Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Do you think small business owners would accept this

Mar 15, 2010 1:00PM PDT

I sent this letter to a few small business (restaraunt) owners:


"I am trying to gain a solid reputation as a business consultant,
as I am recently out of UCLA's Anderson Business School with an MBA in
business management, and I have much knowledge of the restaurant
business (As I was the manager of a restaurant four years ago). I am
curious as to whether you would allow me to essentially act as a consultant for your business, and come up with ideas to improve the revenue and decrease the costs of your restaurant. I would be willing to work for
free, (as I am just looking to gain experience in this field), and
would like to be able to present detailed business ideas to yourself (which would
be implemented on your approval), through which you can eradicate any
existing inefficiencies your business might have, and improve any
existing methods of marketing,day-to-day operation,etc.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
hum
Mar 16, 2010 8:18PM PDT

I think you should try to write it in a more personal way

- Collapse -
Alvin's reply
Mar 17, 2010 5:55PM PDT

"Why don't you start a blog to represent yourself. It will not only help you in gaining credibility but will also allow you to connect with small business owners in your niche.

Alvin"

I left out the link to his business, because these forum are meant for help, not for advertising.

- Collapse -
Communications problem
Mar 19, 2010 2:32AM PDT

Have been in small business, including restaurants, over 30 years - longer than you've walked the earth, I expect. Here's my critique of your letter: (1) it's style needs considerable work - it strikes me as unprofessional in its tone. You shouldn't sound ponderous, but this letter has a 'wandering' tone. (2) Having managed a restaurant for a whole 4 years, you do not have "considerable" or "much" experience. You have 4 years worth - just starting. How many kinds of food are there in the world? You have 4 years experience in 1 kind.. Those of us who have made it - & especially those of us who are striving to survive, let alone thrive - have no space for people who are willing to work for experience because we have to take time we don't have to spare to teach them. There is no 'free', after all. Not really. Even breathing takes effort. Good idea, but your presentation needs work. You're up against the catch-22 of all beginners - how to get experience in your chosen field without having experience; or in your case, not enough experience. College gives you tools, but the real world is where you learn to use them. You might do better to try for a job that is below your educational level but is in a top-flight restaurant, or specializes in a cuisine you have a heart-felt gut-wrenching passion for, where you can ease yourself in with the boss(es) & offer suggestions while you learn from them.

- Collapse -
I tend to agree
Mar 28, 2010 8:13PM PDT

with Indn Maid, although I would not have bothered with the "longer than you've walked the earth" part, as that is not relevant.

However, he makes good points. 4 years as a restaurant manager is not 'much knowledge', and in many business areas would be seen as limited, in particular as you do not say where this experience was nor how successful the restaurant was whilst you were it's manager. Stating where allows prospective employers to check back on your claim. If you were not particularly successful, then your claim could be construed as false, and will go against you. If you were successful, then your reputation will be enhanced.

"I am trying to gain...." could be better phrased as "I wish to gain further experience as a business consultant".

"I am recently out of....." should be re-phrased as "I have recently achieved an MBA in Business Management at UCLA's Anderson Business School", and be prepared to tell your grade, (if that is applicable to MBA's), and show your certificate/diploma.

"I am curious...". No. Restaurant owners/managers do not have time for curiosity, but something like, "I am eager to learn more about the restaurant business, and your experience and guidance would be very helpful to me". Do not say you have "ideas to improve the revenue and decrease the cost". You are telling your prospective employer that he is a failure, and you could do better.

Similarly, saying, "I can eradicate any existing inefficiencies your business might have, and improve any existing methods of marketing,day-to-day operation,etc.", tells him you think he is failing. Never appeal to someone's deficiencies, always their strengths.

"Sending a letter to a few small businesses". No-one likes receiving circulars; they tend to be thrown away with the rubbish. If a prospective employer suspects the letter they have received is 'mass produced', they will chuck it out. Find out more about each restaurant/business. Find the Manager's name and address your letter to them personally. Let them know that you are interested in their restaurant/business, and not just any restaurant or business.

Where is your CV?

I hope that helps.

Mark

- Collapse -
thanks for the input:, but....
Mar 29, 2010 10:36AM PDT

I wan't wondering how to write the lettter exactly, I guess I wrote my first post incorrectly. I wanted to know if you think that most business owners would be down witht the idea of someonee coming up with and presenting to them busienss ideas. I cant imagine why they wouldn't? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

- Collapse -
It's like this.
Mar 29, 2010 8:17PM PDT

Put yourself in their position. You are a manager of a restaurant and it is doing well. (If it wasn't you would not still be in business). Along comes a young person as says to you, "Give me a job and I will put right everything you have done wrong".

Another scenario;

You are a business owner. You receive a letter from someone you don't know who says "I have great ideas for your business, employ me". Great ideas for your business? How do they know if they have never spoken to you or seen your business before, inspected the books, the systems, the working practices?

Remember, we are all human and no-one likes being told they are useless at business; a failure. And to be quite brutal, if you are just out of university you really have no idea how a business works in practice. It is very different from the theory. These business owners and managers have likely been in business for many years, and they have years of experience that you don't have.

I'm not trying to put you down, and I wish you every good fortune in your chosen career, but you need to appeal to their strengths, not their weaknesses.

Good luck, and I hope everything works out for you.

Mark