Q. For all of my working life so far, I have been working in my family business. Now that my father is retiring, I want to move on to another company and further my career. My current title at the family business is Marketing Manager—but it is a small business, I do not have anyone under me, and I report directly to my father. How do I present myself to other companies? What level of job should I look for?
A. You are asking excellent questions. The type and size of the company, while important, is less important than what you did there. Start now to:
- Think about the progress you have made from one position to another in your career so far.
- Write down all the changes, ideas, and accomplishments that you contributed to your family business. For example, were you the one who proposed a blog?
- Gather numbers. For example, if you improved the website, how did that impact the number of hits or queries?
- Write down the times you worked with others, even if you did not lead a team. For example, do you work with an agency on the design of ads? Did you cooperate with another family member or employee on a project?
- List the moments when you took the lead. Often, working in a family business is tougher training in leadership than working at a non-family company.
When you try to determine what job you should look for, do not start with the title; start with the keywords and description of the job in the advertisement or posting. Look for a position that requires someone with your accomplishments, education, and skill set.
One of the downsides of working for a family business is that you tend to consider everything you do as part of the family effort rather than a contribution of your own. If you find yourself falling into that mistake, you may benefit from working with a career coach and resume writer to help you see what you have really accomplished over the years. That insight will make for a stronger resume—and also strengthen your own pride in your career.
Please contact Robin’s Resumes® directly for more guidance.