The wide disparity in resources may seem like a “debilitating drawback, but it’s not,” writes Summer Ferguson, HR manager, Insurance Canopy, and a member of Forbes Human Resources Council. “Remember that every large organization out there had to start small,” she notes. “If they can do it, then so can you.”
Recruiting help from inside the firm can mean tapping staff from other departments to help with HR duties, such as reviewing resumes or brainstorming. Reaching out to your established network of former colleagues to bounce off ideas is a good approach. So is tapping your available network from formal organizations, such as the Society of Human Resource Management.
One of the biggest advantages of working in a smaller organization is greater potential accessibility to upper management. “By having more facetime with the executives, you can glean valuable information about what their vision is, how they want the company to be perceived and what their priorities are from an HR perspective,” Ferguson writes. “However, be sure to approach upper management with all of your facts, data and business cases before utilizing their precious time."