Ask the Recruiter

That's a great question, because it cuts both ways, doesn't it? Owning a business calls for tremendous responsibility and a well-rounded, practical education. On the other hand, it can make it tougher for the individual to fit back into a team where he or she isn't calling the shots. What determines how someone on the hiring side of the desk will look at this question? Let's look at a couple of factors:

• The length and nature of the business ownership. It's easy to see how someone who took a brief shot at owning a business could readily fit back into an organizational structure. On the other hand, if the applicant has been her own boss for 15 years, the prospective employer might be more concerned. In particular, if she has started up one venture after another, besides raising concerns about the poor success rate, it could also indicate that she has an incurable case of the entrepreneurial bug.
  
  
• The nature of the hiring company. Some companies are more entrepreneurial in nature than others, and companies like that are more likely to value the initiative of someone who has owned a business.

Ultimately, this comes down in large part to how well you tell the story of why you started a business, and why you now want to work for someone else. Before you interview, make sure you have a good handle on this explanation.