5 Ways To Find Small Company Flexwork That Fits Your Life

5 Ways  To  Find Small Company  Flexwork  That Fits Your Life 5 Ways  To  Find Small Company  Flexwork  That Fits Your Life When it comes to finding flexible work that fits your life, good things come in small packages. That’s according to  flexwork  expert  Kathryn  Sollmann, author of  Ambition Redefined:  Why the Corner Office Doesn’t Work for Every Woman What to Do Instead.   I asked  Sollmann  why small is so beautiful, and she said, “Big companies  are slow to changeâ€"and many  are struggling to institutionalize less traditional work structures for  legions of  global employees. Instead of trying to cut through miles of bureaucratic red tape to get the work flexibility you need, the better strategy is to focus on the burgeoning small employer market.”   Opportunities at small companies are vast, and their market share is substantial. The 29.6 million  U.S.  small businesses  account for almost 48%  of private-sector  employees and 41%  of payrollâ€"and  almost 62%  of all net new jobs from 1993 to 2016. These small businesses are led by individuals who often have opted  out of the restrictive nature of corporate America. More nimble,  smaller  management teams have the leeway to operate as humans, and they are  more likely to bend on how work is done. How do you find these small companies  when they are  not household names? Pursue general “word-of-mouth”  intelligence.  Network to find  professionals who left the large corporate world to launch small businesses of their own. Ask contacts  if they know about  rising companies that have top-ranked clients. Often suburban towns, for example,  are the homes of  semi-retired executives who  need  flexible  help running smaller ventures.  When Sollmann was a recruiter, she  placed a woman at the  office  of  a  prominent,  three-time CEO. As his  â€œright hand,”  this woman helps the  ex-CEO manage  personal investments, real estate holdings,  and corporate board activity.  It’s a flexible and  interesting  job with a 15-minute commute. Target small business owners who trained with leading companies.  If you’re interested in fashion, for example, you could  target  small business owners who once worked for Ralph Lauren  or Tory Burch. LinkedIn can lead you to former employees of all  big-name  companies, and some may have small businesses in your  area. Mine  Chamber of Commerce members  in your target locations.  Many entrepreneurs rely on their local business communities to  spread the word about their smaller-scale  ventures. Join local chapters of major industry organizations. Smaller companies  join industry organizations to get greater exposure. When you  join, you have access to the membership directory, which can  give you key employer prospects. See who belongs to organizations  supporting  entrepreneurs. Many fledgling company members cannot  afford full-time  employees,  and list  part  time or project opportunities on  organization job  boards. You can  network with officers  listed on member  sites, too. For womenâ€"and menâ€"who shoulder or share  two caregiving roles (for  example,  children and aging parents),  flexible work is the most valuable employee benefit  of all. The bonus of a small employer is often its proximity to home, making it easier to nurture both family  and  financial security. Join Dana Manciagli’s Job Search Master Class ® right now and immediately access the most comprehensive job search system currently available!