Can't Get Hired - 8 Reasons to Hire Yourself

Anyone who has read my book or taken my home study course, or heard me speak about job seeking, knows that I am a big fan of self-employment.

Recently on a LinkedIn exchange in a jobs forum I participated in the following exchange:

• Gary Fortune, PMP • It took me some time to learn that US companies have switched from a 90%+ employees to contractors to a new configuration of 40% to 60% employees and the balance in W2, 1099, and C to C Contractors. Once I stopped seeking a job and sought a contract I got one with a Fortune 50 company. When I finished there I got an even better long term contract with a new Fortune 50 company. You simply need to 'break the code' apparently.

You can see from Gary's comment that he figured out how to get what he wants in this economy by giving employers what they want.


I responded by noting several reasons why this is a great course to follow:


Tom Sheppard • @Gary, You are exactly correct and for more than one reason.

1. Many here (or in other forums) have pointed out age discrimination issues as a roadblock to getting hired. When you create your own company (Inc Yourself), you take the responsibility for your retirement and benefits off the employer and you own it. This allows employers to avoid that cost.
2. A consultant is expected to be more expensive and bring more to the table than their own personnel, so you take the higher pay issue off the table.
3. You win by being able to convert many of your ordinary expenses into business expenses and they become tax deductible.
4. You win by not being tied to any company that might suddenly become a sinking ship. You can jump to another without prejudice because that is the nature of contractors.
5. You win because you have finally found the only kind of real job security that exists, building your own company and working for yourself.
6. You win because even if your boss is an idiot, you can call him that to his face and he still can't fire you (I do it with some frequency and I still can't fire me :-D)
7. The employer wins because if they have to trim expenses they can cut lose a contractor on a moment's notice without severance and all sorts of other expensive or prolonged HR laws coming into play.
8. You win because when you start acting like a small business (even if you are doing a W2 gig) you will typically deliver better value and be more focused on making sure that your company gets their money's worth and that your performance helps lift the bottom line whenever possible.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Feel free to post your comments.
Subscribe to this blog to get timely notifications when I post new content.


Tom Sheppard has recently written a book, "Promote Yourself to the Life You Want: A No BS Guide to Help You Get and Keep the Job You Want"  If you would like take advantage of a pre-publication special price, send an email to TSheppard@APlusResults.com.


Tom has been successfully investing in real estate since 2001 while working part time. In 2008 he left a six-figure job as an enterprise project manager with a major national bank to manage his real estate business full-time. His goal is to help 100,000 people find peace of mind by finding quality, affordable homes. Why pay retail when you can buy a home at below market prices? www.buybelowmarket.com. He is currently looking to expand his network of funding partners who are helping him achieve this goal. If you would like to know more about how you can do well by doing good, contact Tom at TSheppard@ADBProperties.com