Getting back into workforce, complicated situation.

[password]

Hello. I want to eventually run at least one (small) business. I have a BS in Business Administration, but a very thin work history for one in their late 20s. More specifically, if you equate my formal work hours into a full time 40 hours a week schedule, I don't think that it'd add up to a year, and a couple of those references aren't good since I quit them. The last formal, long term job was ~8 years ago. Between then and now, I completed most of my schooling and worked very part time informally (in exchange for room and board) for a small apartment complex a relative owns. A large part of my not picking up more regular work since deals with certain fears, but I'm trying to get over that, and I'm much more motivated to advance myself now than years ago.

Based on my goals and research, I want to get a variety of experiences within certain fields, if for any reason that small business owners usually have to cover many roles. I've read from several sources that just working for small businesses tends to provide this sort of variety, even when the job title implies otherwise. I could also get a variety of jobs part time or consecutively, on my own or via employment agency, that at least abstractly provide business management skills (e.g. customer service, administrative). So, considering that I'm educated but with a job history on par with a typical aged college student, what's the best way to get a level of consistent work in line with my goals:
* Obtain several part time jobs with small businesses.
* Work for one small business full time (would need a very good reason).
* Obtain several part time jobs that are abstractly related to entrepreneurship.
* Work abstractly related jobs full time, one at a time..
* Work one abstractly related job long term (again, would need very good reason).
* Get jobs through employment agency.

And how should I go about it? Thanks in advance.

[CleeIB]

Hi password,

You don't state what your goals are, so it's tough to advise you. "Abstractly related to" what?

It would make more sense to apply for something directly related to what your goals are. And usually a full-time job is better for a number of reasons (looks better on a resume, more stability/benefits/etc.), unless your life situation necessitates having to get part-time jobs.

As for "how to get a job" in general, that is usually best accomplished by using all the tools at your disposal. Those can include local job listings, employment agencies, and your own personal and professional networks. Why deny yourself any of those possibilities if you already have them?

I think you're assuming that your lack of job experience will keep you from getting a full-time job directly related to your goals. That's false thinking. Perhaps your educational experience and/or your skills are great and make up for lack of time in applying them. Or maybe you're just "the right person" for a particular job. Put your best foot forward in cover letters and resumes and work with what you've got. The more doors you knock on, the greater the chance one will open for you.

Good luck!

[password]

Thanks for the response, CleeIB. I meant jobs abstractly related to small business entrepreneurship (there's more, but that's the most important part). I prefer a variety of jobs, either simultaneously or consecutively, for a few reasons:
* Develop higher diversity of skills (important to variety of tasks I read that small business owners usually must handle, such as customer service and administrative).
* Job enjoyment tempered among several sources.
* More engaging.

I would only want to do this for the short run (a few years, probably less). I want to be sure about my approach because my drive will be much lessened if I'm not sure that I'm doing it right. I've since narrowed my choices down to either doing multiple jobs over time through 1+ employment agency, or working several jobs in small businesses where I'll have a variety of responsibilities.

If there's anything else you or anyone else wants to point out they think I'm missing, go ahead.

[CleeIB]

Hi password,

Another possibility for you is full-time employment in a small workplace. Often the smaller the workplace, the more numerous and diversified one's responsibilities are, simply because there are fewer people to handle them. Work at a small non-profit, and you might do everything from leading client meetings down to making coffee and taking out the trash (I know this from personal experience).

Good luck!

[Eno Avenue]

Hello

I would like to let you know that having a thin work history will only be an obstacle if you allow it to be. What you should concentrate on is what you want to do. This will start with what interests you.

I believe that you can run a small business in time, for now it would be a good idea to build your confidence and aim to get a full-time role within an organisation.

If your references are not good then aim not to use them and find a way to provide other references for roles that have had a more positive outcome. If you have worked informally for people or companies you should still be able to request a reference from them. The Apartment Complex company could give you a reference.

When you are thinking about the last eight years, concentrate on the positive things such as what you have learnt in that time, think of how you have progressed as a person and your ideas. Think of at least ten things that have happened that you can relate them to what you are good at.


You did not mention what you liked or any particular field that you expressed an interest, whatever it is, it would be good to research that field and aim to get employment in that field. I have worked as a Customer Service Manager for five years. It is not rocket science, whatever job you take in this world, customer service and administration are involved in some way or another. If you have good manners, you are reliable, dependable and have empathy for others, this all helps with customers service. When you do customer service within a job or to run a business, these skills become heightened.


Everyday, we open our mail, deal with a series of letters that run our lives. We speak to utility companies, pay bills, keep reciepts, save, spend, document information, it is all administration. When we go to work our skills are heightened as we are being paid for it. Administration is not difficult providing you keep on top of everything just like we do in our everyday lives.

To your six points, I would suggest that you:-

Think of an industry that you are interested in
Look at the skills that you have
Find out the roles available within that industry
Match your skills to that role
If you want to progress in that industry then look for a course that will enhance your skills
You will find that one job will be sufficient

I hope that this helps. Let me know how it goes.

[AndrewLad.com]

I'd definitely say work in one small business. Choose a business area you like (as in one you're considering setting up in) and then work for a company that does this. To learn the workings of one type of business is so valuable, and you are right - you will learn a lot about the business (operationally) if you work in a small company. The knowledge you will gain over a year or two is invaluable.

Or you could just balls it out and start the business now - it's a sure fire way that you will learn much faster doing this, however obviously there's the risk of failure (which isn't actually that bad if you're in your late 20's).

Just my opinion.

Andrew @ AndrewLad.com

Hello. I want to eventually run at least one (small) business. I have a BS in Business Administration, but a very thin work history for one in their late 20s. More specifically, if you equate my formal work hours into a full time 40 hours a week schedule, I don't think that it'd add up to a year, and a couple of those references aren't good since I quit them. The last formal, long term job was ~8 years ago. Between then and now, I completed most of my schooling and worked very part time informally (in exchange for room and board) for a small apartment complex a relative owns. A large part of my not picking up more regular work since deals with certain fears, but I'm trying to get over that, and I'm much more motivated to advance myself now than years ago.

Based on my goals and research, I want to get a variety of experiences within certain fields, if for any reason that small business owners usually have to cover many roles. I've read from several sources that just working for small businesses tends to provide this sort of variety, even when the job title implies otherwise. I could also get a variety of jobs part time or consecutively, on my own or via employment agency, that at least abstractly provide business management skills (e.g. customer service, administrative). So, considering that I'm educated but with a job history on par with a typical aged college student, what's the best way to get a level of consistent work in line with my goals:
* Obtain several part time jobs with small businesses.
* Work for one small business full time (would need a very good reason).
* Obtain several part time jobs that are abstractly related to entrepreneurship.
* Work abstractly related jobs full time, one at a time..
* Work one abstractly related job long term (again, would need very good reason).
* Get jobs through employment agency.

And how should I go about it? Thanks in advance.

[bigcat1967]

Hey Password -

Get yourself a twitter, facebook and LinkedIn account. Follow people that are in the "biz" that you are aiming to get into. Start networking with people online and in your town as well. I've had so many people call me on LinkedIn - it's truly amazing. Something you might want to try.

Good luck in the future.

[password]

Hi password,

Another possibility for you is full-time employment in a small workplace. Often the smaller the workplace, the more numerous and diversified one's responsibilities are, simply because there are fewer people to handle them. Work at a small non-profit, and you might do everything from leading client meetings down to making coffee and taking out the trash (I know this from personal experience).

Good luck!

I'd definitely say work in one small business. Choose a business area you like (as in one you're considering setting up in) and then work for a company that does this. To learn the workings of one type of business is so valuable, and you are right - you will learn a lot about the business (operationally) if you work in a small company. The knowledge you will gain over a year or two is invaluable.

Or you could just balls it out and start the business now - it's a sure fire way that you will learn much faster doing this, however obviously there's the risk of failure (which isn't actually that bad if you're in your late 20's).

Just my opinion.

Andrew @ AndrewLad.com

Running a business now isn't a serious consideration because of lack of experience and of a particularly specific vision. I have a number of ideas typed out, but they're mostly concepts. I've heard and read from at least a few sources that few people should ever even do it.

I want to ask why there is such a strong emphasis on working a single job, even very early in one's career? I'll make a comparison to romance. It's probably not in your best interest to jump into marriage with someone you don't have a strong repertoire with just because you're attracted to them, or even start a long term relationship with them in my cases; this will be even more true for someone romantically inexperienced, right? So why the pressure to put all of one's eggs in one basket for their professional life from the start? I understand training costs, but that's little issue for most of the type of entry level work I'm considering. I'll emphasize what I said earlier that I would need very good reason to do it, and that I wouldn't plan to do it for more than a couple years, if that.

If I did end up going with trying to work for multiple employers over a short stretch, which I'm leaning on to be small businesses and not something just abstractly related to small business management, should I discuss an agreement of a set employment term, work part time among several employers simultaneously, do one employer at a time and quit if I don't particularly like the job (I wouldn't feel comfortable with this), or then go to temp agencies?

Sorry for the late reply. If I rub any as abrasive, don't take it seriously

[password]

Hello

I would like to let you know that having a thin work history will only be an obstacle if you allow it to be. What you should concentrate on is what you want to do. This will start with what interests you.

I believe that you can run a small business in time, for now it would be a good idea to build your confidence and aim to get a full-time role within an organisation.

If your references are not good then aim not to use them and find a way to provide other references for roles that have had a more positive outcome. If you have worked informally for people or companies you should still be able to request a reference from them. The Apartment Complex company could give you a reference.

When you are thinking about the last eight years, concentrate on the positive things such as what you have learnt in that time, think of how you have progressed as a person and your ideas. Think of at least ten things that have happened that you can relate them to what you are good at.

You did not mention what you liked or any particular field that you expressed an interest, whatever it is, it would be good to research that field and aim to get employment in that field. I have worked as a Customer Service Manager for five years. It is not rocket science, whatever job you take in this world, customer service and administration are involved in some way or another. If you have good manners, you are reliable, dependable and have empathy for others, this all helps with customers service. When you do customer service within a job or to run a business, these skills become heightened.


Everyday, we open our mail, deal with a series of letters that run our lives. We speak to utility companies, pay bills, keep reciepts, save, spend, document information, it is all administration. When we go to work our skills are heightened as we are being paid for it. Administration is not difficult providing you keep on top of everything just like we do in our everyday lives.

To your six points, I would suggest that you:-

Think of an industry that you are interested in
Look at the skills that you have
Find out the roles available within that industry
Match your skills to that role
If you want to progress in that industry then look for a course that will enhance your skills
You will find that one job will be sufficient

I hope that this helps. Let me know how it goes.

I plan on mostly relying to get the employer to like me in interview, and partly on my good grades. I think my resume's written good considering what I have to work with. This favorite entrepreneurial show of mine, "Shark Tank," leaves me with the impression that how I'll come off in person to an interviewer is a big deal, apart from whatever's on paper.

You sound like you're suggesting that I abandon fishing for general small business management skills altogether?

Also post above where I asked about working for one employer full time to start, and the question in the paragraph afterward, if you don't mind.

Hey Password -

Get yourself a twitter, facebook and LinkedIn account. Follow people that are in the "biz" that you are aiming to get into. Start networking with people online and in your town as well. I've had so many people call me on LinkedIn - it's truly amazing. Something you might want to try.

Good luck in the future.

I typed a note about LinkedIn, thanks. I've shied from Twitter, and even more adverse to getting back into Facebook. Any other particular comments about the importance, success stories, or relevant links? I'm going to research a bit on their usefulness to getting employment myself, so this is a supplement.

[password]

@Eno Avenue I forgot to mention that the apartment complex I work part time for is owned by my grandfather, and I do it mostly in exchange for room and board, not a paycheck, so it's not much of a reference.

To everyone: I read since making the most recent posts that small business owners generally don't like training people, preferring experience or people who can otherwise be useful from the start. The article gave seemingly good advice to handle the issue, which I took notes on, but I want to ask if anyone knows if approaching small businesses with little experience will be appreciably harder than with big businesses, or I shouldn't really worry about it?

[CleeIB]

The general emphasis on singular jobs is for a number of reasons. First, holding many jobs for a short period of time gives the impression that one can't keep a job (even if this isn't the case). Unless hiring on a temporary/seasonal basis, employers don't like to hire someone who looks like he/she may leave soon afterwards, making the employer going through the hiring/training process again.

Second, permanent jobs are more likely to offer benefits (health insurance, 401(k), etc.) than part-time jobs.

Finally, there is the issue of peace of mind. Would one rather worry about three workplaces/office cultures/bosses/sets of coworkers/HR paperwork, or have only one set of those issues to deal with? Work is more than just the work; it also involves learning and navigating systems. Dealing with one is more than enough for most people.

Unless you are a content creator and have things to say, Twitter's main utility is as a news feed. Facebook's worth is in leveraging personal networks for professional purposes. LinkedIn formalizes one's professional network and replaces the Rolodex of yore; it also allows one peeks at other people's connections, which may be potentially useful.

As for small businesses being less willing to train than big businesses, I wouldn't worry about it. (1) This willingness is really up to the individual employer, and (2) employers will always prefer employees who are already up to speed and don't need much training. If you want to increase your skill set through education/training/etc., that is your prerogative. Otherwise, your experience and education are all you have to work with - so don't overthink it and start putting your foot forward.

Good luck!

[mike3]

Hey Password -

Get yourself a twitter, facebook and LinkedIn account. Follow people that are in the "biz" that you are aiming to get into. Start networking with people online and in your town as well. I've had so many people call me on LinkedIn - it's truly amazing. Something you might want to try.

Good luck in the future.

I think it is better idea to establish business contacts. Especially LinkedIn is very useful.

[maheshguruswamy]

I want to echo what others are saying about using your social networks. You will be amazed how your social networks can help you out. Also don't restrict it to LinkedIn or other professional networks, lots of HR folks and professionals hang out on facebook and twitter as well.