Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on FlexJobs.com.
You’re eager to land a new job, but you’re exhausted by the inflexible structure you experienced in your last role with a large, international company. Perhaps you’re eager to grow your career as well.
The solution? It may be as simple as refocusing your search on finding a job at a small company.
Shifting your focus to smaller companies might be your best career move yet. From getting to know leadership and other colleagues to stretching into other roles, there’s a lot to love about working for a smaller business.
Before you start searching “small businesses jobs,” ensure that your definition of “small business” aligns with the companies you’ll find.
A small company, or small business, is generally defined as having from one to 99 employees. Any company with more than 100 employees falls into the midsize or medium company category.
Working for a small business can translate into a few significant differences in your daily work life. For instance, smaller companies generally have greater agility and adaptability and can often pivot more quickly than larger, multifaceted organizations.
On the other hand, small companies don’t typically have the same resources or market reach as multinational corporations.
Within a smaller organization, you’re more likely to have a direct line to the company’s decision-makers. And you’ll often discover that you’re tasked more frequently with duties outside of your job description, so it can be easier to stretch your skill set to support growth and learning.
Plus, small companies often foster a more intimate work environment and a strong company culture. With more direct communication opportunities, you can quickly see your impact on the business and relationships.
Have you noticed the acronym “SMB” in job search conversations? SMB stands for small and medium-sized businesses.
These companies sit between microenterprises and large corporations regarding employee count and revenue. Often referred to as the backbone of many economies, SMBs drive local business and economic growth.
If working for a small business sounds like an ideal career move, it’s time to explore your career options with a small, flexible company.
While this isn’t an exhaustive list of small businesses hiring in the FlexJobs database, these companies are an excellent place to start your job hunt. You’ll find jobs at small businesses in many different career fields.
Arrived Homes aims to democratize real estate investing, allowing people to invest in rental properties for as little as $100.
Offering its team a culture of transparency and collaboration, Arrived Homes has offered remote roles in fields like mortgage & real estate and marketing.
A certified B Corp law firm, Atticus Law assists clients in the early legal stages of their cases, offering guidance and referrals. Committed to ethical lawyering, half of the company’s work is pro bono.
Seeking professionals who value doing good and can work independently, Atticus Law has posted remote jobs in fields like legal and writing.
Bonusly provides a platform for employee recognition and rewards. With brands like Hulu and Oracle as clients, Bonusly aims to foster work engagement and culture.
The company is recognized for its vibrant work environment and offers roles in various domains, from product to research, with many opportunities featuring remote work.
A telecommunications company, Community Phone provides reliable landline services without the internet and has served clients like Dunkin’ and Wells Fargo.
Advocating for transparency and efficiency, Community Phone offers numerous remote roles across different fields, from customer service to business development.
FlexProfessionals is a staffing firm catering to professionals seeking flexible work arrangements, such as part-time or project-based roles. The company promotes work-life balance and has offered roles in fields ranging from HR & recruiting to web development.
Happy Mammoth is a health and wellness company on a mission to deliver natural health information that is science-based and fun.
Offering remote opportunities in fields from computer security to web design, Happy Mammoth seeks professionals with strong communication skills who are updated on trends.
Higharc is revolutionizing the home design process with its online design tool. Eliminating the need for architects, it generates 3D home plans based on user inputs.
A remote-first startup, the company has offered flexible schedules and remote jobs in career areas like accounting & finance and consulting.
Founded to streamline web app development, Knack empowers organizations to build their own online databases and has served notable clients, like the Seattle Seahawks and Kaiser Permanente.
Knack champions remote work, inviting ambitious team players to join its customer-centric mission in software development, graphic design, and other roles.
LiquidSpace is a marketplace for flexible office spaces, with over 5,700 verified venues across the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
The company simplifies commercial real estate transactions and promotes a collaborative, remote culture emphasizing innovation and flexibility.
Past opportunities range from account management to operations jobs.
Committed to reimagining health care delivery, MedArrive enables EMS professionals to extend care services directly to homes. The company aims to reduce unnecessary health care costs and improve patient experiences.
MedArrive offers a remote-friendly work culture with opportunities in fields like medical & health and human services.
Metabase offers an open-source platform to help teams decipher data effortlessly. The fully remote company supports data sharing and analytics and integrates seamlessly with platforms like MySQL and Google BigQuery.
Past jobs include flexible schedule and remote system administration and analyst jobs, among others.
NoGood is self-described as the nexus of data science and style, offering advertising services to amplify brand growth.
Serving startups to Fortune 500 companies, NoGood specializes in diverse marketing channels and boasts partnerships with brands like Nike and TikTok. Job opportunities have included SEO & SEM, online content, and other jobs.
Parallel Learning pioneers tech-first solutions for students with learning differences. The 100% remote company provides services ranging from tutoring to behavioral health.
It seeks ambitious professionals dedicated to helping every student unlock their potential.
Emerging from MIT, Raptor Maps champions the climate tech realm with drone-assisted solutions for solar energy management.
The company empowers solar companies with detailed inspections and analytics, and it has posted flexible jobs in fields ranging from environmental & green to sales.
SingleOps specializes in versatile cloud software to merge field services, back-office operations, and sales and to streamline processes like job management and invoicing.
A remote-friendly company, SingleOps values tech-savvy and collaborative professionals and has offered jobs ranging from online marketing to QA & testing.
A content technology firm, Upfeat focuses on content analytics and monetization, providing tools like UpCoupons, UpAffiliate, and UpAnalytics.
With a global network of deal sites, the company caters to brands worldwide. Upfeat fosters a culture of learning and development and has offered jobs in areas like retail and internet & ecommerce.
Vitally.io aids B2B customer success teams in enhancing customer experiences and offers products for project management, customer health, and more, balancing simplicity with power.
The remote-friendly company values adaptability, organization, and analytical thinking in its team members.
Wander.com connects digital nomads with luxury “smart” homes for short-term rentals focused on combining work with travel.
Offering state-of-the-art tech amenities in its homes, Wander.com aims to redefine how people experience and work in different parts of the world.
Past jobs include social media, computer & IT, and other opportunities.
Serving Yolo County, California, Yolo Federal Credit Union oversees $300 million in assets and fosters genuine member relationships.
With offerings from credit cards to digital services, the company champions “unfiltered banking” and has been recognized as a great workplace. Yolo FCU has previously offered banking, copywriting, and other flexible jobs.
Viewing payroll as America’s backbone, Zeal offers an end-to-end API platform to make payroll efficient and growth-centric.
With a hybrid work model, Zeal promotes values like empathy and continuous learning, and it has offered bookkeeping and tax jobs, among others.
Are you ready to find your perfect fit? Along with your regular job search best practices, lean into some tactics that can help you get noticed by small companies.
If you’re searching for “small business near me” or “small businesses hiring near me,” you might not need to look any further than your backyard.
Small companies are often deeply invested in the local economy, so start your small business job search with your local chamber of commerce and regional job fairs.
Once you have a few ideal companies on your list, you can expand your search to virtual networking resources. Even if they’re outside your geographical area, remote work options might make working for a small business more accessible.
Building on the previous tip, proactively identify small-business jobs that fit your interests.
Consider sending a tailored cover letter or LinkedIn message to the hiring manager.
Personalize your outreach and try to build a relationship regardless of the company’s current hiring status. That way, you’ll be more likely to come to mind when a role opens up.
Highlight your soft skills and adaptability in your communications.
Remember that small companies often prioritize company culture and close-knit teams. Demonstrate how you can contribute to the culture and fit into the environment.
Want the best money-news and tips to help you make more and spend less? Then sign up for the free Money Talks Newsletter to receive daily updates of personal finance news and advice, delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our free newsletter today.
