While most people normally tend to take their entrepreneurial leap after spending about 15-20 years in corporate careers, some like me have tended to flow against the tide. I started off as an entrepreneur and only recently moved into a corporate job. Most entrepreneurs I know find it very difficult to get back into corporate life and remain serial entrepreneurs for life.
I recently had two people reach out to me for some inputs and advice. Both had decided to scratch their entrepreneurial itch and now, after marking time in the entrepreneurial wilderness, wanted to get back to the relative comfort and safety of corporate life. But while one sounded completely lost and upset and bitter with his attempt at getting a job, the other sounded far more in control. And therein lies the story for this post!
And here's my version of the entrepreneur's guide to re-entry into the corporate atmosphere without getting burned in the process :
1. Hiring consultants and hiring managers in companies don't see you as demi-gods. It is very likely that they assume you failed at your entrepreneurial stint and are now looking at getting back.
It is important for you to highlight key achievements and specific metrics of your solo flight which they can co-relate with the typical skill-sets and competencies that they are looking for in potential candidates for jobs.
2. Most hiring folk have no clue of who you are and what your claim to fame is. And this is because you dropped off their radars ages ago. And now when you are trying to make an entry with a crash of cymbals and the glare of pyrotechnics in the background, they are not impressed nor are they willing to stick their necks out and recommend an unknown person to their clients or senior management.
During your entrepreneurial stint, it is important for you to network and stay connected with the thought leaders, fellow professionals and your own set of well-wishers and friends in the industry. One effective way of doing this is put together a set of advisors who could help you with valuable inputs for your venture and also double up as a reference group when you are looking to get back.
3. When you approach hiring consultants they are not sure how to slot you and which opportunities would be relevant for you. You come across as a 'jack of all trades, and maybe master of none'!
It is best to position yourself for very specific roles with a focused list of competencies when you approach consultants. It also helps if you define a specific set of roles in a defined list of companies instead of casting the net too wide.
4. You might assume that based on your entrepreneurial experience you would be the perfect choice for the CEO role in most companies. But don't be surprised or get offended when you are politely ignored.
Though the entrepreneurial stint does give you some unique skill-sets it doesn't necessarily make you the best candidate for a CEO role in most companies. There are the issues of scale, culture, processes, politics, etc. And most companies are looking for very specific skill-sets or experience and you come across as a generalist. Long-distance high-precision sniper rifle vs. a 12-bore shotgun, if you get what I mean!
But I have noticed that if you have worked on building your network, built credibility and reputation in the industry, and defined your career trajectory clearly then you have a clear edge over others in the job market!
So here's to a safe re-entry and a happy landing! :)
And here's my version of the entrepreneur's guide to re-entry into the corporate atmosphere without getting burned in the process :
1. Hiring consultants and hiring managers in companies don't see you as demi-gods. It is very likely that they assume you failed at your entrepreneurial stint and are now looking at getting back.
It is important for you to highlight key achievements and specific metrics of your solo flight which they can co-relate with the typical skill-sets and competencies that they are looking for in potential candidates for jobs.
2. Most hiring folk have no clue of who you are and what your claim to fame is. And this is because you dropped off their radars ages ago. And now when you are trying to make an entry with a crash of cymbals and the glare of pyrotechnics in the background, they are not impressed nor are they willing to stick their necks out and recommend an unknown person to their clients or senior management.
During your entrepreneurial stint, it is important for you to network and stay connected with the thought leaders, fellow professionals and your own set of well-wishers and friends in the industry. One effective way of doing this is put together a set of advisors who could help you with valuable inputs for your venture and also double up as a reference group when you are looking to get back.
3. When you approach hiring consultants they are not sure how to slot you and which opportunities would be relevant for you. You come across as a 'jack of all trades, and maybe master of none'!
It is best to position yourself for very specific roles with a focused list of competencies when you approach consultants. It also helps if you define a specific set of roles in a defined list of companies instead of casting the net too wide.
4. You might assume that based on your entrepreneurial experience you would be the perfect choice for the CEO role in most companies. But don't be surprised or get offended when you are politely ignored.
Though the entrepreneurial stint does give you some unique skill-sets it doesn't necessarily make you the best candidate for a CEO role in most companies. There are the issues of scale, culture, processes, politics, etc. And most companies are looking for very specific skill-sets or experience and you come across as a generalist. Long-distance high-precision sniper rifle vs. a 12-bore shotgun, if you get what I mean!
But I have noticed that if you have worked on building your network, built credibility and reputation in the industry, and defined your career trajectory clearly then you have a clear edge over others in the job market!
So here's to a safe re-entry and a happy landing! :)
HI GP,
ReplyDeletethis is a really nice piece.
I think one of the key trends today is a shift towards hiring specific Skills rather than knowledge.
While entreprenurs are looked on as generalists (even though they may be multi-skilled :)- their leadership abilities are often judged by charisma/personality displayed during interviews itself.
Very often for hard evidence of leadership- one only has the failed entreprenuerial stint to show.
Guruprasad, a nice post and relevant to me as I am in this boat at the moment.
ReplyDeleteMy experience with hiring consultants at least in the IT industry makes me feel that they do not make an effort to understand what you did as an entrepreneur. For them, the name of your employer is what matters and if it is not a blue-chip, you're not even in the running.
I worked as an independent consultant for almost 3 years and actually learnt more and got a more diverse experience with multiple clients than as a senior manager in an IT services firm, where it was all about people management.
But in their book, I have three years less experience.
Hope this changes if we want to encourage entrepreneurship.
@ gaurav : I agree. And I hope you have been able to make the transition successfully.
ReplyDelete@ devahuti : Great to see you here! I know what you mean. It would be interesting to track some of the 'failed entrepreneurs' and see how they have performed in their new stints.
@ vikas : I completely identify with what you are saying. But I guess most people, including these hiring consultants, choose the path of least resistance! :)
Dear Guruprasad,
ReplyDeleteVery thoughtfully written article.
Having had a few stints of la entrepreneurship myself i can appreciate all of what you have indicated - especially the bloated capability quotient "been - seen it before" attitude that one kind of tends to carry as baggage - consciously or otherwise.
The irony is that all that you have indicated is an excellent reflection of basic common sense - something we tend to take for granted - very often missing out on. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. Shall look forward to seeing more from you.
Cheerio and best wishes.
Joseph Jerome