Rabu, 16 November 2022
Bigger isn't always better. One of these smaller employers may just be a perfect fit for you. Yes, Google, Amazon and Apple are all supercool companies with neat campuses and lots of employee perks; it's no wonder that they typically get on all the "best companies to work for" lists. But those lists tend to favor megaemployers and often overlook the smaller companies that make our country what it is. According to the U.S. government's Small Business Administration, small businesses—with under 500 workers—make up 99.7% of all employer firms and employ about half of all private sector employees. Plus, between 1993 and mid-2013, 63% of the net new jobs created were created at small businesses. While you may not get to enjoy a company cafeteria that celebrates Fajita Day once a week, working at these littler businesses has other perks: You'll get to have a real impact, gain experience across lots of silos, get to exercise passion and perseverance every day, get to share in the profits, and get to work with a group of people who feel like family. But don't take our word for it. Take our quiz to see if a small business is the right size employer for you. And hear it from employees of these great businesses that are advertising on Monster now. You probably haven't heard of these companies yet... but this could be your chance to get in on the ground floor. Beepi Based in: Los Altos, California # of employees: 178 What they do:Make the process of buying a used car easier Buying a used car can be a stressful experience. No one knows this better than Ale Resnik, who once purchased a used Jeep only to have it catch fire hours later. The experience inspired Resnik—at the time a recent MIT grad—in 2014 to launch Beepi, a peer-to-peer marketplace for used cars that's focused on facilitating more trust on both ends of the exchange. "When you think about buying and selling a used car, your stomach cringes a little bit," said Flora Fiorillo, head of people and talent operations at Beepi. "If you're selling it, you have a bunch of weirdos coming. If you're buying it, you have to make sure the car is working, you have to do all the paperwork and before that you have to handle price. We thought, what is the best way that we can completely turn around how people feel about buying and selling a used car?" For buyers, full inspections and a 10-day return window take the guesswork out of making a purchase; all vehicles must meet Beepi's specifications before being listed in the marketplace. The trust that's central to Beepi's product also carries over to how it approaches employment. Management has made transparency a priority: Anyone can access company information. Also, all employees have stock in the company—including mechanics (the company has 70 on staff), who aren't typically privy to such benefits. "There is a strong culture of ownership," said Fiorillo. "Everyone here really cares about what they're doing, and it transcends salaries and hours. We want to change the way people experience car shopping." Beepi currently has 63 openings on Monster—including roles for auto inspectors, operations assistants and office managers. Four Dog Paws Based in: Denver, Colorado # of employees: 14 What they do: Provide dog walking and pet sitting services Every pet owner knows the dilemma all too well: How do you find a pet sitter you can depend upon to care for your furry friend? This relationship is about trust, reliability and nurturing—principles Christina Frapasella's pet-sitting and dog-walking business Four Dog Paws has been built on since it opened in 2008. "Peace of mind is huge in my company," she says. "We always say to clients, 'Don't worry, we got this.' We think people should be able to travel and have pets and trust someone to come into their home." So no wonder then that Frapasella is such a big proponent of finding the perfect fit for the job—then supporting her 14 staffers (comprising part-time pet sitters and dog walkers) further with hands-on field and classroom training. She treats her employees with the same amount of care she expects the pets to be treated with, and the close-knit team often gathers for company parties, community volunteering outings and team breakfasts. "I think we have something special here," she says. "I'm the fortunate one, honestly." Frapasella is stepping on the gas with a goal to nearly double her staff this year, starting with a supervisor who will help grow the business. "My standards are already high, and now it's about how do we go higher and do better," she says. "For my supervisors, this is a career move. I want someone with courage who is all in on a 365-day-a-year company. They're going to have the opportunity of a lifetime to run a business." Four Dog Paws currently has an opening for a supervisor on Monster. Meyer Sound Based in: Berkeley, California # of employees: 300 What they do: Provide professional audio solutions for performance venues of all types If you've ever remarked on the audio quality at a Michael Bublé, Grateful Dead or Shania Twain concert, you likely have California's Meyer Sound to thank. Since 1979, the company has been designing speakers and audio equipment for everything from movie theaters to hotels to concert venues—and despite its small size, Meyer is a giant in its field. "I feel like we're right in a sweet spot," said Eve Bryggman, marketing manager at the firm. "We're an international company with a prominent presence in our industry and we work on high-level projects at very important venues worldwide, but we're a small enough team that you really see the individual results of your contributions." The perks are pretty great, too: Unsurprisingly, a number of the employees at Meyer Sound are in bands—and the company gives them the opportunity to borrow world-class Meyer equipment. Plus the company's work providing custom sound solutions means employees routinely get to go to events like Broadway shows, Cirque du Soleil performances, and even Metallica concerts (the company once developed a new stage monitor for the band). "It's really exciting to be able to support all of these arts institutions and communities through the application of sound," said Bryggman. Her peers seem to agree—much of the staff has stayed with the company for over 20 years. "It's a very diverse place, and it's incredible, the amount of people who have been here for a long time," said Bryggman. "We're all trying to realize the same goals and how to best move that forward and progress the vision of the company." Meyer Sound currently has 3 openings on Monster: roles for an associate R&D engineer, a failure analysis engineerand a marketing executive assistant. Old Carolina Restaurant Based in: Canton, Ohio # of employees: 300 What they do: Bring quality Carolina-style barbecue to the northern Ohio area Old Carolina Restaurant emphasizes the benefits of taking one's time. "This is not fast food by any means," said Shirley Hug, V.P. of HR at parent company Ichor Restaurant Group (also a small team of 15). "We cook meat 24 hours a day, smoking it, making everything from scratch in small batches." That patient approach has paid off in spades—the company was named one of the country's 10 best barbecue chains, and it's planning to add two more stores to its roster (it currently has 14, including one in Michigan) in the months ahead. That's good news for customers—as well as prospective employees, who can look forward to working in a casual but tight-knit environment. "Our philosophy is if our employees are happy and having a good time in the kitchen, that's going to spill out to the guests," said Hug. "We are growing very fast, so you get an opportunity to progress fairly quickly. If you're a people person, if you're somebody that enjoys working within a team and making people happy, we can teach you the rest." Old Carolina also prides itself on its close relationship with surrounding communities in northern Ohio. Founders Tim Hug and Brian Bailey are longtime residents of Stark County, where they started the business, and have a strong affinity for the area, its people and its sports teams. "We really like to focus in what we can do to help our communities and our schools," said Hug. "We're always out there doing some kind of group event or jazz concert or company picnic." Old Carolina Restaurant currently has 3 openings on Monster—including roles for catering associates and servers. Allied Restoration & Construction Based in: Jacksonville, Florida # of employees: 17 What they do: Provide services to help homeowners and commercial building owners repair damage after floods and fire There's just something special about working for a business just before it launches. That's Chad Dubin's feeling about the company he's starting, Allied Restoration & Construction. Allied will provide full service water and fire restoration and construction services throughout Florida and eventually into Texas and Louisiana, with particular emphasis on repairing buildings after disaster. In advance of a launch this month, the company has been staffing up; Dubin's got 17 employees already. In the coming months, he'll be looking for construction project managers, mitigation technicians and entry-level apprentices. Dubin's excitement is palpable. Working for Allied "is an opportunity to be part of something that's really fast growing and cutting edge," he says. The company will be implementing a best-in-class structural drying technique, he says. It can be extremely gratifying to work in the restoration business—but it's also emotionally taxing. Often, restorers have to deal with people who've lost portions of their homes or who will have to manage lengthy, costly cleanup projects. That's why Dubin says treating people with dignity is his company's mission: "Integrity with the homeowner, really that's most important to us." Dubin says he hopes this mantra touches all aspects of his business. He hopes to create a culture at Allied where employees are appreciated for the work they do while doing work that's appreciated. "There aren't a lot of businesses out there where you get a sense of doing good, and can also make a living," he says. "And if you're not excited and motivated by that, you're working for the wrong company." Allied currently has an opening for a sales and marketing manageron Monster. Like what you've read?Join Monsterto get personalized articles and job recommendations—and to help recruiters find you. MORE FROM MONSTER: