Self-Employment to Employment How to Successfully Make the Big Switch

When the pandemic hit the Malaysian workforce, many employees faced uncertainties at work, some even joblessness. With this, several Malaysians turned to entrepreneurship: selling homemade goods on social media and signing up for freelance gigs as a self-made talent.

But now that we are nearing the end of the tunnel, many pandemic entrepreneurs are considering returning to full-time work. The big question is, how do you easily transition from self-employment to regular employment?

Why make the switch?

The abundance of remote work opportunities doesn't make it hard for you to thrive independently. Self-employment has many perks. Whether you own a business or are a freelance worker, you experience the freedom and flexibility of managing your work. You are your own boss, and you have control of your career.

But with the freedom and control of being self-employed, there are also the advantages of having a regular job. For one, you can enjoy more job security as a regular employee. Aside from stable income, you also access company benefits, like paid leaves or loan assistance. Plus, you save yourself from loads of paperwork; that means cutting out the stress, especially if you are not into handling complicated taxes!

To switch from self-employment to regular employment, you must prepare yourself for a challenge. Significant adjustments will occur, and you need to be prepared to make it easier for yourself to thrive.

What should you prepare?

Before you start working for somebody else's company, there are a few unique things to consider. Unlike regular jobseekers, those previously self-employed may find it extra challenging to convey to employers their need to seek traditional employment. So, how do you successfully market yourself as self-employed on your resume?

Here are a few things you need to have under your sleeve:

Focused Mindset

Working as your boss for a while can put you in a different mindset than a regular corporate employee. Thus, you need to reflect on your decision and reassess your goals before you make the leap. Is self-employment better than regular employment for your current situation? Determine why you want to make the change. This can also help you decide what job or career to pursue. Not sure where to start? Download JobStreet’s Career Development Planner, a FREE tool to help you discern what roles you can pursue.

Once you pin down what you want for your career, inform your network. Communicate with those affected by the change — your employees, clients, and everyone involved in your business. Assist them to the best of your abilities to make this move as smooth as possible. Most importantly, settle or finish every pending project before making the big switch. Finally, thank them for the time they've spent supporting your venture. 

Stellar Resume

Knowing what to put on your resume can be challenging when you decide to re-enter the workforce after months or years of self-employment. But, your experience in self-employment gives you many advantages.  You may have skills and a work ethic that other candidates may not; you just need to communicate your self-employed experience effectively in your self-employed experience in your resume. So, how do you put your self-employment experience in your resume? You can focus on these items:

Career Summary

Most of the time, employers don't read every single detail of your resume. Some even use ATS (applicant tracking system) to look for keywords that match the position available. Make sure you captivate them with your career summary, where you showcase your impressive achievements and unrivalled networking ability shortly and sweetly.

Example: 

Highly motivated, independent, and versatile digital marketing professional with 5 years of sales management experience and an entrepreneurial flair. Proficient at developing effective strategies in the most efficient means possible. Skilled at building productive working relationships and strategic planning.

Transferable Skills

Being self-employed can equip you with valuable skills to keep your business running. This is an attractive trait to potential employers when you re-enter the workforce. Think about your tasks when you were self-employed. You can highlight your transferable skills, like communication and time management skills, which are essential in being a freelance worker. Download JobStreet’s free Transferable Skills Checklist here.

As for your hard skills, don't get intimidated and list down your expertise or the services you have offered being self-employed. The most important thing to remember is to tailor your skills to what the potential employer is looking for. You have the freedom to package yourself into one that will benefit you the most in the job hunting process. 

Work History

Position yourself as a worthy candidate by highlighting your accomplishments from the many hats you wore as a self-employed individual. The challenge here is narrowing down or picking out which accomplishments to highlight on your resume. Listing all your duties and achievements might do you more harm than good. 

You can indicate your job title, the clients you have worked with and the dates of your contract with them. Focus on your tangible achievements. Remember to follow the STAR method when listing your duties and responsibilities.

Answers to Tough Questions

Potential employers will likely ask questions about your transition from self-employment to employment. This will naturally come up during your initial interview. Know that this is not a personal attack — your potential employer wants to know your motivations and career aspirations.

Linda Hall, president and senior partner of Wakefield Way Consulting in Rochester, N.Y., advises jobseekers to highlight their passion for their old business ventures as an asset when job hunting. "Typically, the person who has pursued an entrepreneurial career is someone who is passionate about what they do and is driven to create results," she says. Whatever your reasons are for leaving the self-employment life behind, try to keep the explanation as brief as possible. Focus on the positive and let your passion shine no matter your reason for the transition.

Examples:

Question 1: What made you go back to regular/traditional employment?

Answer: I enjoyed working as a freelancer. But, I'm also seeking to work with a team that shares my passion and goals. I want to experience different management styles that can help me develop my leadership and communication skills.

Question 2: What can you bring to the table with your self-employment experience?

Answer: Being self-employed taught me a lot of skills. It tested my determination and creativity to survive on my own. I believe that my diverse skills, adaptability, and dedication will help the organisation grow and be more profitable.

Question 3: Do you consider your self-employment a failure?

Answer: I don't want to look at it that way. I enjoyed the experience of being on my own and running my own business. It takes courage to do that, and I'm pleased and satisfied that I got to experience self-employment in my career. If anything, I consider the experience a valuable asset to my working experience.

How to find the right job for you

If you're considering returning to the regular workforce following a stint as a freelancer, make sure you align your passion and career goals. Don't pressure yourself or let others influence your decisions. Do your research, reach out to your network, and figure out what is best for you. Ensure you clearly understand the advantages and disadvantages to keep yourself well-informed.

Change always forces us to face the unknown. It may be scary and intimidating, but change leads to new and wonderful things. The challenge then lies in preparing for the road ahead. 

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