Category: The Entrepreneurial Journey

August 26 Job Searching for Entrepreneurs Sacred Fire Creative

Why Networking Is the Most Overlooked Job Search Tool for Entrepreneurs

For many entrepreneurs, there comes a point where a little extra stability could go a long way. Maybe business is seasonal. Maybe growth is taking longer than expected. Maybe you just want some breathing room while continuing to build your dream.

A part-time job. A contract gig. A flexible role.

Something that fits around your business, not replaces it.

But finding that kind of work isn’t always easy, especially when most job search advice isn’t written with entrepreneurs in mind.

Traditional job boards often feel like a dead end. Résumés don’t always capture the depth of your experience. And the application process can be time-consuming, impersonal, and discouraging.

That’s where networking changes the game.

Why does networking matter in an entrepreneur’s job search?

Networking isn’t just about finding work. It’s about finding the right kind of work through the relationships you’ve already built.

Many jobs, especially part-time, contract, and flexible roles, are never posted publicly. They’re filled through word of mouth, referrals, and direct connections.

And as an entrepreneur, you already have a rich network. You have former clients and collaborators, vendors, mentors, fellow business owners, friends, and community contacts who have seen what you’re capable of.

These are people who know your work ethic, your values, and your ability to get things done. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re building from trust.

How can networking help with your job search?

There are many ways that tapping your network can boost your job search. Here are some of them.

You get to skip the cold applications. Instead of sending your résumé into the void, you start conversations that actually lead somewhere.
You have the opportunity to tell your story directly and frame your business experience in a way that highlights your strengths instead of the gaps.
You find roles that fit your lifestyle. Many small businesses and mission-driven organizations are looking for people who think like entrepreneurs. They just don’t always know where to find them.

Here are simple networking strategies to start using today.

You don’t need a huge following or a perfect pitch. You just need to take the first step.

Let people know you’re open to work. Reach out to a few contacts in your network. Be clear about the kind of roles you’re looking for – part-time, project-based, remote – and share what you bring to the table.
Reengage your community. Attend a local meetup. Hope into an industry group online. Comment on someone’s post. Networking isn’t always about asking; it’s about showing up.
Offer before you ask. Share a help resource. Refer someone. Make a connection. Building goodwill often leads to new opportunities when you least expect it.
Focus on conversations, not pitches. Instead of asking, “Do you know of any job openings?” try: “I’m exploring some flexible work to support my business and would love to reconnect and hear what you’ve been working on.”

Learn how to do networking with confidence.

If you’re ready to learn how to network your way to flexible income to augment your business, join us at our upcoming event: “Networking Your Way to a Job.”

Part of our Job Searching for Entrepreneurs series, facilitated by Clearinity’s Conrad Rohleder and Sacred Fire Creative’s Malee Ojua, this is an opportunity to learn how to:

Use your entrepreneurial experience as an advantage in the job market.
Build a simple, effective networking strategy.
Reach out to your network without feeling awkward or salesy.
Turn conversations into opportunities.

This event is for entrepreneurs who want to support their business, not replace it. If you’re looking for income that aligns with your values, lifestyle, and goals, this is for you.

Start connecting with confidence. Register here.

How to Ace the Job Interview as an Entrepreneur

For years, your job interview was a client pitch.

You didn’t talk about your job qualifications. Instead, you showed them.

You didn’t wait to be hired to show what you can do. Instead, you built a business around what you can do.

You wore every hat, made every decision, and held the full weight of success (and failure) on your shoulders.

But now, something has shifted.

Maybe you’re craving stability. Maybe you’re burned out. Or maybe, for the first time in a long time, you’re curious about what it might feel like to be part of a team again – this time, not as the leader, but as a contributor with clear boundaries, shared goals, and room to breathe.

And that’s brought you here: preparing to reenter the world of traditional employment.

But let’s be honest. Job interviews hit differently when you’ve been the boss.

In the first part of this blog series, we talked about the resume and the cover letter. Here, we’re going to tackle the job interview.

Why Interviews Are Uniquely Challenging for Entrepreneurs

When you’re used to creating your own opportunities, sitting across from someone evaluating your qualifications can make you feel vulnerable, even strange.

There’s a quiet fear underneath.

Will they understand my story? Will they think I failed?

Am I too much? Or not enough?

These are common and completely normal questions for entrepreneurs making this leap.

Here’s why the interview stage can feel especially hard:

Your career path is nonlinear. Traditional roles follow a ladder. Yours was more like a jungle gym.
You’re afraid they’ll think you can’t follow. You’re no longer the CEO, but that doesn’t mean you can’t thrive in a supportive role. Still, that transition can be hard to communicate.

What Hiring Managers Need to Hear

You bring incredible value to the table. But it’s up to you to make that visible.

Here’s how to make your experience resonate in the interview:

Reframe your story.

Don’t just say, “I ran a business.” Translate it.

I launched and scaled a client-focused brand, led a team of five, managed a $100K budget, and built a marketing system that generated consistent leads through organic social media.

Be specific with your story and focus on outcomes. Connect your experience to the job you’re applying for.

Address the elephant in the room.

If your business closed or paused, acknowledge it confidently.

After several meaningful years in entrepreneurship, I’m choosing this next chapter intentionally. I’m excited to contribute in a focused role where I can apply my experience and collaborate with a team.

Most employers aren’t put off by your business pausing, closing, or being set aside. They just want to understand your “why” and know you’re ready to show up fully.

Shift the narrative from “boss” to “team player.”

One of the biggest assumptions you may face is that you won’t take direction or adapt well to the hierarchy.

Prove them wrong by sharing examples of collaborative partnerships, taking client feedback, and learning from mentors or peer networks.

Let them see your willingness to grow within a team, without needing to lead everything.

Use the STAR Method to Tell Compelling Stories

Entrepreneurs are natural storytellers. But job interviews require a more structured kind of storytelling.

That’s where the STAR method comes in.

STAR stands for:

Situation: What was going on?
Task: What challenge or goal were you facing?
Action: What specific steps did you take?
Result: What was the outcome?

This method helps you clearly demonstrate your value through real-life experiences. And that’s something entrepreneurs have in abundance.

Let’s break it down:

SITUATION: Set the Scene.

“Our customer retention rates were dropping, and we realized our onboarding process wasn’t setting clients up for success.”

TASK: Define the Challenge or Goal.

“I need to redesign the onboarding system to improve retention and create a more seamless client experience.”

ACTION: Describe What You Did.

“I mapped out the existing process, created a new step-by-step welcome journey, and trained my team on delivering it consistently.”

RESULT: Share the Outcome.

“Client retention improved by 35% over the next six months, and support tickets dropped by half.”

Here are a few STAR tips that entrepreneurs can use during the job interview:

Choose diverse stories. Highlight collaborations, problem-solving, and resilience, not just your wins.
Tailor your examples. Connect them directly to the skills the job requires.
Practice out loud. STAR stories are designed to be spoken so they can be remembered.
Stay focused. The structure helps you avoid rambling, a common habit among founders.

Using the STAR method turns your entrepreneurial experience into concise, impressive stories that resonate with hiring managers. It shows that you’re not just experienced; you’re self-aware, coachable, and ready to contribute.

Find the Right Support

Transitioning from entrepreneurship to traditional employment doesn’t just involve a career shift. It’s diving into an identity shift.

And it’s okay to need help navigating it.

That’s why we’re hosting the second session in our Job Searching for Entrepreneurs series: Nailing the Interview: How to Tell Your Story with Confidence.

Whether you’re getting ready for your first interview in years or struggling to translate your founder journey into corporate language, this event is for you. We’ll walk through real examples and hold space for the complexity of this transition without judgment.

This second session is on August 12, 2025, at Offbeat Coffee in Salem, OR. Just like the first session, it will be led by Conrad Rohleder of Clearinity and Malee Ojua of Sacred Fire Creative.

Come as you are – curious, cautious, or completely overwhelmed. You’ll leave with tools, language, and renewed clarity for your next step.

Because you’re not starting over.

You’re starting fresh, with experience, perspective, and something powerful to offer.

RSVP here.