Tips to help today’s job-seekers

The biggest opportunities for job seekers these days may actually lie with smaller companies.

There are about 20 million small businesses currently operating in the U. S. in virtually every industry and field from health care and technology to accounting/finance, sales and hospitality, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Small businesses employ half of all private sector employees and have generated 60 to 80 percent of new jobs annually over the last decade. A recent CareerBuilder.com survey found 42 percent of hiring managers operating in small businesses still report difficulty in finding qualified job seekers to fill their open positions.

According to the survey, small business employees say there are distinct advantages to working for companies with:

1. Camaraderie/family-like environment

2. Less red tape in corporate hierarchy

3. A sense that you are making a difference 4. Strong growth potential 5. More employee recognition

Even with all the advantages, there still remains a shortage of qualified job applicants for small business jobs mainly because of misconceptions regarding the compensation packages and career advancement opportunities of smaller companies.

Job satisfaction levels for employees of small business actually

track above the national average for all workers.