Is the Family Business Keeping Your Prospects Grounded?
Perhaps the primary disadvantage to stepping into the family business is the weight of responsibility falling onto your shoulders. Even though answering phone calls at your uncle's firm or even driving a lawnmower for your dad's landscaping business looks all good during your teenage and college years, however there's going to come a period when these roles may not be adequate.
However, expectations can typically be placed on loved ones to take on the small business and carry it forward. This can be especially difficult for a child assuming for a parent or if the company is an old one handed down for generations.
Now, there is nothing wrong with ruling the family business, particularly if it's something you've been studying for a long time. Nevertheless, there is an chance for entrapment for people who start to just give things a chance. When you get relaxed with a job, particularly a family run business, it's hard to break routine. Additionally, while you've been easily keeping a job when your buddies have been schlepping from interview to interview, an interesting prospect during hard economic times, you haven't had to improve on your job searching knowledge.
The whole job searching experience, even though it can be unrewarding, intense and boring, is a fantastic chance to learn for future professionals. It demonstrates to you just how to package yourself, how to perform interviews and how to place yourself out there and get noticed. Taking the family business route is okay and all, yet you'll likely overlook this learning opportunity.
Finally, the thing is to not let yourself become guilted into a work at your own professional expense. Take over the family business if you want to. Spend time working there if you have no other leads. Nevertheless, you have greater plans on the horizon. Remember to keep your feelers out. It's easy enough getting too comfy at a job. It is a whole lot easier to get at ease at a work managed by your family.
Any unfavorable experiences working for a family member? Let us know in the comment section.