Help in selling my skills in application letter.

[Skribble]

I am applying for a job that requires a lot of the skills I have gained through running my own small business. I still run the business in a very part-time way. How do I put this accross in a way that doesn't sound like I will be too busy with this for a full time job or that I am useless and haven't made a proper go of my own business.

Plus my Mum does exactly the same job in an other area so she has great contacts for suppliers etc and I have learned so much from her that I would use in this job. How can I say I have this great contact.

Also I have had a good look at the place and at the moment it is a mess and looks really badly run, how do I get accross that I could really improve this with outsaying how crap it is at the moment?

Bummpudndjsj

What is the reason for you wanting to go for this job, despite already doing it parttime? Will the answer to the question not be a feasible way of explaining yourself without looking too busy nor too useless?

Could you say its a career you have always been interested in, but you knew you needed to gain some experience hence the reason why you've been running your own small business, but now you feel ready to move into the 'big' world (obviously don't use those words ).

Are you going to be in a senior enough position to make the improvements you want without stepping on people's toes? If so then explain your enthusiasm and suggest some new ideas you'd be able to bring with you. If not in senior position then i'd keep schtuum at least until interview point.

Regarding your mum, i'd say exactly that - you have built up a good contact base. (no need to say its via your mum).

Good luck!

I think you need to think of a good reason as to why you are looking for the job (I assume you have plenty!) and then say what they are. dh had a similar issue, and that's the approach he took. It didn't seem to be an issue that he had his own company by the time he got to the interview. You may find it useful to talk to the employer (if they have said this would be OK) prior to applying. I would talk about some of the things that you have done successfully in the past which you think could apply to this business (ie I have implemented systems to...) agree with Hattie re. your mum. You could say that you got into the field because you had a great mentor (and then how you would enjoy doing this for others). You could say that you feel you would be particularly suited to the role because you know the business well and have good contacts with suppliers. I work in the public sector so there are always person specifications to write to - what sort of clues do you have as to what they are looking for. My top tip on applications is to make sure they are tailored to what you know they want. Sounds obvious, but I have read a lot of generic applications and they don't get through shortlisting.

Thanks you two, that helps. I will have to think how best to explain why I have not expanded my own business and want to work for a company that pays a proper wage (I haven't had the balls to borrow money to expand)I will speak to my mentor (Mum) and ask her exactly what priorities her seniors have and what they look for.

The position is senior enough to be able to change things but I don't want to say too much as this may be a new position and I think the overall manager has probably been doing all the the duties up until now, it is expanding so perhaps too much for the one person.