My husband and I owned and ran a business together which we sold a few months ago. As such I am now job hunting and looking for a HR Advisor role. On paper I have 2.5 - 3 yrs HR experience (and L5 CIPD HRM), however it feels like the experience I have gained is not seen as valid because I worked for myself. As anyone who has been self-employed or managed a HR function by themselves knows, you learn a lot in a short period of time. So I have a couple of questions; 

1) Recruiters - when you see someone has owned their own business/ been self-employed - what assumptions to you make of the candidate?

2) Does anyone have any tips on highlighting the experience gained? (I have written short concise cover letters when applying to jobs highlighting relevant experience, but wondered if there was any other suggestions).

3) Because I have only limited experience on paper, would you advise applying for HR Admin roles to bolster the paper experience? (I don't have a problem doing so, but I feel my L5 qualification might mean I come across as over qualified and therefore discounted).

Any thoughts and suggestions are welcomed. 

Thanks 

Emily 

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  • Hi Emily

    I would guess that some prospective employers might assume you may have more broader skills as a business owner. In other words you may not have specialised in a particular area, so I would make it very clear in your CV what role you played and your resulting skills/attributes, along with your qualification. Yes, you owned the business and had overall accountability but you will have also taken key responsibilities and gained many referable skills.

    I also wonder whether some employers may see your experience and even feel a little threatened. Depending on the role you are applying for and the business they 'don't want you to tell them how to run their business' (not suggesting you would!), they want you to take up a specific role. They may feel that you won't adapt back into 'employment' well. For example; they may be concerned that you could find it difficult to take direction or to work in a culture or process that doesn't fit with your ways of working.

    For the purpose of your CV and applications you may wish to consider 'dumbing down' the fact you owned the business. Whilst it's no doubt an excellent experience that you shouldn't hide, I feel you should concentrate on highlighting your role and skills in the business and how these would benefit the vacancy. When you are in an interview situation you can then expand on your experience as a business owner as appropriate and moreover; you can manage the direction in which that conversation goes. You will no doubt have a good network and maybe this is something you can tap into to support your search.

    I guess it ultimately it depends on the type of business you owned and the prospective new employer - everyone is different but I hope this helps.

    Justin

  • Hi Emily

    Sorry for the late reply I missed your post.

    As a small business owner I can relate to what you are saying about the variety of skills you pick up running a small business.  You wear so many different hats and have to do things which are way out of your comfort zone, reconciling accounts anyone?

    I can't say what recruiters are looking for, but you have a solid base to work from with up to 3 years experience and your professoinal qualification.  Have you had any feedback why you have not been shortlisted (I know it is hard when recruiters can be very busy).  I also know that some recruiters look for specific industry experience so I was wondering if it was worth pointing out the variety of sectors which you have worked across perhaps this could help?

    But my biggest piece of advice would be to use the networks which you built whilst running your small business and in previous roles, you may already be doing this.  I have had a number of ex colleagues contact me via LinkedIn just letting me know they are looking for a role, and I always share with my contacts or actively try and send them roles which I see. 

    Before Christmas last year I met up with an ex colleague and suggested she do this, she was an experienced HRBP who had been looking for a role via agencies for nearly 9 months with no joy after a redundancy, and was quite despondent about this (understandbly).  I suggested she contact her LiknedIn contacts direclty tell them about her current situtation and ask if they can help.   As a result she secured a role through someone she used to work with 2 roles ago.  She still had to go through a competitive interview process but as far as I know is still happy in her new role which she secured in the New Year.

    Another route could be to simply apply for interim/agency roles and then let your skills shine through as you deliver in the role sometimes you find that a permament position becomes available.

    If you would like to LinkIn with me and want an introduction to any of my contacts let me know.

    Good luck and keep us posted with how you get on.

    Does anyone else out there have any advice for Emily?

    All the best

    Sarah

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