Story of the Search: Make the Transition from Business Owner to Employee

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In response to the recent column titled, “From Entrepreneur to Employee” this week’s ‘Story of the Search’ will showcase a candidate who made a successful transition from business owner to employee.

Background

Steve was seeking training and organizational development roles. He had 10 years’ experience with a leading airline, but for the past 2 years had launched and operated his own tanning salon. He was ready to sell his business and interested in relocating 1,000 miles away to work for the headquarters of one of the nations most successful and trend-right retailers.

Résumé Strategies

Steve’s original résumé was selling him short through both content and design. The wrong information was given priority placement on page one and his primary experience was presented through basically what looked like a list of fragmented sentences.

For Steve’s new résumé, I had to include his most recent sole proprietor experience, yet still make him look like a corporate trainer. To do this I opened his résumé with a summary and core qualifications list which highlights his most related experiences and strengths. Supporting this strategy, I used a combination résumé format, presenting career highlights focused first on his training experience with an international airline. This section is presented by employer so not to scare the hiring manager away for fear they are reading a purely functionally formatted résumé. By presenting highlights by employer, the hiring manager can still see what the candidate did with each employer, while focusing on most related experiences first. I presented highlights of Steve’s sole proprietorship experience second so to focus the hiring manager’s attention on the aspects of his background that would most qualify him for opportunities of interest.

The second page of Steve’s résumé launches with his professional experience. As this section has to be presented in reverse chronological order, it was strategically placed on page two to minimize the impact of Steve being his own boss for the past two years. Doing so allows the hiring manager to focus on Steve’s qualifying factors on page one before they even turn to page two to see the dates of his employment. The professional experience section provides the high points of his positions, leading with achievements highlighted in bold.

Next, I presented Steve’s education. He had originally presented this section on page one, a strategy that wasted too much real estate on that all-important first page. Instead, I presented all of his education on page two, but highlighted his graduate degree in the core qualifications section on page one. Lastly, I presented Steve’s community involvement, further differentiating his candidacy, adding to the uniqueness of his résumé, and reinforcing his leadership, public speaking, and training skills.

The design of Steve’s résumé was also critical. He was applying to work for one of the country’s trendiest retailers so he had to look the part, both on paper and in person. I used a new fashionable font, created an impactful design, added color to increase engagement, and bolded information I wanted to be seen during the screening process.

Makeover Results

Steve submitted his résumé electronically to his company of choice on Sunday December 19^th at 9pm. Less than 12 hours later, at 11am on Monday December 20th, he received a call from the company’s senior recruiter to schedule a phone interview. Several interviews later, both on the phone and in person, he received the job offer in mid-February, beginning his new dream job in mid-March.

Revitalize résumé with balance of content and design

Dear Sam: After working for the same company for more than 25 years, I find myself unemployed. I am not current on what the buzz words or trends are for which hiring managers are looking. Also, while I have knowledge of the operations of the company I left, I am not sure how to transfer those skills to a potential position in a totally different field. I've created a résumé and have had a few interviews from it, but it does look quite plain compared to the examples you've shown in this column and on your website. I would appreciate any direction you can offer me. - Donna

Dear Donna: I'm sorry to hear that. Unfortunately it seems this is an all too common occurrence. In fact, it's almost shocking when someone hasn't been downsized at this point. It's fantastic you are getting some interviews; you must have done a good job presenting your background on your résumé. To ensure it speaks the right language in terms of keywords, do a simple exercise. Print job postings of interest, probably about 5 to 10, and read them several times. Start highlighting keywords, requirements, skills sought, etc. that you see appearing repeatedly. Write those keywords down the left side of a piece of paper. Then cross-reference that with your background and transfer some of those keywords to the right side of the piece of paper. Now you have your list of keywords. Weaving these throughout your résumé from top to bottom will ensure you are starting to speak the same language as your target audience, helping your résumé win additional interviews.

You are correct in that I am big on the design of a résumé. After all, if the hiring manager is looking at their 100th résumé of the day and it looks like 50 others, wouldn't you be bored? I think a critical balance of content and design is the recipe for success. It sounds like you have a great start on the content, so maybe just pay a little attention to the design to ensure it too differentiates you from the pack. I think candidates should pay more attention to creating a unique one-of-a-kind look to their résumé in an effort to secure a little more attention. Did you know the screening process is as little as 7 seconds? A unique, appropriate, and engaging design can go a long way for buying you a little more time in front of the reader. I wish you a speedy return to work.

Dear Sam: How often should I update my résumé? - Sherry

Dear Sherry: Good question! I'd update annually at the very least, although every six months would be better, but definitely when you get a new job (using your job description) and upon receiving your annual review (that annual check point is a good reminder too, and it's when all your accomplishments are so fresh in your mind!). That way you will always be prepared should an enticing opportunity come your way.

Dear Sam: I want to relocate and am not sure how to present my address on my résumé as I've heard long distance recruits often don't get the time of day. - Hannah

Dear Hannah: You are correct, out-of-state candidates are more expensive and time consuming to recruit, so unless the company is willing to undergo a search for a non-local recruit, then if you just have your current address on your résumé it probably won't get you in the door. I'd suggest putting your current address on your résumé, and if possible, a local address from your desired destination. Some candidates place a relative's or friend's address on their résumé as their "upcoming" address. The point is not to mislead a hiring manager, doing so would only create a lose-lose situation in the end, but instead to show them you really are relocating to that city and do not need relocation assistance. If you are unable to put a local address on your résumé, then be sure to mention you are not seeking relocation expenses. If this is not the case then I'd just bury your address as best you can (maybe at the bottom of your résumé or on page two) and instead just present your phone and email at the top.

Dear Sam: Each week I read your section of the newspaper. I am looking for a job in the medical field, and previously I did work for a company that had a very high turnover rate. My question is how do you research a company to find out things like this? - Val

Dear Val: It is good that you are performing your due diligence before applying to a company. It is critical to perform such research so you know the company is right for you in both the short and long-term. Here are a few ways you can research a potential employer.

One: Keep your eye on local news sources and industry journals that contain the latest information on business news and trends. You might be amazed at the amount of information you can glean from the business or local sections of the newspaper.

Two: Review the company's website to see if they have any press releases posted about their past performance or future plans. You can often find annual reports posted that will provide for extensive insight into the organization's successes, growth, history, goals, and financial status. Note that the annual report will be much more detailed versus the comprehensive financial overview provided in the 10-K report.

Three: I often find myself on www.hoovers.com to review company information. You can access a decent amount of information on this site (not for all companies) without paying for a subscription. If the information is available for the company of interest you will find performance data pertaining to sales, revenue growth, number of employees, and employee growth or decline. This will give you a brief snapshot of the company and their key performance indicators. There are also a number of other online sources that provide similar data for larger businesses.

Four: Check out the resources available at your local library. Libraries offer access to computer databases that serve as excellent research tools. The information assistants at the library will be more than happy to help you refine your search to find exactly what you are looking for.

Five: Ask around. Often there is nothing better than first-hand insight into the inner workings and culture of an organization. Ask your professional and personal network and you might be surprised who knows who and what!

Finding Legitimate Work-From-Home Jobs

Dear Sam: I have been employed with the same government agency for 16+ years. The last 7 years, I have also worked a part-time job as a gas station cashier. I am not getting any younger, and needless to say, I am very tired. The gas station is going to be cutting back on hours, since I am the oldest, and only able to work a few hours a week, guess who is being cut?

I am looking for a home-based part-time job. At my present government job, I am an executive legal assistant where I demonstrate my proficient typing skills. How can one go about looking for a legitimate part-time, work-from-home job? I have briefly scanned the internet but I can't seem to find "legitimate" jobs.

We have two grown children in college and a wonderful little boy who was our "surprise" baby! Needless to say, I need a part-time job to help the older children and the little one who keeps us up at night, on our toes, and young! – Sincerely Tired

Dear Sincerely Tired: I get asked quite frequently how one can find legitimate work-from-home jobs. Let me preface this response by saying that you need to fully research work-from-home offers to ensure they are legitimate opportunities, even if that means searching for comments about the company on a search engine like Google or placing a quick call to the Better Business Bureau.

There are some types of jobs that tend to be more telecommuting-friendly such as call center, virtual assistant, and transcriptionist positions. Beware of opportunities promising high compensation and no training needed, in these cases you should follow the old adage, “if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.”

So, to find work-from-home jobs search the job boards with “telecommute,” “home,” or “flex job” as keywords. You may also want to search the net for positions as a Virtual Assistant, a position where you work from home to support the administrative needs of a business/individual. Check out company websites and search for the same keywords, if you find a listing on an actual company website it is much more likely to be legitimate. You can also look at craigslist.com which allows you to search by both part-time and telecommute. You could also set up a profile on elance.com. I like elance as it connects freelancers with businesses who require their services. On this site, you can bid for projects that fit your skill set. You’ll notice they have different categories that suit your background well including Virtual Assistant, Research, Data Entry, Word Processing, and more. This site is very simple to use, businesses post their projects, service providers bid on those projects, perform the work, pay a small fee taken from the funds transferred from the “employer” (sort of like eBay), and then you both have the opportunity to provide feedback. Currently there are 14,000+ administrative projects listed on elance.com! That may be a good way to source the types and sizes of projects you are interested in, work when you are able to work (in the middle of the night for instance!), and acquire a steady stream of incremental revenue.

You could also contact temp agencies that specialize in administrative positions and ask if they source for any flex or telecommuting positions. Also, use your network. Do you know anyone who either runs a business or knows someone else who does? That is sometimes the best way to source an opportunity as they would already trust your work ethic and ability to work from home. Be sure you have a great résumé ready for these opportunities, one that showcases your administrative acumen, dedication, drive, and work ethic.

Work-from-home jobs are probably not as plentiful as you would like, at least the legitimate ones, but there are some out there. I’d suggest steering clear of the websites that promise big bucks and instead focus on some of the strategies I’ve listed in an attempt to secure legitimate, rewarding positions. All the best!

Dear Sam: After 27 years with a major company that went into bankruptcy recently I have to take an early retirement. I am only 53 years old and not ready to retire. A lot of the jobs I am applying for ask for at least an associate’s degree. I was told years ago that a four-year apprenticeship program was equal to an associate’s degree. I have also had a lot of training in the past 27+ years. What is your opinion on this? I do plan on pursuing a degree but I will need a job in the mean time. Thank you – Dilemma

Dear Dilemma: I’ve never heard of a steadfast rule that an apprenticeship equals a degree, but you could present your apprenticeship program in an education section to help the hiring manager make that same judgment. A lot of how a hiring manager will see your education and past training will be determined by how you present it, so be sure you present it as you would a degree, making note of the program name, sponsoring organization, year of completion, and possibly even some key focuses of the program. Use the education section to present your other training that is related to your current career objective(s). Be sure to focus on only those programs that are relevant and still current in today’s business environment. Presenting only recent and/or relevant content in this section will yield stronger results when a hiring manager is comparing your training to that of a degree program. All the best!

Dear Sam: I will be graduating from high school in a little over a month, and I'll be looking for a summer job before I go to college in the fall. I'm not overly picky when it comes to summer jobs, but I'm trying to find a job that doesn't include "would you like fries with that?" or "cleanup in aisle 4". So far, many of the jobs I've applied for are long-term and not just a few months of work, or don't think a high school kid could have the brains necessary to complete the tasks required. What is a good way to find jobs that would hire a very bright and hard working student for just the summer? – Mark

Dear Mark: Have you tried your guidance office yet? Often they will know of companies looking for summer help. Another great resource could be your parents and their professional and/or social networks. Maybe they could “blast” your résumé to their email distribution list; after all, you never know who knows whom! You may also want to contact your future college and see if they have opportunities open to lowerclassmen. While you are not in college yet, if a company hasn’t filled a summer opening, they may be willing to give a new graduate a chance. Lastly, there are online resources such as www.collegecentral.com and www.internjobs.com which are both free to job seekers. These sites also offer other tools that could be of assistance to you at this juncture in your academic and professional career. Hope that gives you some ideas.

Spring Makeover Series - guiding you through first professional résumé

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View New Resume

I often find entry-level candidates do not understand the transferability of the strategies I speak of each week to their own situations, thinking what I speak of only applies to professionals and executives. In this week’s example, I am presenting a résumé I rewrote for a client of a local social service agency and I hope this demonstrates what entry-level clients can and must do to differentiate their candidacy.

Candidate’s Background

Ann had previously struggled with substance abuse issues and had a history of misdemeanor offenses, but had recently completed a job readiness training program and was excited to reenter the workforce. She spent recent years as a caregiver for a family member and had previously been a stay-at-home Mom for 12 years leading up to 2004. Ann’s goal was to secure a customer service position in the medical field.

First Impression

Ann’s original résumé was lacking in both design and content. Her résumé was plain and did not showcase the skills she demonstrated in her past roles. By utilizing a dynamic format focused on her extensive skill set, the negative impact of three recent short-term engagements was minimized. In addition, her résumé needed to reflect a combination of her daily duties and achievements or functions in which she performed particularly well. While Ann’s original résumé did a good job of detailing her job descriptions, it was lacking in highlighting areas in which she excelled. Lastly, as she was seeking an entry-level position, there was no need to unnecessarily age her candidacy by including 12 years of experience as a homemaker. It would present a much cleaner image of her background if her résumé began with 2004 and progressed through her most recent roles and training, versus highlighting non-related experience and a high school diploma from the 1980s.

Resume Strategies

Ann’s new résumé uses a two-column format focusing the reader’s attention on her skill set versus the responsibilities of her most recent positions. This format not only engages the reader through its unique design, but also helps present a “full” one-page résumé despite limited experience and education. I also added a qualifications summary, which presents a strong statement as to why Ann is qualified for her current objective.

Upon reviewing Ann’s objective and experience, I defined key qualifications that would be required for the types of roles she was seeking. Armed with this master list of keywords, I wove those skills and functions throughout her résumé, prioritizing based on what would enhance her candidacy the most. By using the left column to present core skills related to her objective, she would also be able to prioritize or interchange skills based on specific opportunities of interest, making for a simple way to retarget her résumé.

In the professional experience section, I used my knowledge of the jobs she performed and the descriptions from her original résumé to craft sections that not only told the story of what she was paid to do, but more importantly, what she did that differentiated her from the competition. I omitted her homemaker experience and her diploma, two items that aged her résumé unnecessarily. I therefore transitioned the education section into a training section to highlight recent completion of a job readiness program. I maintained the volunteer section, as it was important to show additional involvement in structured programs possibly requiring some of the same skills that would be sought in the types of roles she was pursuing.

With Ann’s new résumé, a hiring manager does not have to attempt to identify skills she may possess that relate to the role in question. Instead, by using a skill-based format, elaborating on her experiences, showcasing related highlights, and strategically omitting aged experience and education, Ann is positioned as a strong candidate with the qualifications to secure an entry-level customer service role.

Samantha Nolan is a certified professional résumé writer and owner of Ladybug Design, a full-service résumé writing firm. Reach her at dearsam@ladybug-design.com, www.ladybug-design.com, or 1-888-9-LADYBUG (1-888-952-3928).