Is my self employment hurting my chances for employment elsewhere?

EWom

Howdy,
Recently it's come to my attention that I need to continue to pay bills such as medical, power, water, home payments, and buy groceries in order to survive. As such I've decided to stop doing what I'm doing for a living?, and go get another job. I am currently self employed as a freelance web dev. programmer, using html, css, javascript, mySQL, and PHP. I've got a business license and all that crap that goes along with it to make it official, but I've been having a hard time finding work lately, and it's no longer paying the bills, and adding a lot of stress onto my marriage; and with winter here, costs are only going to up. So I've decided to go get a job.

I've got 10 years experience in retail environments, in pretty much every position but salaried manager. I've put applications out to every retailer I can find in my area that is hiring, I've put 100% availability, and marked down every option for desired work (IE: Temp, seasonal, p/t, f/t). In my work history I always include past retail experience, but also put down my business as my current employment.

Now I've never had a hard time getting a retail job, and now I haven't heard back from a single one I've applied at. I have probably 15 applications out there, just in retail (I've got more apps in non-retail, businesses). So I'm left wondering if being a business owner, or a failed business owner is some kind of red flag for potential employers out there, and what if anything I can do to correct it. Because I'm guessing leaving it off the applications will also hurt me, having a big gap, of no employment from my last job to this one.

Help me H and A, you're my only hope.

Mom2Kat

My boss was hired in part because he runs his own business. He still does and runs the Power washing stuff while running our store.

Skoal Cat

Its also a really shitty employment market

Draygo

You have a business license, thus you have proof of your self employment.

I dont see how this really hurts you. At minimum while you are working build a portfolio. You might want to broaden your search, seems like maybe your overqualified and thats what is scaring the employers away.

Leave it on there, but I would definatly consider broadening your search beyond retail. Hit up every computer repair place you can find maybe.

mightyjongyo

If you know all those web technologies, why are you limiting yourself to retail? There are a few job openings on places like dice.com which look for people with web development experience.

cmsamo

I just had a job interview where I divulged that I was running my own company as a sideline. The potential employer commended me and said it would not be a problem as long as I only worked on it outside of core office hours & weekends. I don't think you should see it as a negative thing - just make sure it does not impact on your hours/work for the company you get paid by.

EDIT - also try registering yourself with some consulting companies in your area? You might get some extra freelance work from it?

MushroomStick

Its just a real shitty job market right now. It wouldn't be unlikely that all the places you've applied at are simply fully staffed already. Also, if you're asking for more than their base pay, you're going to get passed over for people that don't. I know that sucks, but I even know several people that have lost their retail jobs by amassing too many performance raises because their stores would rather bring in inexperienced people at minimum wage.

JebusUD

I wouldn't put down availability for every position, depending on the job. Usually different positions are handled by different managers, so sometimes if you put down that you are willing to do all positions it ends up that none of the managers will look at it.

RadicalTurnip

Depending on where you live, it's a really bad job market (as others have said). Just keep trying...it's sorta' gone from being strange if someone that was really trying couldn't get a job to strange if you could get a job without really trying. There are many people with literally a hundred applications floating around, and they still don't get jobs many times.

schuss

Probably just a job market thing. As a retail/other type place, you're an ideal employee because you'll probably work hard, do a good job and probably never be looking for a management position.

superwoot

2 words: Reputable references. Professors, co-workers, friends... Anyone that knows you, and likes you enough to write you a positive(but not generic) letter of reference. Do it now.

Superwoot.

Turkey

superwoot wrote: »

2 words: Reputable references. Professors, co-workers, friends... Anyone that knows you, and likes you enough to write you a positive(but not generic) letter of reference. Do it now.

Imagine that was limed.

One of the best things about working freelance is the large amount of references you can obtain in a short amount of time. If you've established business relationships with some of these people, now's the time to use them.

superwoot

BTW, self employment will never really HURT you, unless you do not keep up-to-date examples of your work. Even when I was carpet cleaning, I took a picture every so often. And I am not talking about the new carpet with a couple muddy footprints. I am talking the college dorms that have more liquids spilling on it than a bar floor. To a carpet cleaning company, those are the things that count. Use examples that exemplify your strengths and styles. Also, a blow-ski during the interview never hurt anyone.

Superwoot.

EWom

I've got applications and resumes out everywhere, in every industry possible in this town. I'm just surprised that at the very least I haven't heard from retail because of my experience in that. Where as every other industry other than web dev, I have no experience; I expected nothing from a lot of those.

Currently to pay the bills, I have been walking around with a rake, cold knocking to see if people want to pay me to rake & bag their leaves. But with the snows here, that has ended. I was donating plasma @ biolife, but a medical procedure I had to have, keeps me from doing that again for a year.

We have cut costs as low as we can now. We no longer have internet or tv service, or other luxuries (I use my parents internet, or WIFI hot spots). It's getting rough

superwoot

dude, i can understand. I'm a 25yo student in santa barbara, and without my dads help, id be on the street now. He bailed me out, bought me a plane ticket for the day after finals, and found me a temp job in Iowa for winter break, making $700/week. BTW, you might want to check out craigslist>services>gigs. I pick up a photo editing job and such every once in a while. Have you considered escorting? LOL, sorry, I just am trying to keep your spirits up!

superwoot.

Shadowfire

You're applying to work retail, it's possible those employers are passing on you for people who have absolutely no other job because they are able to work extra, come in when needed, stay late, etc. Even if you can, being employed in any capacity puts the thought that "scheduling him/her is going to be a bitch" into the employer's head.

Also, bad economy, so they may just not be doing a lot of hiring.

Draygo

EWom wrote:

I've got applications and resumes out everywhere, in every industry possible in this town. I'm just surprised that at the very least I haven't heard from retail because of my experience in that. Where as every other industry other than web dev, I have no experience; I expected nothing from a lot of those.

Currently to pay the bills, I have been walking around with a rake, cold knocking to see if people want to pay me to rake & bag their leaves. But with the snows here, that has ended. I was donating plasma @ biolife, but a medical procedure I had to have, keeps me from doing that again for a year.

We have cut costs as low as we can now. We no longer have internet or tv service, or other luxuries (I use my parents internet, or WIFI hot spots). It's getting rough

By we I assume you have a wife.
How is your wife's employment prospects or is she hitting the same roadblock you are?

Also going into winter there will be driveways to shovel, seeming as you were willing to rake leaves maybe you can offer the same people that allowed you to do that shoveling services.

I really feel like your doing everything you can to get a job here and its just rough. Have you tried reaching out to your family to see if you can secure some extra money for emergencies?

Also have you considered expanding your companies services to include computer repair?

EWom

I had my first call back. It's for a cr position for a satellite tv and Internet provider. I got past the phone interview and now have a in person interview, wish me luck.

TraceofToxin

I guarantee if you punch your interviewer in the face the instant he opens his mouth they'll be so impressed they'll make you a regional manner on the spot.

"This is a man of action! Promote now!"



But seriously, good luck.