recruiter communicate with candidates in different languages?
Yes. It supports multilingual communication and can respond around the clock, which helps when recruiting across time zones and regions.
Is candidate data used to train AI models in StrategyBrain AI Recruiter?
No. According to StrategyBrain product documentation, customer provided data is not used to train AI models and is used only to personalize communication for the customer’s AI instance.
Conclusion
You can include a side business and a blog on your resume, even when applying through recruiting software companies, as long as you place them correctly and keep your most relevant paid experience first. Use an experience entry for a structured business with clear scope, and use Interests and Activities for smaller projects and blog contributions. Next, review your resume formatting for ATS compatibility, then prepare a short interview explanation that ties each project to the role. If you are hiring and want to reduce repetitive LinkedIn outreach work, consider how StrategyBrain AI Recruiter can automate early conversations so your team can focus on evaluating candidates and running interviews.
