Whatever your industry, it can be really rewarding to leave behind the bureaucracy inherent to big business and swap it for a much higher degree of autonomy in a small business. But many struggle to make this move, so where do they go wrong and what actually works?
More than one move
The most common misconception people have when trying to move from big to small businesses, is that it is all achievable in one move. Don’t be naïve about the fundamentals – you’re seeking a role in an environment you don’t have a track record in and competing with people who do. A move to a smaller corporate first might expose you to more relevant challenges to build up your standing. Also, grab any chance to work at a subsidiary level if you have any in the large company you work at now.
Don’t underestimate your competition
Working in SMEs isn’t a doddle just because the numbers are smaller. It’s a completely different set of challenges and most of them are centred around people. For example, SME Finance Directors are master people influencers, they are resourceful like you would not believe and they are incredibly innovative problem solvers. No matter the role, you’ve probably got big boots to fill so don’t get complacent just because you’ve got a big name on your CV.
Rewrite your CV
Entrepreneurs and Plc hiring managers speak different languages and have very different priorities. So you’ll need to adapt the way you market yourself, starting with your CV. Lose the acronyms, big business terminology and fancy words. Instead write in straight talking terms, focusing on specific achievements relevant to SMEs and frame how some parts of your experience in big business, like knowledge of automation for example, could benefit the owner.
Pick your achievements
If you get to interview, there’s no use proudly talking about setting up a global shared service centre or any other big business achievement. You are just reminding your interviewer that the challenges you have experience in simply aren’t relevant and worse, that you don’t have the self-awareness to realise. Achievements that show you getting more out of what you already have, rolling your sleeves up rather than relying on a team, influencing people and of course, the key to any owner manager’s approval, swiftly increasing profits, are a much safer bet.
Do you really want it?
Working with entrepreneurs is both exhilarating and frustrating in equal measures. You’ll be far more hands on with the day to day, constantly dealing with changes in strategy, sometimes weekly, and spending a lot of time stretching to cover things like HR, IT and anything else the owner can’t get their head around. Don’t expect an owner to be hanging on your every word, desperately seeking your guidance and approval. This is what SME work is like – so you need to make sure it’s for you.
Follow these points to increase your chances of making the move from big to small business. Good luck.
