Small But Mighty: The Benefits of Working for A Small Business
While many may not consider working for a small business to be ideal, there are various advantages in doing so. My summer internship has made small businesses more appealing than large corporations, and here’s why.
Interning with a Small Business
L.L. Johnson Lumber Mfg. Co. is a family-owned and operated business based in Charlotte, MI, employing less than 50 workers. It is a specialty lumberyard that sells domestic and exotic hardwood lumber products, plywood, veneer, and other woodworking materials both wholesale and retail via two stores in Charlotte and South Bend, IN. Beginning in 1909, it is the longest-running hardwood lumber company in Michigan.
Over the past two months, I have served as LLJ Lumber’s Marketing Intern to assist in promoting their upcoming woodworking events, EXPO and Showcase, in September. The main tasks I have completed in this role are creating posts for and managing social media accounts, writing blog posts and articles, communicating with and interviewing woodworkers for EXPO, and creating materials for its retail stores. I have learned a great deal about the lumber business and have met passionate, hardworking people along the way.
Worth the Sacrifice? Doubts About Working for A Small Business
People may not think working for a small business is worth compromising things of value: compensation, benefits, concrete role expectations, etc. These common concerns are often deciding factors when it comes to choosing to work for a large company as opposed to a smaller one.
Compensation is a main concern. Smaller companies may not have the capacity to pay a competitive wage/salary that larger companies can, who often have larger budgets. This can especially be important if you are money-driven or feel you are doing more than you’re being paid for. Benefits also come into play when dealing with a company’s budget and the perks employees while with a company.
Role expectations are another concern since smaller companies have fewer employees and often have less of a concrete structure, with room to grow or be promoted. Some people may find themselves doing work that would normally be assigned to multiple people or more specialized individuals at larger companies. This can make the job more stressful or demanding if tasks and expectations vary for one individual.
Despite these concerns, there are many benefits to working for a small business that rival that of a larger corporation.
Less Restrictive: Increased Freedom and Creativity
Since interning at LLJ Lumber, I’ve had the ability to express myself creatively through social media content and blog writing. I am able to choose the topics I wish to focus on (that are relevant to LLJ Lumber) and how I want to showcase them. I began creating lumber species highlights on their social media, striving to create a new blog post every other Friday, and have put an emphasis on history given the company’s position as a 116-year-old company that spans five generations.
With that said, it does not mean I’m able to do as I please, but I have a lot of creative liberty and receive great feedback on what I come up with.
How’d I Do? Timely, Constructive Feedback
Working for a small business has allowed me to work more closely with my boss and collaborate on tasks rather than simply being assigned them. This also means that I’ve been able to receive feedback rather quickly and in a way that is positive with an aim to foster improvement. My boss takes the time to walk through edits with me and explain their thought process.
I feel like this has allowed me to be more confident in the work I’m producing and allows me to be more creative because I’m not afraid to be shot down. If I miss the mark, I know I’ll be redirected and offered support and not made to feel bad.
This has led to me feeling more comfortable speaking with my boss, offering ideas, or speaking up when I feel we should do something differently.
More Than A Coworker: Forming Personable Connections
With fewer employees, it has been easier to meet people and talk to them beyond surface-level interactions and form meaningful relationships with them. I know all of the employees’ names in the Charlotte office and retail store, but I speak the most with my boss and two ladies who all have offices upstairs with me.
I share an office with an older lady who has been with LLJ Lumber since the mid-80s, so she has a world of knowledge about the ins and outs of the company. Despite this, we often chat about her grandchildren or the flowerbeds she works in after work.
Final Thoughts
While there are often drawbacks to working for a small business, its benefits are often hard to come by at large companies. It’s been great to be able to create freely, receive feedback, and create relationships with those around me. It’s also been rewarding to feel like the work I’m doing matters and has a real impact on the company. Overall, working at LLJ Lumber has been positive and makes me take a step back and consider where I want to be working post-graduation.
Jaelyn is a senior studying Advertising and Public Relations (PR emphasis) and double minoring in Digital Studies and Applied Communications. She spent her summer as a Marketing Intern at L.L. Johnson Lumber Mfg. Co. in Charlotte, MI. She is serving as GVPRSSA’s president this year and is an Account Associate in GrandPR. After graduation, she hopes to work in an agency in Detroit.