The last business day of May (May 31 this year) will mark my 10th year as a self-employed small business owner. For some, that's an achievement, for others its probably no big deal. For me it marks 10 years of on-and-off white knuckle fear of running out of money every 3 to 6 months, followed by the jubilation of closing the next big transaction with enough fee to keep the doors open for another 3 to 6 months, with small deals happening every few weeks or so.

I really love the freedom I have now. I can set my own hours, and my presence in the office every day is not really necessary since my function is primarily selling. I can make and return calls, answer email and compute bids from anywhere.

On the other hand, I feel trapped. I really HATE selling. My personality is geared more toward analysis and support. I'm better at structure and closing than I am at dealing with vendors and customers. I'm especially bad at the "cold call." Well, not really bad, I just hate it. Its too much like begging for me.

Anyway, I've been thinking about this alot over the past few weeks. My skills and education (BS-Finance, BS, Political Science [yeah, two degrees, go figure]) would allow me to be CFO or controller of a small-to-medium size company. The main problem there is that most people hiring are looking for somebody with an accounting degree.

Then there's government. I could be an excellent city manager or finance manager for a larger city or county. There again, most are looking for somebody with an accounting background.

So, have any of you made a major career change? Have any of you totally left your old career behind to start something completely different? How were you able to convince an employer that you were right for the job even though your official education wasn't exactly what they were looking for?

Thanks for listening.

Have you ever thought about law? You wouldn't have to be a lawyer in the traditional sense of the word. With your background you could lobby or work as a litigation prevention specialist. You already have 2 degrees, so you would have another 2 years or so of school to get a juris doctorate if you were accepted to a law school.

Heather

Thanks for the encouragement, Heather. And even though Alan Bakke paved the way, at 43 I'm really too old to go back to school now.

i was a high school teacher

then i was on my way to be a theology professor

now i'm studying to be an xray tech

I worked operations at a bank

then joined the Army - that was a major change

now I do IT support - which is basically what I did in the Army.

good luck.

Hell... look on the web for gov't jobs. You HAVE to be smarter than most of the civilian comptrollers who work for the Navy.

GS-12/13 money is pretty good here in San Diego.

GS 12/13 money is good anywhere.

"How were you able to convince an employer that you were right for the job even though your official education wasn't exactly what they were looking for? "

Thats tough.

Many companies won't even talk to you unless you meet their hiring prerequisites.

since you are is sales, I assume you are networked with piers in your industry...perhaps some that would recommend you to someone looking for an applicant that fits your profile?

When applying for a job at a certain company, it is best to do a little research on said company and maybe a little networking with a few folks who do that same job for different companies. Just to get a general picture.

Then at the interview, you sell yourself using the knowledge gained from the research and the networking.

Rarely will a good job be found on the net, or in the want ads.....people get hired based upon "who" they know. Any time you've ever sat in an airport, or stood in a line talking to the guy next to you, you should exchange business cards. If his card has a higher "rank" than your card, whether you realize it or not you ARE being interviewed. You follow up the meeting with a "glad to meet you" email 3 days later, then after the third email, you attache a CV "for reference." That's networking.

Your CV Camper is the least of the concerns of a prospective hirer. It's your cover letter that gets you a return email. The resume is only briefly scanned. You gotta have a cover letter that gets you looked at though.

Write an outstanding intro email and have an outstanding CV. Go to Monster.com and start searching each and every compnay in the area you want to live. DO NOT apply for the jobs listed! Rather, find out the company name, go to their website, and search for "contacts." Find the HR Director and Business Development Director's contact info and email your cover letter with CV attached directly to them.

For every 100 emails you send, you can expect about 5 responses that are favorable.

It takes determination, but there are jobs. Hirers will give the jobs to the determined one's....this much I know.

I started a new career teaching the tourists how to bait their hooks. I was classified as a "Junior Baiter."

Now, I'm well on my way to being a "Master!"

Camper, I'm back in school at 36. If you wait until you are 60 or so you can go for free, but you won't get credit for any of it.

00camper, I am an executive recruiter who owns a franchise office of Management Recruiters. I understand the feelings of being a small business owner, and probably have some information I could send you that may help. Being a recruiter, it is my job to help people make the decisions that are right for their career, and for their families, and help facilitate that change. I specialize in the Engineering field, and Construction Industry, so I cannot place you directly. However, what I can offer you is some e-mailed information to possibly help you think through these feelings, and make any transition you may decide to make, that much easier. Send me an e-mail at the office if you wish.

rick

aaaattt

onlinepcg.com

Hey Rick....

Perhaps I'll be callin on you when I move back home.

Camper:

I’ve been through the same scenario. I made some very good money on my own but relying on large deals can be unnerving. I brokered financing and facilities for the health care industry. Closing just 2 deals per year could net well over $250,000 but you run down many dead-ends for each deal finalized.

I started doing consulting as a way to stay busy during the slow periods. One of my clients, a mid-size health firm, asked me to join them full-time as CFO. It was with great trepidation that I accepted. Like you I enjoyed the freedom of being completely on my own.

I must say, in retrospect, I made the right move. Like you I am highly analytical and enjoy the work involved. I also get along well with the owners as I have brought a new level of expertise to their company. I no longer worry about where the next deal might be coming from and I am able to continue doing brokering on select deals, but only with clients I know and have done business with in the past.

Hope this helps,

Wagner

PS—if you need help finding the right industry to get involved with well the best thing to do is just get out there and try to get some interviews or at least meetings with key personnel. It will give you insight into the skills required and what the job involves. Make and keep as many different contacts as possible. Go through your list of past business clients to determine which might be of help to you and call them. Check out the local Chamber of Commerce to see if they have any “Business After Hours” sessions where you can get to meet people from different industries. Call trade associations, etc. Whatever you do don’t waste your money on any of the “Executive Placement Firms.” These are the firms that charge you up front to find a position for you. I have known several people who paid up to $10,000 and not one found a position through them.

Camper:

If you need to pick up any additional skills do check out the colleges in your area. Many offer evening programs where you can take courses "ala cart" wothout enrolling in a formal program.

This can also be a great way to meet key people, especially if the professors are individuals with real world experience. They are usually happy to make introductions or provide contacts for you.

Wagner

Wagner,

Just to clarify... Most employee fee based firms went out of business in the 80s. I know there are a few still struggling around (most are now called temp-agencies), but the majority have been replaced by Monster and Career Builder and such. My firm is 100% retainer, client paid firm. We placed just under 300 people last year. I mentioned to camper that I cannot and will not attempt to place him. He is not "in" my industry of expertise. What I did offer him is free advise based upon my past experiences in the industry. I would agree that using an employee paid search firm is the LAST thing a prospective candidate should do, based upon confidentiality, and the fact that the few that are left just simply do not know their core business. I did not take offense, please do not misunderstand me, just my $.02.

And Anndy, you can call me anytime, buddy.

Rick:

Please know that I did not in any way address my comments to you or your company. I wrote my reply before I saw your post. I think you could potentially be of great help to Camper. I just hate those other firms I spoke about because they are nothing more than rip-offs artists. Unfortunately there are still a number around in the larger cities and they still advertise.

Sorry for any miscommunication.

Wagner

No sweat, wagner. Thanks.