Some Advantages of Working for a Small Business
You’re ready to find a new job and excited about the prospect of working for a new company. You’ve done your homework on top employers and read about the perks that bigger companies are touting. You’re thinking, “big pay, big bonuses, big opportunity.” But are you missing the big picture if you dismiss the option of working for a small business at the outset your job search?
Here are five benefits you may experience while working for a small company, plus a potential long-term benefit:
Small businesses have fewer layers of management. When you’re working for a small business, you may find it easier to get the ear of the CEO. Your boss may even be the business owner.
Greater visibility in a small business environment allows you to learn firsthand from the experience of others and showcase your abilities directly to leadership. You can build valuable relationships and job skills that will help you throughout your career.
Apart from questions around salary and benefits, ask yourself what kind of work setting you’re looking for in your next role. If you prefer a workplace with more access and interactions with people at all levels to a more a hierarchical environment, it’s probably a good idea to include the option of working for a small business as part of your job search strategy.
Small companies also may have more flexibility when it comes to considering alternative work arrangements, such as working from home and innovative scheduling. They may implement hybrid business models and add contract professionals to their teams to keep up with the rapidly changing workplace.
A recent Robert Half survey of 2,500 companies found that while 32% of firms overall plan on letting employees choose their work hours and schedule, 36% of small companies plan on using this retention strategy through the end of 2025. In contrast, only 28% of medium-sized companies and 32% of large companies have plans to do so.
The flexibility that comes with working for a small company isn’t just scheduling-related. Another benefit is that in a small business environment, it can be easier to experiment with fresh ideas and changes in procedures that may lead to increased efficiency. And if they don’t work as hoped? It likely won’t take as long to return to the former way of doing things.
If remote work is on your radar, consider these job search tips, including how to work with a recruiting agency.
It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle at a large company. You can’t always make a big impact, and your individual efforts can easily be overlooked or overshadowed. Working your way up the ranks may also take longer than you would like.
If you like making a direct impact, working for a small business, whether a family-owned firm or a new startup, can allow you to take on more responsibility. It’s also more likely your hard work will get noticed, too. One of the most tangible advantages of working for a small business is the fact that your efforts and enthusiasm are often seen and appreciated by higher-ups who get to know you and your work ethic on a day-to-day basis.
Working for a small business often means it’s “all hands on deck.” The upside of that environment is you may get to try something completely new and, in the process, learn something unexpected about yourself.
You might find that you really love interacting with clients directly, for example. Or you might discover that you are happiest managing the financial side of the business or taking on the role of social media ambassador. You may even find the idea of going to work fun rather thinking of it as something you have to do, like it or not. Sometimes, a big part of the fun of working for a smaller company is that it’s not so much what you’re doing on a given day but the fact that you’re almost always happy doing it.
What better way to identify your strengths and talents and discover what you enjoy and do best than by working for a small business?
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Have an idea and want to implement it fast? You might have to push it through many channels and levels at a large company to bring it to reality. But as alluded to earlier, smaller firms typically have less red tape and protocols to wade through. That can be a huge benefit when it comes to innovation. This often means projects are completed more quickly and with less frustration. You likely won’t need to seek approval at every step, and you’ll gain some fantastic insight and hands-on experience along the way.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? If you’re working for a small business, you may have a better chance of getting to know your manager, which can give you an advantage in terms of your career path. That manager may become a mentor who will play an essential role in your future growth, or perhaps, when you are ready to move on, will provide you with a glowing reference that may help you land your next job.
So, as you look to launch a new job search, consider widening your focus beyond the larger organizations. Your next big break could come as the result of working at a small company.
Robert Half works with small businesses across the country, and our recruiters can work with you to help you find the right opportunity with the right company. Submit your resume to start your search.
