2026 is here and many of us are looking for changes, really? Maybe you want to change your home, your car or your work. First of all, good luck, it is not as easy as you may think, it is not like “huh, I want to change my work, let’s look up for another one”, really? Finding a better job will still be difficult even when changing the year. AI, digitalization and our best friend (our economy) are making it quite hard for us to find a new work (a most profitable one). That is why LinkedIn has wanted to give its own advice to everyone looking for a new job, you have to start with small things.
It is not a nice slogan, but a conclusion they have drawn from thousands of hiring data points, job moves, and career paths. Remember that it is one of the largest job search platforms in the world! So, wanting a new change is easy, achieving it is the hard part, so their advice is that instead of aiming to be the CEO of Amazon tomorrow, you need to look for smaller companies to grow little by little, boring but effective.
The job market no longer works
For years, there was an idea that entering a big company and climbing the ladder meant guaranteed stability (yep…) but that model doesn’t work anymore, at least for us… It is impossible to reach that now, don’t you think so?
Now very specific and highly specialized profiles are being sought. If you want to change sectors, reinvent yourself, or learn from scratch, the door is usually half closed for many…
LinkedIn’s advice
At LinkedIn they believe that the best option is to bet on small companies, startups or growing local businesses. Places that are not only looking for perfect resumes but for potential (even above experience). Sometimes the starting salary is more modest, but it is where you learn the most.
Small companies
Small companies represent around 90 % of the global business fabric and generate more than half of employment. They are not a plan B but the engine of society as a whole. And let’s be honest, working in a small company means you learn everything, marketing, sales, logistics, it’s about growing up!
Fewer filters
Anyone who has gone through endless hiring processes knows it. Hundreds of algorithms, automatic filters, awkward silences… Fewer filters mean you can look for places where attitude, ability, and the desire to learn and work hard are better valued.
Accessing a very good salary is not easy for anyone (not at this time), that is why many are no longer looking to grow upward in job titles, but to grow in skills, better training, more judgment, more autonomy… Entering a small company is not going backwards, but taking a pause along the way to keep learning.
A message to young people
If you’re just starting out or feel that your career is stuck, this advice is especially for you. In big companies there is less room for profiles “under construction”. In small ones, you’re part of the growth, that’s the clue.
How to apply this advice
- Look for emerging companies or local businesses with steady growth.
- Look at expanding sectors, even if the company is small.
- Adjust your profile to highlight transferable skills: learning fast, communicating well, solving problems.
The opportunity many ignore
While thousands of people compete for a handful of positions in big companies, there are small companies looking for talent right now. So, maybe the question is not “which big company should I go to?”, but something much simpler: where can I really learn and grow? Good luck!!!