How to Excel at a Smaller Company

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses account for more than half of the total U.S. sales, providing 66 percent of the new jobs available since the 1970s, and having around 23 million small businesses in the nation. So it comes as no surprise that you might have the opportunity to work for a small business. While there are many advantages, such as getting your voice heard, working in a casual environment and having better hands-on experience, there are also some things to think about. It can sometimes be difficult to move up the ladder of a small business, as opposed to a large corporation. Here are some tips for helping you excel even when you work for a small company.

Some Things to Consider

If you have not yet made the jump from a corporate career to working for a small company, there are a few things to consider first. The first thing is more so with a small company, you need to be likeable during your interview. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be professional and carry yourself as such, but during these interviews, you usually have a little more freedom to be casual. They are hiring someone to work closely with everyone in the office, and are more likely to hire based on your chemistry and the likeability factor, just as much as your experience. You should also be aware that when you work for a small or family-owned business, you are more in the limelight and have more of a hands-on and side-by-side work structure. Rather than being a part of a large team, you may be the only one in the company performing your job duties.

Introducing New Ideas

Another thing to consider with working for a small company, is that while you have more opportunities for introducing new ideas, delegating isn’t going to be possible in most cases. To truly excel at the smaller company, you need to be able to implement new ideas and changes, and also be willing to put them into action and commit to them. With a small company, there is nobody else to fall back on and you are going to be responsible for all of your work, all the time. With a more hands-on position, you can really impress your supervisor by showing your commitment to any new project.

Casual Atmosphere

Lastly, with a more casual and family-like atmosphere, it can be easy to forget you are there to perform a job. It is far too easy to become overly comfortable in your surroundings and let your job suffer as a result. At the end of the day, you are a professional, responsible employee of a small company and have many opportunities to prove exactly what you bring to the table. While it is great getting along with your co-workers and feeling comfortable in your position, always remember to keep showing your worth.

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