Small but Nimble: Attracting Top Talent by Being Different
When someone is faced with choosing between two job offers, often times the large organization wins out due to the lure of big brands, big budgets, and an established reputation. But that doesn’t always have to be the case.
Small businesses have the chance to position themselves differently to attract top talent, and showcase how they can offer accelerated growth opportunities, greater nimbleness, and a different kind of company culture.
Companies want to bring in employees who are not only knowledgeable and able, but also ambitious. Small businesses often have fewer resources, which means employees have the opportunity to wear multiple hats and gain greater exposure to many areas. This can lead to quicker advancement—a key selling point for top talent.
Small businesses also often act more nimbly. By not being slowed down by the weight of the corporate matrix or lengthy approval processes, employees can feel more enabled to make the bold decisions necessary to drive growth.
And finally, as the saying goes, culture eats strategy for breakfast. And small businesses can offer the type of inclusive, family-like culture where employees can thrive. Most importantly, a strong company culture will help in retention efforts.
A more competitive package may still win someone over, but small businesses have a fighting chance if they stress what makes them different.
B Leader | Ecodesign | Certified Nature & Environment Specialist (“Natur- und Umweltfachfrau”) | Instructional Design | Community Builder | Founder
6 年I’ve worked for multinationals with up to 80,000 and for small companies with 15-200 employees. Both have their charm. Entrepreneurial spirit vs. being part of something big. I believe that you can have this spirit if the employees are of the same spirit. For me it’s about taking ownership and responsibility. That gets things moving.
Executive providing management consulting in Strategy, Transformation & Business Development and avid runner
7 年You make very good points Kevin especially the "culture eats strategy for breakfast" point and I would add that culture also can supersede the brand allure of big companies. The employment branding challenge for small businesses is capturing, articulating and marketing the unique culture that they can provide to candidates.