Self-Employment as a Career Option
People choose self-employment as a career option for a variety of reasons. In my book, 12 Steps to a New Career, I devote an entire chapter to this subject so I will not repeat the content here. However, in the Resources & Worksheets section of the Career Center, you can read and download Reference 4.1 – Where to Get Additional Information. This document includes where to get information about different types of businesses and more detailed information that could be specific to your interests.
A word of caution! If you plan to pursue a two-pronged search, one for employment and one for self-employment, I discourage that approach. Your contacts won’t be very helpful to you because they will be confused as to what you want and will be reluctant to refer you to a potential employer. Potential employers will be hesitant to consider you for employment if they think you are also looking to be self-employed. They will think you might not stay. If you pursue consultancy as your self-employment option, potential clients are not likely to engage you thinking you might find a job and then won’t be able to complete a consulting assignment.
When considering self-employment, it is crucial that you be brutally honest about your strengths and weaknesses. Do they fit the specific new business model you are considering? In most self-employment options, you must be self-motivated, have a healthy dose of common sense, have a strong focus on sales and marketing, be financially astute, and be well organized. A weakness in any one of these areas means you will be at a disadvantage in building a successful self-employment business.
For career changers:
A career coach in a book.
For employers:
A lifeline for departing employees.