When it comes to recruitment, are small businesses at a disadvantage?

[Jay]

Just wondering.

[shamieya]

Only because larger companies usually offer more comprehensive benefit packages, I would say yes.

[Gravy]

No. It's not like Monster.com, Kijiji, Craiglist, or the local paper are unavailable to small business. In fact, I would say it's easier to get the right people because our social networks are much stronger with colleagues in the industry. (If you know what's good for you.)

I needed some help this weekend, called a competitor, and asked if there was anyone we could borrow. Poof, done. He was here the next day. No publishing an ad, accepting and reading applications, holding two weeks of interviews, short listing, second interviews, personality tests, forms, orientations, blah blah blah, then taking the best you can get and hoping he doesn't sue you one day.

Small business can find and hire someone inside of an afternoon.


EDIT: The owner gets paid after expenses, which includes wages to employees.

[antiqucycle]

Unfortunately, small businesses tend to be under financed, operating hand to mouth, paying the owner first and forgetting employees and contractors checks. Also there is no way except knowing an existing employee whether the business is solvent. So a recruit knows they are taking a gamble to go to work for a one owner corporation.

Of course, not many large corporations deserve any trust nowadays.

[heyjms2005]

A small business has the advantage. You are less likely to have mass layoffs, and talented people tend to look for the small business to be able to contribute.

Where the small business fails, not being patient on finding the right person. Not setting a clear description of what skills are needed and what the company really wants to get out of the candidate.

If you sit down, write out on paper what the job details are, and the skills and background you want to see, then you just need to be patient and find the person that best fits that criteria.

The small business actually offers more stability, and allows for the talents of an individual stand out more than in a large company.