Do you find yourself only applying to well-known, large companies? Some job seekers may be stuck in the mindset that big-name organizations are not only more impressive for your resume, but better places to work for in general. According to the 2018 Small Business Profile, there are 30.2 million small businesses and 58.9 million small business employees in the United States. That is 30.2 million businesses you are ignoring if you are only focusing on applying to big companies like Amazon or Google. If working for a small organization has never appealed to you, let us remind you of some of the attractive benefits of working for a small business, and why you should apply to their open positions.
Less Competition
In a smaller business, it is a lot more noticeable when you are doing well at work because management has fewer employees to oversee. It will be more obvious who is deserving of a promotion, and there will be less people fighting for that spot.
More Learning Opportunities
With fewer employees, you’ll be expected to wear many hats. You will get exposure to a variety of projects you normally wouldn’t, as there isn’t an employee to specialize in every project that comes up. This will make your resume seemingly more impressive with skills other people with your job title normally wouldn’t have. Companies like to see applicants who have worked for a small organization. It proves you know how to step up and do/learn whatever it takes to get the job done.
Closer Professional Relationships
It’s easier to get to know your co-workers on a more personal level at a small business. When one person wins, everyone wins. Successes are noticed and celebrated more often, which makes work more enjoyable. Working for a small business will also make you closer to your bosses. You’ll feel more comfortable approaching them about work related issues, and they will have the ability to write or give a more detailed and thought-out reference for you in the future.
Extra Flexibility
Smaller businesses have the ability to be more flexible and forgiving as they don’t need to follow the company policy perfectly like many larger corporations do. If you need to work from home or run an extra errand on lunch, your employer is more likely to be flexible. You will also have more flexibility to try out new techniques and methods. Small companies aren’t constantly being monitored by the public and have a smaller fan base/clientele. If you try something out and it fails, you’ll have the ability to learn from it and move on, without much damage caused.
When working for a small business, here are some negatives to consider as well:
- You may eventually reach the ‘ceiling’ with no more room to advance your career.
- The training may be weaker and less organized.
- They might not have all of the amazing employee benefits that a larger corporation has.
Whether the company is big or small, how a company treats their employees matters more than their size. However, there are several benefits of working for a smaller business and KRG is lucky enough to partner with countless small businesses on a daily basis and see the success employees have. Next time you are on the hunt for a new job, remember not to count out the small businesses as they have more to offer than one would think.