Find a Job You Really Want In
The landscape for owner/operators has evolved significantly in recent years, leading many professionals in this field to seek new opportunities. As the dynamics of the labor market continue to shift, former owner/operators are increasingly exploring diverse career paths.
Despite a steady number of individuals enrolling in programs geared towards becoming owner/operators, the appeal of this profession has diminished, prompting many to transition into different roles. This raises an important question:
What career paths are former owner/operators pursuing today?
To find out, we analyzed the resumes of former owner/operators, identifying the most common jobs they transitioned into after leaving the field. We sifted through thousands of resumes, narrowing our focus to the top 100 jobs that emerged.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten most frequently held positions by former owner/operators:
- General Manager
- Operations Manager
- Manager
- Customer Service Representative
- Owner
- Sales Associate
- Office Manager
- Project Manager
- Driver
- Maintenance Technician
These roles are valuable, leveraging the skills that former owner/operators have honed throughout their careers while serving as stepping stones toward new endeavors.
However, while these positions are practical, they may lack excitement. Therefore, we also explored some of the more intriguing career choices that former owner/operators have made:
- Service Manager
- Superintendent
- Equipment Operator
- Operations Director
- Business Developer
- Operator
- Owner/Manager
- Foreman
- Maintenance Supervisor
- Sales Person
While some of these roles may be more appealing than others, they certainly present unique opportunities that can capture interest.
How We Identified the Most Common Jobs of Former Owner/Operators
Our analysis utilized data from our extensive database of over 7 million resumes. We focused on resumes that included “owner/operator” in their work history, tracking the subsequent job roles these individuals pursued, ranked by frequency.
To compile our list of more interesting jobs, we identified positions that:
- Appeared in less than 1% of all new job listings
- Were not included in the top 100 most common roles within our database
Below, you will find the comprehensive ranking of the most common jobs held by former owner/operators.
Detailed Ranking of the Most Common Jobs of Former Owner/Operators
| Job Title | Rank | % |
|---|---|---|
| General Manager | 1 | 1.1% |
| Operations Manager | 2 | 1.06% |
| Manager | 3 | 1.05% |
| Customer Service Representative | 4 | 1.03% |
| Owner | 5 | 1.01% |
| Sales Associate | 6 | 0.97% |
| Office Manager | 7 | 0.88% |
| Project Manager | 8 | 0.88% |
| Driver | 9 | 0.83% |
| Maintenance Technician | 10 | 0.79% |
| Administrative Assistant | 11 | 0.74% |
| Sales Representative | 12 | 0.71% |
| Store Manager | 13 | 0.67% |
| Substitute Teacher | 14 | 0.62% |
| Supervisor | 15 | 0.58% |
| Assistant Manager | 16 | 0.58% |
| Truck Driver | 17 | 0.56% |
| Technician | 18 | 0.48% |
| Sales Manager | 19 | 0.47% |
| Consultant | 20 | 0.44% |
| Registered Nurse | 21 | 0.39% |
| Sales Consultant | 22 | 0.37% |
| Account Executive | 23 | 0.35% |
| Teacher | 24 | 0.35% |
| Service Technician | 25 | 0.33% |
| Account Manager | 26 | 0.33% |
| Cashier | 27 | 0.32% |
| Service Manager | 28 | 0.32% |
| Welder | 29 | 0.32% |
| Team Leader | 30 | 0.32% |
| Server | 31 | 0.3% |
| Superintendent | 32 | 0.29% |
| Security Officer | 33 | 0.28% |
| Delivery Driver | 34 | 0.28% |
| Equipment Operator | 35 | 0.28% |
| Operations Director | 36 | 0.27% |
| Machine Operator | 37 | 0.27% |
| Volunteer | 38 | 0.26% |
| Assistant Store Manager | 39 | 0.25% |
| Field Service Technician | 40 | 0.24% |
| Associate | 41 | 0.24% |
| Business Developer | 42 | 0.24% |
| Owner/Manager | 43 | 0.23% |
| Operator | 44 | 0.23% |
| Internship | 45 | 0.23% |
| Foreman | 46 | 0.23% |
| Specialist | 47 | 0.23% |
| Vice President | 48 | 0.22% |
| Maintenance Supervisor | 49 | 0.22% |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | 50 | 0.2% |
| Sales Person | 51 | 0.2% |
| Property Manager | 52 | 0.2% |
| Electrician | 53 | 0.2% |
| Mechanic | 54 | 0.19% |
| Program Manager | 55 | 0.19% |
| Director | 56 | 0.19% |
| President | 57 | 0.19% |
| Customer Service Trainer | 58 | 0.19% |
| Office Assistant | 59 | 0.18% |
| Instructor | 60 | 0.18% |
| Agent | 61 | 0.18% |
| Cook | 62 | 0.18% |
| Operation Supervisor | 63 | 0.18% |
| Certified Nursing Assistant | 64 | 0.18% |
| Business Development Manager | 65 | 0.18% |
| Facilities Manager | 66 | 0.17% |
| Coordinator | 67 | 0.17% |
| Chief Executive Officer | 68 | 0.17% |
| Production Manager | 69 | 0.16% |
| Forklift Operator | 70 | 0.16% |
| Lead Technician | 71 | 0.16% |
| Executive Chef | 72 | 0.16% |
| President/Owner | 73 | 0.16% |
| Production Supervisor | 74 | 0.15% |
| Maintenance Manager | 75 | 0.15% |
| Bartender | 76 | 0.15% |
| District Manager | 77 | 0.15% |
| Painter | 78 | 0.15% |
| Real Estate Agent | 79 | 0.15% |
| Sales/Marketing | 80 | 0.15% |
| Installer | 81 | 0.15% |
| Company Driver | 82 | 0.14% |
| Systems Administrator | 83 | 0.14% |
| Realtor | 84 | 0.14% |
| Construction Manager | 85 | 0.14% |
| Technical Support Specialist | 86 | 0.14% |
| Sales Associate And Customer Service | 87 | 0.14% |
| Administrator | 88 | 0.13% |
| Director Of Sales | 89 | 0.13% |
| Home Health Aid | 90 | 0.13% |
| Department Manager | 91 | 0.13% |
| Merchandiser | 92 | 0.13% |
| Purchasing Manager | 93 | 0.13% |
| Emergency Medical Technician | 94 | 0.12% |
| Carpenter | 95 | 0.12% |
| Executive Assistant | 96 | 0.12% |
| Case Manager | 97 | 0.12% |
| Field Technician | 98 | |
| Clerk | 99 | 0.12% |
| Graphic Designer | 100 | 0.12% |
In conclusion, while the role of owner/operators is changing, the skills and experiences acquired in this profession provide a solid foundation for numerous career transitions. As the job market continues to evolve, former owner/operators have exciting opportunities awaiting them in various fields.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
