Finding Jobs in Small Companies

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Finding Jobs in Small Companies
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What Well Be Covering

• The culture and practices of small companies
• Self-evaluation of your needs
• Finding a job in a small company
• Networking to find information job leads
• Screening interviews
• Gathering info about small companies
• Matching your needs w/their position

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Big Promises From Small Companies

• Over half of new chemistry graduates reported
  finding a job at a small company in 2005
  
• ACS 2005 Starting Salary Survey
• Small companies move faster and offer a greater
  stake for employees, but they are also less
  stable and pose some risk

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Culture In a Small Company

• Fast pace, autonomy, challenge, work with
  customers and suppliers
  
• Big fish-small pond Every employee important
  and wears many hats
  
• Can have tailored incentives and benefits
• Can have flexible compensation and time schedules

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Companies and Their Products

• Quick Quiz
• Name two large
• chemical companies
• Name two of
• their products

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Companies and Their Products (cont.)

• Quick Quiz
• Name two small
• chemical companies
• Name two of
• their products

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Companies and Their Products

• Large Companies
• Internationally known
• Recognized lines of products
• Public (stocks)
• Recruiting for new hires
• Professors hired as consultants/advisors

• Small Companies
• Locally known
• Limited product line
• Private
• Search when needed
• Employ few consultants or advisors

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Characteristics Of Small Companies

• Limited financial resources
• Need for rapid problem solving
• Creativity and response
• Need for sustained positive cash flow
• Limited scientific/technical resources
• Usually much shorter planning cycle
• Need to deal with adversity w/positive work ethic
  relationships

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The Bottom Line

• Small chemical companies are vibrant part of
  economy
  
• Creating new jobs.
• Can be attractive for entrepreneurs and people
  with right skill sets
  
• Jobs not widely advertised.

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Know Yourself

• Your needs
• Physiological
• Safety/security
• Social interaction
• Esteem
• Growth in knowledge

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Know Yourself (cont.)

• Your values
• 9-to-5 job vs 60 hrs/week
• Travel/relocate frequently
• Stay at the bench vs management
• Autonomous
• Specialist vs generalist
• Individual vs teamwork

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Exercise Evaluating Your Needs

• In groups of 5 people
• Identify 3 or more criteria to consider prior to
  accepting an offer.
  
• e.g., group environment, job security,
  interesting project, growth potential, etc.
  
• Rank list in order starting withthe groups
  first choice.
  
• Time limit of discussion 4 minutes

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Steps To Finding Jobs

• Start one year in advance.
• Develop a job search strategy.
• Talk to people currently holding jobs that you
  are interested in pursuing.
  
• Identify advantages and disadvantages of
• Position
• Area of research
• Working at that company
• Generate specially focused resumes.
• Place on appropriate databases.

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Methods of Finding Jobs

• Electronic Means databases and search engines
• Personal Networking alumni, former research
  group members, contacts made through meetings
  
• Employment Agencies placement agencies or
  contracts
  
• Screening Interviews campus telephone
  interviews
  
• Local Advertisements local newspapers, job
  boards and listings

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Effective Use of Electronic Job Banks

• Updated and properly formatted resume is
  essential
  
• Matches made based on key words
• Actively search job listings
• Some employers search database without posting
  jobs

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Electronic Job Bank Rules

• Post complete record of information from the
  beginning
  
• Update record including contact information
  regularly
  
• Sign up for electronic alerts
• Log into the site weekly

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Electronic Job Banks for Small Companies

• chemjobs.org
• craigslist.com
• hotjobs.yahoo.com/findingajob
• Newspaper job banks
• washingtonpost.com
• yourlocalpaper.com
• ACS local section newsletters/listservs
• College/University newspapers

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Small Companies Dont Always List Jobs

• Employer may be too busy to advertise 
• If advertising is used, its often limited to
  local area
  
• Employer may not anticipate need
• Position filled through personal contacts

Jobs
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How Do You Find Hidden Jobs?

• Just two ways
• Indirectly, through networking
• Directly, through people you know or meet

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Networking Connecting With People

• and exchanging information to
• Find out about industries and jobs
• Develop and improve strategies for job search
• Discover information, contacts, and ideas

Networking is about information, ideas and intro
ductions  It is not asking for a job nor having
someone get you a job!
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Your Personal Network is

• Part of your market development
• Used to obtain leads and information
• Built and maintained through your personal
  contact and communication
  
• Includes everyone you know

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Building Your Network

• A network can consist of
• Classmates and friends from school
• Family members
• Research collaborators
• Past employers and colleagues
• People you meet at seminars, conferences, and
  workshops
  
• Other people looking for jobs, and
• 
  anybody they know
  

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Developing Your Network

• Keep track of and speak regularly with members of
  your network
  
• Join professional organizations
• Attend meetings and meet participants
• Volunteer for committee service
• Hand out business cards
• Practice small talk
• Use your telephone and computer
• Try linkedin.com, listservs e-communities

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Returning The Favor Part of Networking!

• Keep your contacts informed of your progress
• Send thank-you notes for ideas and leads
• Share effective job-search techniques
• Be attentive to the needs of all members of your
  network
  
• Refer people who might benefit from employment
  opportunities

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Employment Agencies

• Make sure that the agency has your best interests
  in mind
  
• Contract jobs should come with benefits
• Hold out for jobs that meet your needs
• Ensure that agency is reputable

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Screening Interviews

• Identifies candidates for site visits
• On-campus Interviews
• Job Fairs
• Employment Clearing Houses
• Telephone Interviews
• Screening interviews eliminate all but the top
  10-15 of candidates.

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Typical Screening Interview

• Interviewer introduction and expectations
• Your research summary
• No more than 5 minutes
• Use handouts
• Build a CAR Context, Action, Results
• Interviewer will gather information on key
  performance factors
  
• Company information and wrap-up

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Telephone Interviews

• Treat like a face-to-face interview
• Do not multitask focus on the interview
• Avoid cell phones if possible
• Use vocal enthusiasm to compensate for lack of
  eye contact and physical presence
  
• Keep your resume and notes at hand
• Reschedule if needed its okay to set another
  date and time

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Gathering Information

• Company websites
• Better Business Bureau
• Commercial databases
• Indices of companies
• Access by subscription
• Generally available through public as well as
  college/university libraries
  
• Business sections of newspapers

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Information to Gather

• Names of companies hiring in your area
• Areas of technology/specialization
• Which Companies are Successful
• Which are Failing
• Upcoming Vacancies
• Upcoming Cutbacks
• Opinions about owners and Management

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Using Databases to Target Companies

• Databases use Standard Industrial Classification
  (SIC) codes
  
• 99 Divisions of SIC codes in 10 divisions
• Developed by Dept. of Labor to classify work
  groups
  
• Many different lines of work deal with chemistry
• Very good to know for targeted searches
• Source www.osha.gov

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Exercise Ways to Find Jobs

• In groups of 5 people
• Identify 3 or more ways to find jobs with small
  companies.
  
• Time limit of discussion 4 minutes

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Researching Company Information

• What products does the company sell?
• Be wary of single-product companies
• What are the companys annual sales and profits?
• Who owns the company? (private/public)
• How effectively does the company market its
  products?
  
• What is the quality of work produced?

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How Do Employees Rate the Company?

• What is the style of management in the company?
• Do they meet payroll?
  or are they late?
  
• What is the moral level for employees?
• Do they feel valued?
• Are company demands reasonable?

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Assess the Risks

• Who are the companys major competitors?
• How does the company place in the market?
• Do they have the key resources to compete
  effectively?
  
• What are you risking?
• Mobility, status, stability, income, life balance

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Summary of Presentation

• Culture and practices of small companies
• Knowing your needs
• Finding small company jobs
• Networking basics
• Screening interviews
• Searching for small companies
• Evaluation of job fit

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Related Chemjobs.org Resources

• Workshops
• Resume Preparation
• Effective Interviewing Techniques
• Critical Steps to Success
• Services
• Resume Reviews
• Mock Interviews

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• Thank you
• for your attention!ACS is here to help
• Your source for publications,career consultants,
  and more.
  
• Informationchemjobs.org
• 800.227.5558