Job search tips for (formerly) self-employed

One of the things they don’t talk about in business startup training is how to explain yourself in an interview if your business fails and you need to find work.

Nor do you learn how to discuss with the interviewer the likelihood of your return to that business, should the economy rebound.

And certainly missing from the curriculum is the technique required to take orders from a new boss once you’ve been a boss yourself.

Sigh. Maybe it’s for the best. After all, if the training for new business owners focused on anything but inevitable success, who would enroll?

That said, an awful lot of businesses -- small ones especially -- do go under, particularly in tough economic times like these. And when they do, those business owners are going to need a job, sooner rather than later. Since most business owners are not eligible for unemployment benefits or state-sponsored retraining funds, the situation deteriorates quickly.

If you or someone you know falls into this special category of workers, the following job search tips might come in handy.

1. Take stock of your situation. It's reasonable for an interviewer to ask if you plan to revive your business. Do you? If so, when would that be and how would it affect your work with this new employer? At this stage, you may be thinking of the new job as simply a tool to bail you out of a tight situation, but to the employer, it represents the future of his or her company. They will want to understand where they fit into your overall plans.

2. Catalog your skills. As a business operator, you developed at least passing familiarity with dozens of business specialties, from marketing to accounting to facility management. Are any of those skill sets strong enough to become your next job? If you had employees, you can add hiring and supervision to your list. How about the service or product you were selling? That expertise also counts for something. Write it all down and don't be surprised if the list grows quite long.

3. Determine your job target. Now that you know your skill set, it's time to decide what kind of job to seek. Perhaps you already know that you will stay in your field but work for a competitor. Maybe you'll seek work with a vendor. In those cases, your target job title will be fairly obvious. But if you're planning to exit the field, you'll probably be relying on the skills you used to run the company, as opposed to your industry-specific knowledge and skills.

4. Connect with your network. This step usually stings a bit, but delaying here can cost you big-time. It's not uncommon for unemployed business owners to put off talking with their networks "until there's something positive to report." Meaning, the prideful entrepreneur wants to get a job first, then tell everyone. The problem is, you probably need those connections in order to get the job. It won't be easy, but you'll have to swallow that pride and start telling everyone what you need.

5. Get your head straight. Here's another tender spot. When an entrepreneur first starts talking to potential employers, it's difficult to employ the proper levels of respect and humility. Not humiliation, mind you -- there's no shame in closing a business and looking for a job. But the role of humility is critical. You need to appreciate that you are now seeking a role where you will report to someone else, and follow their systems. Which means that interviews cannot be turned into consultations with you telling the employer how to run the company. Don't laugh -- this mistake is quite common, particularly at the beginning of a search.

6. Get your story straight. Whatever you've decided -- to quit the business for good, to run it on the side, to come back to it in a few years -- you need to find a way to communicate that to employers. The trick is to be honest without looking like someone who is itching for the chance to ditch the employee gig once and for all.