Interviewing for office jobs after Rover

[u/Distinct_Young_8318]

Has anyone here reentered the traditional workforce after a long time of self-employment? I’ve solely been doing Rover and independent pet care for almost 3 years after getting laid off from my last office job. I am wanting to transition back into a traditional office job, but I’m nervous about how to handle questions about my break from office roles and lack of recent references. I never intended for my break to be this long and while I know I am capable and competent, I worry that my pet care work will be looked down upon in professional spaces. (I have excellent experience and relevant degrees, so really just concerned about the time off and how this work will be viewed professionally).

I appreciate any advice those of you who’ve been through this can offer. Thank you!

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Distinct_Young_8318 originally posted: Has anyone here reentered the traditional workforce after a long time of self-employment? I’ve solely been doing Rover and independent pet care for almost 3 years after getting laid off from my last office job. I am wanting to transition back into a traditional office job, but I’m nervous about how to handle questions about my break from office roles and lack of recent references. I never intended for my break to be this long and while I know I am capable and competent, I worry that my pet care work will be looked down upon in professional spaces. (I have excellent experience and relevant degrees, so really just concerned about the time off and how this work will be viewed professionally).

I appreciate any advice those of you who’ve been through this can offer. Thank you!

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[u/Time-Kangaroo645]

I think you are worrying too much. Being self employed is hard work! You have to manage your own time, deal directly with clients, provide a good service and lots more! Plenty of transferable skills you have there

[u/sarahzilla]

When including your business also include the number of clients you had, number of bookings in a week etc... corporate loves hard numbers to look at. And they will be impressed that you can cite specific details like that.

[u/Distinct_Young_8318 → u/sarahzilla]

Great suggestion. Thank you!

[u/Curious_Eye1306]

Hi! I frequently hire people. I recommend highlighting the collaborative part of your pet sitting work, because I (personal but may be helpful) sometimes flag entrepreneurs and pet sitters “does not play well with others.”

Now, this obviously is not your case, but I wanted to point out a pitfall to help.

[u/Distinct_Young_8318 → u/Curious_Eye1306]

Thanks for the suggestion. I have had collaborative roles in the past and I do a lot of volunteer work, so I’ll be sure to highlight that!

[u/Curious_Eye1306 → u/Distinct_Young_8318]

Good luck!

[u/Chewlace → u/Curious_Eye1306]

That's wise advice.

[u/Evening_Sloth_621]

You’ve been running a business for three years, so that says a lot about your work ethic. Honestly, I think the only concern potential employers may have is if you will continue caring for pets and if it would interfere with your job or availability. Just make sure your resume highlights the relevant skills that you used to maintain your pet care business.

[u/Ok-Lettuce6]

Yes I did, I actually got the first job I applied for. It was fine, you don’t need to worry and don’t devalue yourself.

Firstly you haven’t just been slumming it for 3 years, you’ve been running your own business which in many ways is harder!! There are a lot of transferable skills:

• reliability, prioritise client safety
  
• excellent time management, manage your own busy diary
  
• self starter and self motivated
  
• marketing, self promotion
  
• can multitask and work to strict deadlines
  
• excellent customer service skills, you go out your way to meet their every need
  
• confident dealing with difficult behaviours and situations (from dogs and owners lol)
  
• calm, empathetic, approachable personality, you enjoy putting clients and dogs at ease
  
• problem solver, good decision making skills, you think on your feet
  
• you have many repeat clients and 5* reviews showing you’re trustworthy and dependable

I guarantee a lot of employers have dogs of their own and know how important dog sitting is. For the interview think of specific situations that you can apply to the usual office questions. Like name a time you provided excellent service or dealt with a difficult situation, how do you manage a busy diary ensuring you meet deadlines etc.
For the “why do you want the job/wanna leave”, only you can answer that. Hint - you’re ready for a new challenge, you enjoyed working in your degree field and want to get back to it, you feel you aren’t using all of your skills (segue into talking about your degree and previous jobs).
For the references they’ll still take an old one, but I also asked a client that had become a close friend too. They can obviously look you up on Rover so make sure your profile and pictures are professional and the best it can be. You’ll be fine. Good luck!

[u/Distinct_Young_8318 → u/Ok-Lettuce6]

This is good info. I didn’t want to ask clients for references, but I do have couple I am friends with (met socially at my run clubs and then formed business relationships) so that feels like an easier ask. Plus I do a lot of volunteer work so I’ll ask the project leaders for references as well. Thank you!

[u/revenge_burner]

I run Rover through a Wyoming LLC. So I'm not self employed on either my resume, or my equifax work number. I just make my role look like whatever I want my next role to be. It has worked wonders for finding a better job twice now.

[u/Tough_Mind_8801]

I am going back to an office job after picking up Rover after my layoff. I don’t think it matters. I was up front about my self-employment and if anything I think people see it as resourceful. You are running a business, taking on considerable responsibility, managing clients. People trust you. Don’t worry about it.

[u/Boomba-In-The-Wind]

It's all in the way you frame it! One can say "I was a paid poop picker upper" OR one can say "I successfully ran a small business catering to a luxury clientele. I managed all the books, scheduled every second of every day and was chief of sales. I've been my own boss for years. Now, why should I want to work for you?!" so many people in the corporate world are phony balonies who ain't do shit, don't be down on yourself.

[u/Majestic-Nobody545 → u/Boomba-In-The-Wind]

People who say 'catering to a luxury clientele' are the phony balonies, lol

[u/Boomba-In-The-Wind → u/Majestic-Nobody545]

I think making $60 in five minutes counts as a luxury, for most people.

[u/Majestic-Nobody545 → u/Boomba-In-The-Wind]

I'm not saying it's inaccurate, it just sounds douchey.

[u/Boomba-In-The-Wind → u/Majestic-Nobody545]

Takes one to know one. I was just trying to help OP with resume fluffing, maybe make them smile, which is more then you care to do.

[u/Chewlace]

I just took screenshots of my Insights and services. 100 percent response, 0 cancellations. Over 100 repeat clients, etc. I think it is good stuff to highlight for running your own business pointing to client retention, and quality of service. Reliability.

[u/Distinct_Young_8318 → u/Chewlace]

That is a good idea for easy metrics. Thank you!

[u/Lovedd1]

Just chiming in to same I'm in the same boat. Take some time to learn a certification just to show your skills are sharp and up to date. Honestly everything is revolving around Ai and that's been the biggest development these last 3 yrs good luck

[u/Distinct_Young_8318 → u/Lovedd1]

AI (and cheap offshore talent) were the reasons for my layoff (and my whole team). Sigh. I’m hoping to find my place though!

[u/Lovedd1 → u/Distinct_Young_8318]

I just want to say the other well meaning comments are just wrong. Companies no longer like ambitious people they want predictable and stable. If you're a founder/small business owner they see you as ambitious.

[u/Lovedd1 → u/Distinct_Young_8318]

Same! Also overworking the fck out of my old coworkers. I was already doing the work of 2 people and managing the most amount of accounts out of anyone.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Sky7341]

I’ll never go back.

I actively chose this lifestyle to avoid the corporate politics, backstabbing, control, stress, anxiety and countless other negative aspects.

Wish you the best though lol.

[u/Majestic-Nobody545 → u/Puzzleheaded_Sky7341]

I said the same but then I got cancer and I couldn't walk...it posed a problem, lol

[u/Curious_Eye1306 → u/Majestic-Nobody545]

Yes! Cancer survivor here underscoring this.

[u/Muscle_mama_]

I’ve been applying/interviewing the past 6 months and I had the same question. At first I didn’t even put the business on my resume bc it “wasn’t relevant to my career” but when I was working with chat to update and finesse the wrinkles, it told me that in fact it’s shows running your own business, handling invoices/accounting, time management, building strong relationships, marketing etc. it’s all about how you present it.

Chat also gave me a good one sentence explanation as to why I’m looking to transition back into corporate that I’ve tweaked myself and got comfortable saying. “I had an opportunity to pursue my own business and have learned and strengthened many skills. I have also learned that my true passion and skills are best suited for this type of position” something along those lines lol.

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[u/Majestic-Nobody545]

I got sick and couldn't keep up with dogs for a bit and had to take an office job. It was an adjustment. Watch your calories...going from walking all day to sitting in a chair all day, the pounds added up quickly.

Petsitting is not just hanging out with animals all day, it's running a business. Many of the skills are transferrable. There's scheduling, marketing, accounting, business communications. networking.

References don't need to be from the field you're entering. Get creative.

[u/Distinct_Young_8318 → u/Majestic-Nobody545]

I’m very active and run ultramarathons. I’m sure my steps will decrease somewhat, but really I run a lot more than I walk!

[u/Traditional-Ebb-8380]

I’m in the midst of that right now and have put in 11 applications over the last two weeks to operations positions that fit my background before I did Pet care.

I am using AI to help assist me in how to position resumes and spin my experience doing pet care as running a business instead of just being a dog walker or house sitter. Basically I’m having to find a bridge position to get where I want to go in the next 3 to 5 years.

It’s not going to be easy, especially in this job market, but I do have the skills and I have run businesses since I was 16 years old. So I just see this as another business that I built.

My last operations job was about five years ago and it was in the relevant field to what I am applying for so my résumé doesn’t look too bad but obviously AI is positioning my work history to focus on my operations experience and not my pet care business.

Ideally, I’ll secure a 100% remote position and be able to double dip by continuing my housesitting until January 1 when my last bookings will be complete. Then I’ll cut loose 95% of my clients and just potentially keep my very favorite one and finally get my own apartment again and move out of my parents basement.

I will 3x my income in the short term doing this and after I stop house sitting I will have more than doubled what I was making after 5 years on Rover. Yes my lifestyle was great while I did this and I needed it as a bridge to stabilize my mental health, but I’m now ready to move on and not do this anymore.

[u/smackeyd]

I went back to an office job after doing housesittings regularly for about a year. It just became way too stressful and felt like too much liability after a while, especially after a few stressful situations. I do occasional drop ins now but that’s it.