Working in a Family Business.....mmmm

I have not try to wear their own shoes because I have this feeling that once the business falls down, family and relatives bonding fell off as well and it is not good. If you feel that you don't want to work anymore it is your choice and you have all the good options to try since you are already a professional. Think of it this way, there are people who are unemployed because they are not professional and some are professionals with no work because they don't have other potential skills to use. But you my friend have this potential and experiences in the business field that other professionals don't have.

Yes, I agree completely with you. A business managed by unprofessional family members is headed for doom. I’ve not only worn but am wearing such shoes for the past 14 years. You see, I work as the personal secretary for the person owning the business… it’s a mid-sized company where the owner (my boss) calls all the shots. Though it has not affected me professionally, I’ve seen well qualified people with a corporate mindset, leave our organization as they could not bow down to our boss’s whims all the time. The boss has a brother as co-director… the brother runs his own school but interferes in all important matters, then the boss has a son who’s doing his internship somewhere else…he too sends his ‘valuable inputs’ from time to time. So you can very well understand that professionals have seldom any say in running this office, there is little scope for career advancement and no corporate structure to ensure a neutral working environment. From my vantage position, I’ve seen the company lose so many golden opportunities for moving ahead yet it could not do so coz the directors were afraid of appointing corporate minded people in the top positions. If really I were to look for another job, I would not like to work in a family held business of small size. There are many corporate houses which are essentially family held, but those are conglomerates with proper infrastructure, hierarchy and career advancement opportunities. I guess such companies would be OK.

Working in a business owned by a family isn't bad. But if you are a professional, i suggest you work in a large company like Microsoft or Apple. The possible jobs that are suitable for a family-owned company are messengers,drivers, skilled workers and the like especially those who didn't finished a college degree. As a professional, it's also great to work for the family--owned business if you are a close family friend