Big Resumes Looking For Smaller Jobs |
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After having been laid off in October by the pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co, David Glenstein received a proposal from a biotechnology start-up. The small, 20 employee firm never did interview him though because Dr Glenstein had worked for the last 19 years in the aforementioned giant company. The recruiters from the headhunting company Klein hers international state that six other prospects with similar work experience were turned down by the little biotech firm. Dr Glenstein remembers the recruiters turned him down because they thought he would not be able to quickly adapt to the change, and he admits that there is some truth behind that statement. More and more big-business specialists are now seeking jobs in small businesses in response to the recent lay-offs. More than half of the US private-sector workers are employed by concerns no larger than 500 people. However, applicants from sizable companies are often rejected by small businesses, as they are considered unfit for the working style of their enterprises. Compared to the 2000-2001 decline in business and economic activity, the big-business veterans have it much worse in the present. They are stereotyped as people who demand a rigidly structured workplace, bonuses and support from the organization, so the smaller employers will avoid hiring them. In order to overcome that, you must advertise yourself as a person with plenty of initiative, a go-getter you may say. Having work experience in a big company just won’t cut it nowadays. It also helps if you present skills from outside your working domain, helping to illustrate your knack for entrepreneurial activities. While Erin Larson worked for Yahoo as a senior marketing director, she took charge of the company’s “green team”, consisting of two hundred employees. Their budget was tiny, but they worked towards making people aware of environmental issues. Through their work yahoo was convinced to implement a live monitoring system to minimize usage of energy. For this purpose they struck a deal with Lucid Design Group, a new company from Oakland. Ms. Larson Soon started conversing with Lucid’s founders, where she sought work. While at first Chief Executive Jack E. Murray was not convinced she would fit in their four man firm, where leadership roles could change at any time, when she explained that she understood the complex management systems, and she was hired as the first chief operating officer. The little firm now has nine employees. Adjusting your can-do’s to fit the needs of a small company will greatly increase the chances of getting you hired. For example, if the firm you want to work for has issues getting their promotional messages across, you can propose some direct marketing solutions that will solve their problem. It’s also noteworthy that small businesses tend to hire more flexible people, “jack of all trades” if you will, because every new person makes a great difference. Small businesses will sometimes ignore seniors from large companies, fearing that they will not be team players. Refusing to make the coffee or to keep the workplace tidy can have a negative impact on the team’s morale. When you are just starting, you’re expected to be willing to do everything. Since it can be discouraging and difficult to give up all the perks one had in a big company, small firms will prefer the start-up employee in favor of a senior. |