We live in a world of B-I-G — supersize, jumbo size, upsize, the list goes on and on. For many of us this mind set translates through to our job search. We want to find a job with a nice B-I-G company because they offer more opportunities . . . Right?
According to the United States Census Bureau, there are over 27 million distinct business firms in the United States. Of these firms, nearly 80% of them do not have any employees, and therefore are not included in the majority of economic index measures produced by the government. When it comes to the slightly more than 20% of firms that do have employees, 98% of them have 99 or fewer employees. And based on these same statistics, less than half a percent of all US firms employ more than 100 employees.
So our belief that bigger is better might not be incorrect, but perhaps our perception of BIGGER is a little off. Based on the figures shared above, it is obvious that SMALL businesses make up more of our economy than you might expect. As the wise children in the AT&T commercials say, “We want more”. 🙂 And there are simply more SMALL businesses than there are B-I-G companies here in the United States. Therefore, it makes sense that the biggest opportunity in our job market lies in connecting with SMALL businesses.
As part of an effective job search campaign, consider the merits of tapping into this sometimes hidden or overlooked business market. Doing so can frequently lead to getting an in-person meeting, making a personal connection, and demonstrating how YOU can make a difference.
Not sure how to go about tapping into it? Then check the community calendar on the Workforce Solutions website for the next free Networking workshop in which we discuss tips and tricks for tapping into this and other sectors of the job market. Hope to see you there!
Bobi Cook is a Regional Facilitator for Workforce Solutions in the Houston – Galveston area. She currently conducts job skills seminars throughout the 13 county Gulf Coast region utilizing her MBA and over ten cumulative years experience as a professional educator, quality systems manager within the automotive industry, and small business administrator to help job seekers develop and implement successful job search campaigns.
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