How to Land a Job with a Family-Owned Business as an Outsider

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By Zach Cutler2013-12-22 18:55:08 UTC

Family-owned businesses are the backbone of our economy. They range from small businesses to major corporations, and make up 35% of Fortune 500 companies. Together, these family firms are a powerhouse for employment, accounting for 78% of all new job creation.

Luckily, you don’t have to be a member of the family to work for a family-owned business. Between 10 and 15% of these businesses are now managed by non-family executives. Still, how do you position yourself as the best candidate for the job? It can be a tricky process to navigate, especially since unique family dynamics are often involved.

As the founder and CEO of Cutler Group, a tech PR agency and a family business, I've hired from within the family. Two years after founding the company, my sister came on board to head up marketing and business development, and a year and a half later my mother also joined the agency. But we've also hired many non-family employees, as well. Both have their unique advantages.

If you want to land a job with a family-owned business, here are some tips to help you get your foot in the door:

1. Know how to find them. We advertise job listings just like any other company. You can find them on job search websites like Monster and Indeed, or posted on Craigslist. For listings that directly state it’s a job with a family-owned business, it’s easy to narrow your search by keywords. However, not all will be this direct. Do your research to find out whether or not a business is family-owned by visiting their website and reading about its history and employees.

2. Learn the culture. When interviewing with a family-owned business, be sure to do your homework first. We can tell! Learn as much as you can about the business’s history and culture. As an employee, you will become a part of the company. So focus on learning the company culture and don’t stress so much about learning the family culture. While the two are often woven together, a family’s culture is much harder to learn — and you don't need to concern yourself with those politics.

3. Bring a new skill. You can increase your chances of landing the job by bringing a skill to the business that’s currently missing. Maybe you have an expertise in accounting, marketing or are a strong writer. All these are valuable skills for a business that aren’t easily filled by just anyone.

Also, family businesses tend to be very personal. They take pride in customer service and providing that "family touch." Be sure to highlight your own commitment to personal customer service in your skills.

4. Treat family employees fairly. Family-owned businesses are unique in that many of your fellow employees are likely to be members of the same family. This can make it challenging to treat them fairly, regardless of family ties. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to approach your relationship with family employees differently than you would anyone else.

With the growing success of sibling-powered startups, we’re going to see many more job opportunities emerge from this new style of family owned businesses. Sure, he might be the CEO’s brother, but it’s not your job to overly praise or criticize his work – leave that to the CEO.

5. Stay above the drama. Family-owned businesses take great care in making employees feel like a part of the family. While it’s great to form these close relationships, don’t go so far as participating in family drama, if there is any. Staying neutral will increase your value and effectiveness as an employee.

With family-owned businesses generating 60% of the country's employment, you’re likely to come across the opportunity to work for one at some point in your career. You can gain a leg up on your competition by approaching these jobs differently than you would a non family-owned firm. First and foremost, learn and respect the culture. Be sure to also highlight a skill you bring to the table that may be currently missing within the company.

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