Author touts small companies for job seekers

By Jin Yu Young

In a society that so highly correlates happiness with financial security, many job seekers feel the pressure to find work at a large corporation. Big companies are portrayed by many young adults as the icon of job security.

In the book “Why I Work at a Small Company” translated by Kwon Hye-mi, Japanese author Ganki Naoto tackles this popular belief.

“In terms of the bankruptcy ratio, it's true that smaller companies are more vulnerable to bankruptcy than big companies. This is because the former have relatively weaker business infrastructures than the latter,” Ganki, a professor at Otemon Gakuin University in Osaka, Japan, observes. “However, it should be noted that every company undergoes the highs and lows and this is the case for large corporations, too. We are all too familiar with death by overwork that occurred in some large corporations, albeit the rate is negligible. The popular belief that big companies are more stable than smaller ones is not based on fact.”

According to him, after graduation many of his students are employed at small- and medium-sized companies. At the university, he said he had many opportunities to talk with job seekers. “Some of my students would ask my opinion about working at a small company and some are worried about job security,” he said. “I always tell them small companies have much strength, compared to large corporations. Then my students wonder why I'm saying that.”

“Why I Work at a Small Company” is the result of the author's years of research on small companies through case studies and counseling of his students and other acquaintances.

According to the author, about 70 percent of companies based in Japan are small- and medium-sized ones. In the manufacturing sector, companies having 300 employees or less are considered small- and medium-sized. In retail, the number of employees is 100 or less.

The book describes the insights that the protagonist receives from working at a smaller, more intimate company.

The author writes in a way that is instructional but not so far as to be didactic. One of the book's major strengths is that it openly acknowledges human error without judgment or condescension. In Chapter two titled, “The Basics,” the narrator mentions that as we are only human, mistakes are inevitable and should be anticipated. They urge readers not to be disheartened, however, as people of all skill levels make mistakes and it is through these errors that we can learn, grow, and move forward.

Another of the book's assets is that it so well predicts the anxiety that people may carry as they transition into work life. Chapter five addresses the fear that new recruits may have when asking others for help. As they may feel hesitant out of fear of being a burden, the author thoroughly explains the importance of requesting help when needed: for smooth and effective company functioning, communication with other colleagues and seniors is not only encouraged, but also necessary.

The story concludes with the protagonist, now having adapted to their work life in this small company, training new staff members. It mentions how even as leaders and experienced workers of a company, there is always room for growth and that new challenges arise constantly. For example, assigning work to new and inexperienced workers is a skill that requires patience and trust, which does not come easily. By ending the book in the narrator's matured and experienced state, the book comes full circle and gives the readers closure and satisfaction.

In “Why I Work at a Small,” the narrator effectively guides readers in how to overcome the obstacles that come with the different stages of work life. While doing this, it provides ample leeway for improvement in both themself and the reader. This attitude is what creates a humble leader, which in effect, is the final message with which the author departs.

Jin Yu-young is an intern at The Korea Times.