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Which kind of job should I take if I want to save to start my own business?

I am currently unemployed, but I have been looking for work and so far the job hunting has been disappointing. I must have applied for 20-30 jobs in the past 3-4 weeks and I have received only 3 job interviews, and the rest have been unsuccessful or i have received zero response from the employers. One problem I have is a gap of unemployment on my CV due to mental health issues, but I am showing willing in interviews, and on my cover letter I always note how I am a fast learner and keen to learn all aspects of a job.

Anyway, I never knew what I wanted to do with my work life until recently. I have finally found my passion and want to pursue this, and start my own business in this area. I need a few grand to start it up, so I am looking for any kind of work at the moment so I can save money to get the business going. I am looking for full time work, and if I can get overtime then great, otherwise maybe a weekend job to increase my income so I can save more money faster.

Here's the thing, I don't know which kind of work to do though as I don't like the idea of working for a company without the aim of actually pursuing a long term career within that company. Is this stupid to think this way, or should I be less concerned about that than I am currently? I am all for helping a company achieve it's ambitions/goals, but I feel like I wouldn't be able to move up in that company because of my own personal ambitions of starting a business for myself. Don't get me wrong, as soon as something becomes available for me then I will accept the job, but I just don't like disowning a company when I can offer a lot, especially after a company gives me a chance of work.

Your thoughts?
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Comments

  • agrinnall
    agrinnall Posts: 23,344 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    If you're only going to be there for a few months, the one that pays the most money. Forget about loyalty to a short term employer.
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 18,358 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Unfortunately you have had little success in getting a job, so just concentrate on that - getting a job.
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • Got2Save wrote: »
    I must have applied for 20-30 jobs in the past 3-4 weeks and I have received only 3 job interviews

    First, this is completely normal. Looking for a job is a full-time job in itself. You have to think of it as that and be dedicated to sending out 5 resumes per day. You also need to be more specific about the jobs you are applying to and customise your resume. You cannot send the same resume out for every job application. A resume is not merely a summary of your experience, but should show the company why you can perform this role and how you are perfectly suited to this position.
    Got2Save wrote: »
    on my cover letter I always note how I am a fast learner and keen to learn all aspects of a job.

    This is too general. Fast learner is something a million people say and doesn't mean anything. You need to respond specifically. Instead of saying "I am capable of taking on a leadership role" you need to outline experience in the past that displays this. "In my last employment, I took on a leadership role by doing this on this project and this was the outcome." Stay away from generalised statements. And in the cover letter you want to outline why you specifically want to work for this company and in this particular position. It can't just be because the position is open.

    As far as the type of work, I would say look for something within the same line of work that you are hoping to pursue for your own business. If this is your passion, then that is the area that you should be looking in and the types of jobs that you should be applying for. This can also help you to build the necessary skill-base and knowledge that you need for starting your own business down the road. And if you end up staying for a year or two, it's not a waste and is relevant to the business you are building anyway. It is a direct investment in your future.

    You don't have to feel badly about not being invested in the company in the long run. Very few people stay with one company for long anymore and that is because we have more choice than ever as to career development and many people are starting their own businesses too. Of course you wouldn't mention that you only want to stay a few months - and to be honest I don't think a few months will give you the financial security and know-how that you need. When they ask you long term goals in an interview, mention that you are hoping to start your own business in this field. They will appreciate the honesty and will see this as an opportunity to hire someone who is genuinely interested in the work, wants to learn, and will be an asset to the company while you are there.

    And once you do start your business, it can be beneficial to first launch it on the side so that you don't quit and then have no more income coming in. And as your own business picks up, then you can ask about dropping to part time so you can devote yourself a little more to your business, and then once you have the ability to go completely solo, then and only then do you quit. But maintain great contacts and relationships with this employer who can prove to be a valuable business partner and network connection in the future.

    When thinking of your career it needs to be in logical steps and long-term. So I can't offer any advice on "work in this type of job just to get a couple of grand and start your business." That approach doesn't work and it doesn't help you in the long run.

    You also have to be very sure of the money that you actually need. Put together a thorough business plan first - outlining finances and timeline - to have a reasonable idea of how much this will cost and how long it will reasonably take. Don't do it fast. Do it right.
  • Pennywise
    Pennywise Posts: 13,468 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    How about starting a different business with lower start-up costs to earn the money and learn about business at the same time?

    Something like a market-stall, window cleaning round, washing cars, car-boot stall, fast food trailer/van, etc. Working hard means earning relatively good money, certainly better than minimum wage.

    But you learn business skills along the way, such as sourcing products, marketing, accounting, tax, advertising, customer service skills, dealing with banks, insurance companies, maybe landlords, etc. You don't want to be "learning" and making mistakes with your real business!

    You may be a quick learner, but you will also make mistakes along the way during the learning process. Better to make mistakes in a cheaper and less important business, so you can learn from them when the time comes to set up your real life long business.

    Many of the successful household name entreprenneurs have a string of failed businesses behind them. If you're set on starting a business rather than a lifetime of employment, then just cut out the employment stage in the first place and start along the business route from now, maybe with a succession of smaller/safer businesses just to build up reserves and experience.
  • SailorSam
    SailorSam Posts: 22,754 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Going back many years now. The first time i was made redundant i went to the JobCentre on the Monday morning to get a job, any job. I didn't care as long as i was working. I got a job selling insurance, i became the Man-from-the-Pru. I did it for about a year before getting back into into an office. Fast forward 15yrs and i got made redundant again, so again it's any job is better than no job, i ended up selling double glazing for a year.
    What was similar about both the insurance and double glazing jobs was, they're both the type of thing people don't want to do, earnings depend upon commission, so you can get work fairly easy. But if you're a good salesman (i wasn't), you can earn a lot of money.
    Finally after another redundancy i found myself driving a Cab which i did for the next 25yrs. Again the type of job most people don't want to do, so easy to get. And if you're willing to put up with working a lot of unsociable
    hours you can earn a decent living.
    Liverpool is one of the wonders of Britain,
    What it may grow to in time, I know not what.

    Daniel Defoe: 1725.
  • sjbrun
    sjbrun Posts: 470 Forumite
    Try getting one that gives you time to start your business slowly, like an evening job so you can start a business during the day or the other way round.
  • SailorSam wrote: »
    Going back many years now. The first time i was made redundant i went to the JobCentre on the Monday morning to get a job, any job. I didn't care as long as i was working. I got a job selling insurance, i became the Man-from-the-Pru. I did it for about a year before getting back into into an office. Fast forward 15yrs and i got made redundant again, so again it's any job is better than no job, i ended up selling double glazing for a year.
    What was similar about both the insurance and double glazing jobs was, they're both the type of thing people don't want to do, earnings depend upon commission, so you can get work fairly easy. But if you're a good salesman (i wasn't), you can earn a lot of money.
    Finally after another redundancy i found myself driving a Cab which i did for the next 25yrs. Again the type of job most people don't want to do, so easy to get. And if you're willing to put up with working a lot of unsociable
    hours you can earn a decent living.

    Circumstances vary, of course. But if I were to become unemployed I'd take a bit of time to find another job that actually suited me. Unless you have no savings buffer at all so can't afford even a month off, it seems odd to me to just take the first job that comes along at 9am Monday morning.

    In the OPs case of course he has already been trying to find jobs with no success so it might well be time to lower his sights.
  • Got2Save wrote: »
    I am currently unemployed, but I have been looking for work and so far the job hunting has been disappointing. I must have applied for 20-30 jobs in the past 3-4 weeks and I have received only 3 job interviews, and the rest have been unsuccessful or i have received zero response from the employers. One problem I have is a gap of unemployment on my CV due to mental health issues, but I am showing willing in interviews, and on my cover letter I always note how I am a fast learner and keen to learn all aspects of a job.

    Anyway, I never knew what I wanted to do with my work life until recently. I have finally found my passion and want to pursue this, and start my own business in this area. I need a few grand to start it up, so I am looking for any kind of work at the moment so I can save money to get the business going. I am looking for full time work, and if I can get overtime then great, otherwise maybe a weekend job to increase my income so I can save more money faster.

    Here's the thing, I don't know which kind of work to do though as I don't like the idea of working for a company without the aim of actually pursuing a long term career within that company. Is this stupid to think this way, or should I be less concerned about that than I am currently? I am all for helping a company achieve it's ambitions/goals, but I feel like I wouldn't be able to move up in that company because of my own personal ambitions of starting a business for myself. Don't get me wrong, as soon as something becomes available for me then I will accept the job, but I just don't like disowning a company when I can offer a lot, especially after a company gives me a chance of work.

    Your thoughts?

    Telesales.

    If you can't bear to do that, I'd forget dreams of own business.

    Work on why you are not getting offers, I turned down an interview in recent days, in a positive way said to the employer I'd rather not waste their time as didn't feel I could do an element of the job, aware probably far better skilled people out there in need of a job over I, for which they invited me in for some coaching on that weak area I admitted too.!! Wow how nice, couldn't have been more bowled over. Now if I looked at it the other way I could have just as easily turned up and been unsuccessful trying to do something I know I would feel less confident about and looking stupid. All I did was listen to the employer about what the job entailed as I did get through to first stage of speaking on the phone and then carefully weighed it up rather then continue to put on that wrong sized shoe or any shoe in rough hope that might vaguely fit for any real length of time.

    Now is also the time to enrol for adult college as something else to look at - I've picked up maths, excel and learning another language come September. That might be a place to be pro active in as well, even saw a few business type related courses for the offering.
  • Telesales.

    If you can't bear to do that, I'd forget dreams of own business.

    Work on why you are not getting offers, I turned down an interview in recent days, in a positive way said to the employer I'd rather not waste their time as didn't feel I could do an element of the job, aware probably far better skilled people out there in need of a job over I, for which they invited me in for some coaching on that weak area I admitted too.!! Wow how nice, couldn't have been more bowled over. Now if I looked at it the other way I could have just as easily turned up and been unsuccessful trying to do something I know I would feel less confident about and looking stupid. All I did was listen to the employer about what the job entailed as I did get through to first stage of speaking on the phone and then carefully weighed it up rather then continue to put on that wrong sized shoe or any shoe in rough hope that might vaguely fit for any real length of time.

    Now is also the time to enrol for adult college as something else to look at - I've picked up maths, excel and learning another language come September. That might be a place to be pro active in as well, even saw a few business type related courses for the offering.


    I agree with a lot of this. Being honest where you have a short coming is often seen favorably by the employer, and if they like you and think you could be a good fit, will be willing to train you to bridge this gap.

    And then speaking of bridging gaps, employers like to see that even if you have been unemployed, that you haven't been inactive. If you know there are areas that you need to learn better, then taking courses is a great way to spend your time. Whether that's college courses, or online courses and tutorials, if you always keep learning and developing new skills, that helps you and shows an employer that you are dedicated and invested in your career. Learning is never a waste of time. I learned most of what I needed to for software programs, HTML coding, and digital marketing and SEO from taking online tutorials with Lynda.com. You can learn pretty much anything you need to through them, and along with the video tutorial, they have a text transcript of what is said in the video, so you can save everything to word documents as notes to read over again later. I've never felt that any of the courses or online tutorials that I've taken have ever been a waste of time. Especially in an industry where you need to keep evolving and have knowledge of all of the latest developments, you either keep learning and evolving, or you become outdated and irrelevant.
  • paddyrg
    paddyrg Posts: 13,543 Forumite
    Find a temping agency, and go on any short term jobs they find for you. The cash isn't always amazing but you're frequently getting a premium for the short-term nature of the work (eg in the summer it might be leisure related, winter might be Amazon warehouse leading to Christmas). It gets you back in the working world, and insight into a number of businesses. At the very least it'll help explain the CV gap.

    Then you can go to seasonal employers (holiday parks, hotels, fruit farms, whatever) directly. Some of these can pay well if based on productivity and you're prepared to put the effort in.

    For warehouse work by the way, a forklift training certificate can make you a more obvious choice, or increase your rate by a couple of quid an hour, if it's something useful for your own business plans anyway, might be worth considering.

    If you want to save fast, you need jobs that pay well, and jobs usually only pay well for a reason - late, dirty, skilled, risky, illegal, immortal, degrading, away from home, etc., so sex worker or oil rigs or malware distribution or cold calling or security in the Middle East all pay above minimum.
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