Would you hire a sole trader moving back into PAYE job?

Dubwat

(I tried searching but most of the topics seem to be about people with jobs moving to sole trader status, not the other way round!)

Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on how hard it would be for a self-employed sole trader to move back into a PAYE job? Would the company be suspicious or wary of hiring you, i.e., you're a bad business person or you're just going to hang around for a few months and then move on?

Any tips/tricks on the question, "will you take orders from your new boss?"

Also, my last employer was a UK company who have a policy of not providing references but only the 'he worked here from x to y'. How would you deal with that?

Sorry for so many questions but I think I'm just realising a new reality for myself (and probably lots of other people as well)

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About me: About 4 years ago, I made the classic mistake of turning a (creative) hobby into a business. At first, it went well but business is pretty bad now. It's not just me; a lot of my competitors have gone bust as well. The money simply isn't there anymore. Most of my sales are on the internet now to people outside of Ireland and realistically it's something that I could do at the weekends.

I have a university education in a science field and, after a bit of academia, moved into the business end of things. Eventually, I ended up as the Irish manager for a UK company. This can be spun 2 ways - I was the Irish General Manger for a UK company (7 employees, 2 offices, P+L accountability) or I was just a branch manager/supervisor for a UK company that just happened to have an Irish office.

Mrs OBumble

People who've discovered just how hard it is to be the boss often go back to "working for the man", and make excellent employees because they have a far better idea of just how hard the bosses job is.

Make sure you have a convincing story about why you want to work for a company again - and not just 'cos of the money. Personally mine involves wanting to be part of bigger projects that have more impact than one person alone can deliver.

Also, play down how much business you'll be doing on the side. Make it sound convincing that you've an exit strategy from the business, so that the employing company thinks they will have 100% of your soul. (Sure'n you don't have to implement the whole exit strategy at once, though ... just have it planned!)

Eoin

Dubwat wrote:

Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on how hard it would be for a self-employed sole trader to move back into a PAYE job?

It wouldn't particularly bother me - though I work in IT where you often have people going from employees to self-employed contracters and vice versa.

Dubwat wrote:

Also, my last employer was a UK company who have a policy of not providing references but only the 'he worked here from x to y'. How would you deal with that?

See if someone else at your manager's level can give you a reference unofficially.

redlips

I'm in the exact same position OP, and I have almost found getting back into work impossible... My business went under because so many of my clients went under at the same time, though it never was a long term plan for me, it just happened to be something which naturally occured (with a lot of hard work mind you) anyway I always intended to come back to working PAYE. Had NO idea how difficult that would be.

I have almost a 2 year gap not working (as I was self employed) and therefore have no references for that period of time, and employers from before that period have gone bust or are no longer around (written references weren't given - they only offered phone ones) so that doesn't help!

Like you I've plenty of experience - retail sales and management - but getting someone to take a chance on me isn't easy. I know I've alot to offer and I'm a hard worker, in any role I throw myself in 100%. Before this experience I thought showing enough initiative and dedication to set up a business would be impressive to employers, how wrong I was... I have had interviewers be blatantly outright rude to me about it and turn me down work for the fear I'm too ambitious and will leave them after they spend time training me in. I don't have intention to now, or in the near future, to go back down the self employed route because it's just too much hassle (from my experience) but employers still see it as a possible threat. Even worse is my willingness in downgrading to sales assistant roles - employers have also said to me they think with my management experience and having been self employed, again I'm too ambitious and a threat if they were to hire me??? It's honestly ruined my confidence and I now have panic attacks when it comes to the likes of interviews, a huge stone's throw from the days where I managed over 20 people... It's hard to win!

Dubwat

Thanks, everyone, for the replies. I did a quick search last night and found 3 jobs that might be suitable for me?

@ Redlips: I'm sorry to hear you find interviews so stressful. If it's any consolation, my brother was terrible at interviews as well. But as I kept telling him, if they call you for an interview, the company already believes you can do the job. It's just a question as seeing if you fit in with them.

So don't get stressed, think of it like you're 95% there already before the interview.

Dymo

I've found a similar problem to the OP, I thought it would look like I was a motivated person that I started my own business and would impress a future employer but I'm finding out the opposite. I've always up skilled self through further education and have plenty of experience for the jobs I'm applying for but very little feedback.

I've changed my tactics now and instead of saying I was self employed I'm putting on my cv that I was the general manager of the business looking after all aspects of the business. And I have noticed an improved response to my applications.