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Hi Everyone,

I would greatly appreciate your perspective on below situation:

In recent 2 years I joined a family business as co-owner and have supported it  in my free time while working as salaried manager in other company                                      

As our business develops at rapid and promising pace and I consider to move there in next 3-4 years for full time position.
Why not now?  is too early stage of development to support my family  financial needs (and put this weight on the company) + few hours a month of strategic supervision in private time would do equally good to the business than me doing stuff that can be outsourced to our company employees.

In the meantime due to restructuring in my previous company I am now actively looking for a new job

There are some positions that I`d like to apply to where my experience and skills demonstrated in developing my own company would be of critical value to new employers (and recruitment process...)
At the same time this information released to potential employer opens the pandora box of questions and doubts with the employer.

My intentions are pure :) ie I do not want a "free ride"  but want to accomplish  & learn further in new organizaton and ,when the right time comes,decide about moving into my co-owned business.

Many thank for your thoughtful advice
M

 

afmoffa's picture

Short answer: You should mention the work you do for your own business on your resume.

Long answer: List it right alongside your other work experience; it doesn't get its own special section. Neither trumpet nor cloak the fact that it is your ongoing business. The only time you could ethically leave it off your resume would be if it were less than, say, 10% of your income, or if in a typical month you spend less than twenty hours running it. Somebody correct me if my numbers are way off.

I started my own consulting business ten years ago, when I found myself unloading trucks at night to make ends meet. Consulting paid way better and I didn't have to wear protective lifting gear. I still consult on the side, still run my own projects. I consider them a great help to my finances, my sanity, and my career. Except during interviews. I believe your fears are well-founded: many employers will view you as always serving two masters.

Having my own side business allows me to

  1. Augment my day-job skills with a broad variety of clients. (Bosses like this.)
  2. Stay on top of new developments and best practices across industries. (Bosses like this.)
  3. Develop managerial, marketing, customer service, and big-picture skills. (Bosses like this.)
  4. Encounter my employer on a basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit, without any sense of dependency or fear. (Bosses hate this.) (Although a Manager-Tools boss might see the upside.)
  5. Establish a clear, documented, market-based opportunity cost for my time spent at work. (Bosses hate this, and this is what holds you and me back in interviews.)

I believe the trade-offs are worth it, given my temperament, ambition, and risk-tolerance. But only you can answer the question for yourself.