Answering Self-Employment Questions - The Self-Employment Paradox

WildJbSafari.cm

Free daily job search advice.

Because it’s a jungle out there.

The Lion’s Pride: Interviewing

Answering Self-Employment Questions: The Self-Employment Paradox

Former small (and micro) business owners often encounter the SEP (Self-Employment Paradox) when interviewing for work.

The Self-Employment Paradox

Hiring managers want business-savvy employees who are leaders. But if this job candidate is so good, then why isn’t he still working for himself?

Of course, there are a myriad of reasons for no longer running a business. The owner may have sold it, been squeezed out by monoliths, a key client may have gone under, the business may have been a temporary business by design, etc.

When interviewing, it’s important to put your self-employment in a positive light (since you wouldn’t be negative about a former employer, why would you talk bad about yourself?). There are three basic reasons for small companies to go out of business and, as such, three basic positive ways to answer hiring managers’ questions:

Short-term by design. You may have run a snow plowing or lawn mowing business. You may have tutored or been a handyperson. You knew the business was going to be short-lived; there was a finite end date. In this case, it’s important to emphasize that your enterprise was intended to be short-term. You may want to explain why you designed it as such, as well as your exit strategy. Providing these details show that you know how to plan – and how to execute.

Belly up. You may have had a bad product. Your business model may have been faulty. Your marketing may not have been effective. Large companies may have stolen your customers. The harsh truth is that many, MANY small businesses fail in the first couple years (almost always because due to a lack of funds). Explain the conditions surrounding your company’s demise, but be sure to explain what you learned from your experience. You might say something like, “If I were to do it again, I would wait a few months more before starting the business to ensure my investors were going to come through. I learned a lot from that experience – mainly patience.”

The fool employed himself. It’s often said in legal circles that only a fool would have himself as a lawyer. The same can often be applied to business proprietors. We’re not all cut out to be business owners. And, if you started a business without any of the requisite skills, it probably went down in flames. In this case, explain to the hiring manager that you lacked the proper information to turn a profit and, if you were to do it again, you would be much better prepared.

Hiring managers may also be wary of hiring former business owners because they believe they’ll leave to start another business. You can quite those fears with a short line like, “Owning my own business was certainly an educational experience, and I’d love to contribute my working knowledge to benefit ABC Corp.”

IN THE CARAVAN: There are many reasons for people to close businesses. To combat the SEP, make sure you explain your reason in a favorable light.

	The Call of the Wild Podcast
	The Lion’s Pride
	The Safari Guide
	In the Field With…
	The Daily Machete

Resumes Networking Q & A Adding Value

Interviewing

Negotiating Pay / The Questions You Hate to Answer / Nerves? Schmerves! / Pre-Interview Prep / Dress the Part / How to Show Your Portfolio / Speaking Of Pay... / All Shapes and Sizes / Interview Practice / What To - And NOT To Reveal / Andre's Answers and Roger's Requests / Practice Like The Karate Kid / Building Rapport 101 / Be a S.T.A.R. / Worst...Interview...Answers...Ever. / The Five Most Important Questions for You to Ask / Reflecting for Rapport / 18 Questions You're Bound to Hear / The Phone Interview / Negotiating With Mr. Smith, Part I / Negotiating With Mr. Smith, Part II: My Pete Rose for Your Reggie Jackson and Matchbox / Negotiating With Mr. Smith, Part III: Smith vs. Jones vs. Greene / Remove Thy Foot from Thy Mouth / Body Language 101 / Interviewing Disasters / Hire Your Boss / Keeping Your Cool Under Pressure / Returning the Question / The Dinner Interview / What You Want? Baby, You Know I Got It! / Know Your Industry / You Don’t Need to be a Psychic / Training / The Hippo Technique / Dropping Names / Marking Your Territory / The Walk-On Role / Body Language: The 15 Signals Hiring Managers Send and How to Read Them / You Have GOT to be KIDDING Me! / Taking a Drop: Re-Interviewing After the Fact / Proposing Your Own Job / Answering Self-Employment Questions: The Self-Employment Paradox