An increasing number of job seekers—recognizing the permanent exit of jobs from their industries/fields, looking for a change from the corporate environment, or seeking more control over their lives—are becoming entrepreneurs. To address this growing trend, Ayers’ New York office is sponsoring programs conducted by Keld Alstrup of the Franchise Network (FranNet), a franchise-consulting group. Seminars enable candidates to explore investment choices in the automotive, B2B, educational, foodservice, retail, and personal services fields. One-on-one sessions help candidates assess their personalities, skills, goals, and objectives in terms of finding a suitable investment match. Following are several success stories.
§ A 20-year-veteran of the publishing industry, tired of corporate life and unable to land a position he could be happy with, decided to switch gears. After exploring a variety of franchising options, he and his wife purchased an automotive-service franchise in the New York City area.
§ At the recommendation of an Ayers consultant, FranNet met with a former insurance industry executive and his wife for assessment. After a period of comprehensive due diligence, the couple are preparing to open a children’s-tutoring business.
§ A young candidate who had gained extensive experience in sales and business operations while traveling the world for a corporate employer was looking to spend more time with his family and return to his native Canada. He is now a business coach and mentor to small and medium-sized businesses in British Columbia.
In addition, candidates continue to network and reinvent their way into satisfying new positions, as in the following cases.
§ A mid-level business analyst from the global equities division of a major bank researched the market to determine current need and used her legal education to reposition herself in the field of compliance. She landed a position as an investment compliance analyst for a mid-size financial services firm—and a 17.5 percent raise.
§ A junior financial analyst whose department was eliminated networked among the alumni of her college to gain an interview with a major investment bank. The result: a position as an equity research analyst with a pay increase of 44.5 percent.
Names of candidates are not disclosed in the Ayers Report to respect their privacy. To arrange to speak with any of them regarding their job-search experiences, please contact Doug O’Connor at doug.oconnor@ayers.com.