Tech and More: Smaller Company, Bigger Opportunity

 The laments by the jobless on tech anonymous professional network Blind, as well as more general platforms such as Reddit, might shift to this: advice on the exploding opportunities at smaller companies.

BusinessInsider captures that disruption in this one sentence:

"Smaller companies can often offer employees more ownership, faster decision-making and promotions, and the chance to work directly on cutting-edge AI products." 

In this situation BI is referring to AI Swedish startup Lovable. It employs 149. Yet, it will be hiring 400 in the near future. 

In contrast Google employs almost 191,000 and Meta about 79,000. But both, as with much of Big Tech, have become corridors of pain. Yes, all the layoffs, with those jobs probably not coming back. 

The same employment pull force toward smaller is happening in the broader employment market. Financial media CNBC documents: 

"In an increasingly challenging labor market, small businesses may offer newly minted college graduates something that larger firms cannot: a job."  

This hiring season it's projected that small businesses will be providing those jobs to about a million new graduates.

But, this evolution isn't universal. The chase after the prestige of large and elite still is embedded in myriad pockets of professional services such as practicing law.  Even in this this labor market cruel to workers, the compensation remains lucrative. So, why not head there. 

For instance, the starting salary at top law firms such as Paul, Weiss and Skadden is $225,000. Fat bonuses are possible too. The buzz term for that is "Epstein Class." That concept captures the power structure of elite networks, starting out in those pricey hard to book slots in nursery schools.  

The ROI on ensuring you belong to the Epstein Class can be enormous. Or that's what had been the usual.

AI, though, could make that path narrower, especially for new entries. US Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts, Quinn Emanuel co-founder John Quinn and Paul, Weiss partner Brad Karp all project significant reduction in the hiring of junior lawyers. Yeah, you got it: AI. 

In Big Consulting, the sector Ivy graduates traditionally flock to, AI-generated automation is also reconfiguring the law of supply and demand. McKinsey has cut 10% of those knowledge workers. Overall, as with law, not so many juniors are needed. As for those who get in, what will happen to them? On the consulting subreddit they share their shock at being blindsided: forced out, so fast. 

A bit of advice I provide my intuitive coaching/tarot-reading clients is this: Purge yourself of language like "dream"and "careers," as well as "prestige" and "elite." Bulk up on pragmatic rhetoric such as "skills," "earning a living" and "some employment security." The way to find that, hold on to that and move on to better versions of that is increasingly through smaller organizations. Especially start-ups.

Careers? So Over. It’s about Earning a Good Living. No matter what.

Complimentary consultation. No Pressure. Street-smart Guidance. Contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.


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