I have been a proprietor for 9 years. Now as i am preparing for PMP i am also applying for JOBS. But being a proprietor i had never thought or been through any interview process. Though i honestly answer about the reason for change from being Self Employed to Employee the HR's dont feel convinced and as a result i never get a call back. How to overcome this situation and handle the switch? Saving Changes...
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Anonymous
If being a proprietor does not help you grow financially and career wise, dissatisfaction sets in. Being employed has advantages and disadvantages. Examples of advantages are: close interaction with people within the organization fosters exchange of knowledge, ideas and experiences, compensation and benefits maybe better compared to being self-employed; etc.
Being employed gives you more accessibility to the company's projects which you can use as a platform to showcase your PM leadership skills with a support group/ team.
Regarding your job application, if HR does not give you a callback, try to reach out to them to confirm the status of your job application. You may try to ask the interviewer what are the reasons they did not consider you for the position and you would like to work on these areas of improvement. Read some articles online, too about frequently asked interview questions and answers. It may help you come up with a better, convincing answer in your next interview. Saving Changes...
S RajasekarSenior Project Manager| AllscriptsBangalore, Karnataka, India
In india people prefer working/relevant experience people they don't hire contract/self employed people ,that is bad culture...
If there is a immediate need and you pass through all rounds of interview then only it is possible
I would recommend in which area/domain your searching for job try to see the expectation and prepare yourself and give interview, You can search and read relevant job description in job portal that will help you
There might be a local culture in India, previously commented.
Why do you want to close you business? Be prepare to share the information with HR people.
You choose to close your shop, not just to pass your PMP! Saving Changes...
Satish SharmaCertified SAP S4Hana 1909 Financials Expert| FreelanceNew Delhi, India
There is a perception created in the minds of HR that the one who is working as a proprietor, doesn't ensure a particular skill as the area of project management or any other job specification, though the person managing his business might operate on smaller scale, but have more versatile knowledge than those coming from a specifically skilled and employed with some company.
This might be a jinx in the job market.
So how to break it if this be so? In my opinion, if you are not getting opportunity to prove yourself in the interview for a regular job, you must try as a freelance consultant, get associated with the current projects and then keep applying for regular job, I am sure you will succeed.
Thanks. Saving Changes...
Thank you all...your opinions were valuable. I would like to quote some of the questions where HR's get stuck on my profile to which my answers are as follows: 1) What is your current designation? A: Proprietor (Here i find them having a big blank pause. Like they have never heard the word before) 2) What is your current CTC & Expected CTC? A: My current income ranges from 8-10 lakhs per annum and expected would be as per industry standards. (Here they are habitual of listening to fixed figures but my variance doesnt go well with them, i mean i being into business of proprietorship company my income varies. If my company would have been PVT. Ltd. or Ltd., then i could have a specific CTC. But my case is different) 3)Why Contract to Hire? A: (Here even i get confused. As long as i am getting exposure to bigger scope of projects which i do not get being into proprietorship company and as long as my CTC is as per industry standard i really dont care if its direct company hiring or contract to hire) 4) What is the notice period? A: Immediate (I mean i do not understand why this question is asked to a proprietor)
More or less i feel that HR's here have a list of questionnaire which they ask to every individual without knowing the profile. Its like a clerical job they follow.
I would like to help you, but I get more or less the same questions in the USA. Basically 3 and 4. I only applied for full-time positions in a company that I'm really interested.
Regarding "Why from freelance or proprietor to full time?" my recommendation is BE SINCERE, I try to explain my motivation to belong to the company or organization, and how I can be an asset for their team.
After question 4 has a little of sense, we can assume that the recruiter or hiring manager have a checklist with all the questions, but for example, depending on the business that you are the owner, maybe you need time for paperwork or close the office...
You will work with HR people that don't understand you, and others that completely agreed with your new challenge or motivation. Be Positive and Patient.
