As a secretarial and PA recruitment agency, we often find ourselves asking candidates what their dream role would be, and many of them respond in a similar way. They want a high-profile position at a huge company with a recognisable name – for many candidates, heading up an important department in a huge firm is the gold standard of success.
But what about the small businesses out there? At the last count, there were more than 5million SMEs in the UK – that’s more than 99% of the total number of businesses (an SME is defined as any business with fewer than 250 employees – micro-businesses have anything between 0-9 employees).
Small businesses can be fantastic places to work, with incredible benefits that match up to any of the big brand names or recognisable firms in the UK. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits and discuss why you should consider working for a smaller business - whether it's as their receptionist, office manager, or a top PA in London SME.
More personal environment
At a large company, you might find your inbox regularly filled with emails from people you’ve never met in your life – and probably never will. But at a small company with, say, 100 employees, it’s not going to take long for you to learn everyone’s name and become familiar with their faces. This more personal environment is better suited to some individuals who thrive on that face-to-face contact and are excellent at building meaningful working relationships.
A chance to shine
When you’re not competing with thousands of other staff in similar roles, you’ll really get the chance to show your bosses what you can do. Working for a smaller company means your work is more likely to be noticed by those who hand out the rewards and confirm the promotions – ideal for fast career progression.
Make your voice heard
In a smaller business, you’ll have the opportunity to make your voice heard in a way that isn’t always achievable in a larger firm. When working in a top PA job for a company that has dozens of offices and thousands of employees, there will always be someone shouting a little louder than you are – but in a small company, where you’ll be working in closer proximity to the senior management, you have a real chance to make a difference and change things for the better.
Witness the machine in motion
When working for a smaller company, you’ll have an unparalleled opportunity to see the wheels of business in motion from start to finish. At a large firm, it’s likely you’ll only deal with the issues that directly affect you and your role – which can become tedious, and has made many employees feel like a meaningless cog in the system. Smaller companies are more interconnected, and you’ll certainly be able to see the ripple effect of your successful projects on the rest of the business. This can lead to real job satisfaction in a way that many people never knew possible!
If you'd like more tips on gaining a permanent secretary role, a temporary PA job, or an office support opportunity at an SME, explore the Love Success blog today!
Love Success is a leading PA and secretarial recruitment agency in London.
Our recruiters can help you find top PA jobs in London and Office Support jobs.
View our latest job opportunities here
Permanent PA Jobs, Temporary PA Jobs, London PA Jobs,
Office Support Jobs, Executive Assistant Jobs, Secretary Jobs, Receptionist Jobs