Is job security a thing of the past? Should we begin to question the traditional sense of security that we generally associate with corporate jobs? Could it be that striking out on your own and starting a new business is really a more secure job than working for a big business?
Erik Sherman at Inc.com says yes. He argues that in light of the current state of the economy, the slow growth in job availability, and the potential for being laid off, it makes more sense to be your own boss and start your own business. And perhaps this is true. The control over day-to-day tasks, your hours, the company financials, and other important pieces of the company give you the flexibility to respond to the changing economy in any way you want. But is this an illusion of security or real job security? What other securities might you find as a small business owner or employee?
One reason a startup or small business may be a safer option is because of the relationship that develops among employees relative to those in a larger corporation. As often heard before, a small business owner and his employees can feel more like family than coworkers. Would this make it more difficult to let someone go? Would this help you keep your job even if the company took a downward dive? You could likely count on more loyalty to employees—even to families of employees—in the event that the company fails to do as well as expected.
The very nature of a small business might offer more stability by making an employee highly qualified in a number of fields. At a larger company, an employee might wait years for a promotion and only complete tasks very specific to their job everyday instead of varying their experience by being a jack-of-all-trades. The ability to wear many hats makes an employee indispensible to a small business and could help them move upward quickly. It will give them a competitive edge that helps keep their career path secure.
Other research shows, as Sherman cites, that small businesses are the real job makers in America. In 2009, “if you factored out young companies, the net number of jobs decreased. “ When small businesses succeed, they need a lot of help to keep up with their growth. This can also offer job stability.
Sherman says that with all the moving variables of a job with a large company, he feels his future is more secure if he sets out on his own. Maybe this depends on the stage of life you’re in or the current path of your career, but the thought is an interesting one. While we have traditionally associated startups and small businesses with the small enterprise ma and pa shops or the adventuresome, nothing-to-lose attitude of entrepreneurs, maybe it’s time for that mindset to change. Sure, there’s risk involved in the small business choice—but isn’t there always in business?
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