I would love to have your opinions on this. I took a career break sometime in 2014 for my MBA, upon finishing I tried to find a job but nothing was coming up so I decided to start a growing online retailing business while at it in 2015. I was at the same time volunteering for a non profit organisation to help coach SME's which I am still doing on the side for free. I now have a 17 month old baby with no support so I'm having to look after my child alone and cannot afford full-time day care for her nor afford to hire a nanny as hubby has taken time off work for study abroad so financially things are down. I'm looking to get back into work, but numerous applications have failed, my side business is not generating profit yet enough to take care of needs, part of it is because I'm not promoting it as I should due to fear of potential employers finding out as I still want to go back to paid employment. I'm considering starting a coaching service to sme's & startups to earn some money. My question is how will recruiters and employers view this? Should I continue to wait to get a job which I don't know when? Hopefully by the end of next year when hubby is done we can get a nanny or have baby go to full time nursery. The coaching service will still require me to go online since most businesses success now depends on the internet to grow. Recruiters ask me about the gap in my CV and I explain but some are not willing to go forward due to this - I never mention my side business, I talk about my voluntary service to the non-profit organisation. Please I need advice from anyone who has run a business and went back to work or from HR managers, hiring managers and recruiters. Will my side business and coaching service hinder me from getting the job I want? Should I promote my business online that will require my personal brand to be active to support the business as well.
There are quite a few things to consider here. I am both a recruiter, and I have taken time off work to start a business and then gone back to work.
I think I can definitely be of help. Now have you been on a break for 4 years? If your resume is indicative of that, I can tell you right now no recruiter will move forward with your application. It makes their job more difficult trying to sell their client someone who has not worked for long. It will not matter what you say they will look for someone easier to pitch.
Now you say you only have your volunteer exp on your resume. That is a signal to recruiters that you may not be employable. That is clearly not the truth, but because you are not being transparent as to ALL what you have really been up to, they will make their assumptions. I say put everything on your resume. Headhunters use key word searches and you may be reached out to about SME opportunities, even if their junior at least your back in right? Not only that, it’s clear you want to provide. Put faith in yourself and go all in! You can’t sit around and wait.
Now from a non recruiter POV, I can tell you that the easiest way to get back to work is to speak to past employers, or professors. They know your skill and work ethic, because they know you personally (huge advantage) . You can have a real conversation and they can potentially offer you a comeback. That’s what I did and it worked out perfectly. But this is bc I left on good terms.
I hope this helps. I am available if you want to talk more strategy. I have been there and I know it isn’t easy, and I didn’t have a young one. I can tell your passionate about a solution. Everything will work out when you believe in yourself.
Good luck!
Answered 6 years ago
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