About your job search ...

[James Langer <j.langer@execs-direct.com>]

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When Looking For A Job, Start Small - Think Big!

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JOB SEARCHING - START SMALL, THINK BIG!

Job searching really is a numbers game.  In order to 
successfully find employment, job seekers need to target a 
wide range of employers.  The more resumes you distribute 
and the more you network, the better chance you have of 
landing interviews and even a job. 

This principle is especially relevant during a recession 
when the job market is particularly difficult to access.

Unfortunately, most candidates seeking employment often
ignore applying to smaller employers and focus their efforts
more on large firms that have name recognition.  However, 
during these tough economic times, small firms are actually
better positioned to hire during a down market. 

According to the US Small Business Administration, about 89%
of the nation�s 5.6 million employers have fewer than twenty
workers.  These small businesses also create 75% of new jobs. 

Smaller companies may have a business plan progressive enough
that they are able to succeed despite poor economic times. 
The company may be finding their niche in a rapidly growing 
field, which is prospering despite a general recession. 
Also, the firm may not have the large overhead or the extra 
employees that many bigger companies added during the recent
period of economic growth and expansion, making the smaller
company well positioned for the future.

SIZE MATTERS

Working for a smaller employer has advantages and
disadvantages. Work roles at small companies are often 
less specialized than at larger firms allowing employees to 
wear more hats, interact with staff in more functional areas
in these smaller work environments and get a better big 
picture view of operations. 

Since employees and their work results are more visible, it 
is often easier to advance in a smaller organization. 
Employees often gain experience in a variety of areas, 
giving them multiple skills and areas of expertise to add to
their resume. These small employers may also have more 
flexibility to consider alternative work arrangements like
flextime or job sharing. 

Working for a smaller company can also be a good stepping-
stone to a larger employer in the same field.  Especially in
industries where the bigger firms have a need for candidates
with some work experience in the field. 

On the downside, smaller employers may have fewer formal 
training programs, benefit packages can be more restricted, 
and opportunities to relocate to other branches may be more
limited or non-existent. There may be less opportunity for 
growth and promotion as there are fewer roles to fill. 
Although it may feel like there could be less job stability
than at a bigger company, if the comfort level fits and you
enjoy the job, working for a smaller company might be your 
best career choice.

FINDING THE RIGHT SMALL BUSINESS

How can you find the right small employers to target? 
The INC 500 List is a great starting point.  You can access
the entire list online at:

http://www.inc.com/inc500/search-last.html

The list is searchable by state or key word, and each 
listing  includes the growth in revenues and in employees 
over the past 5 years. Changes in company fortunes may have
occurred since the data was last compiled, so you will need
to do research on or contact the companies to determine if
the growth pattern has continued into 2002.

Other resources for identifying small emerging companies 
include:

local chambers of commerce:
http://www.2chambers.com

local business newspapers:
http://www.newsdirectory.com/news/press/business/na/us/e

Information on new companies and updates on local businesses
are typically published on a regular basis.  When you're 
planning your job search strategy, broaden your horizons and
consider each and every employer in your field, regardless 
of size.  Remember, bigger isn't necessarily better!

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