Where is it better to work: in a reputable corporation or in a small cozy company?

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The decision of where it is better to work - in a small but with great potential or in an already established powerful company - is one of the most important for a job seeker, especially at the beginning of his career. It's not about which is good or bad. The choice of a company to your liking strongly depends on what heights you want to achieve, and what you are ready to do for this in a particular organization.

It is impossible to say unequivocally which is better - a large enterprise or a small friendly team. For example, large companies are able to offer an impressive benefit package, but there are exceptions here too. Nowadays, you can find organizations with less than 100 employees, which offer goodies no worse than corporations.

Of course, choosing the perfect place to work is not limited to one social package.

Benefits of a large company

Large corporations are big because they have unique benefits and advantages in the market. The startup problem here is a myth. Everything is saturated with success and confidence in the future. Is it bad to have such prerogatives?

Obvious organizational structure

Choosing a large company, you can be sure that a well-functioning mechanism of work has been operating here for years. It is a giant machine with clearly defined rules for how to do certain things. Working in a large organization, you will know exactly your area of activity, where you are in the department, and even how to achieve promotion. This option is not for everyone. But if you want stability and have a clear career plan in front of your eyes, that's exactly what big companies have.

Nice social package and "golden parachute"

Large companies tend to provide their employees with good benefits in the form of free health insurance or good retirement taxes. The lower the income of a corporation, the less likely it is that they can afford to pay for the benefits of life.

Of course, all of these privileges only matter if you intend to use them. Research shows that just over half of the part-time employees in large companies benefit from bonuses; from full-time employees - only 77%. However, regardless of the size of your organization, it is a good idea to inquire about the full list of benefits available to you.

The ability to change the field of activity without changing jobs

Corporations require a large number of specialists in various fields. Even if your specialization is rather narrow, you have a chance to change your role in the company and take on a new position without changing your current place of work.

Problems of a large company

Working in a large organization seems rosy and tempting only at first glance. But if you are determined to become part of a rather big corporation, consider some of its disadvantages.

No change (or slow)

Any changes in large companies can take a long time. Even if management is open to new ideas (which is not always the case), changes in the department or the creation of a new product can take a very long time. Finally, many want to leave their mark on the company. This is much easier in a small organization than in a large one.

Lack of acquaintance with other colleagues

It doesn't matter how outgoing or shy you are, if you work for a large company with a staff of 100 or more, it is impossible to know everyone. And some of them you will never even meet in the future, although they play an important role in your work. For example, the CEO, chief accountant or head of the legal department. A self-respecting company gives its employees the right to convey their problem to management, but this does not guarantee that it will be considered and action will be taken.

The quality of execution does not depend on you, but on the department

In the case of a large organization, your success and achievements depend on where you are located within the company. No matter how you go out of your way to work in a disadvantaged group, the quality of your work will be low. This situation also affects your ability to move up the career ladder. As one Google engineer aptly pointed out:

The quality of your life can vary greatly depending on which group you fall into. Being part of a good, productive team will make your life great. A bad team will only bring failures. WHO you work with has a big impact on your career.

No one argues that if you work with unpleasant people, it will not lead to anything good. It’s even sadder if some stupid boss or a whole platoon of managers stands between you and the part of the company you would like to work with.

Small business benefits

Working in a company of only a couple of dozen people is not on the same scale as a large organization. But for those who want to get a job in a place where everyone knows each other and, one might say, are friends, there are still some bonuses.

Your success is visible

In a large organization, even going out of your way, it is not a fact that you will achieve the position of CEO. In a small company, if you do something significant, everyone will notice. It is easier to stand out here, especially with distinctive skills and characteristics. Your actions are more meaningful.

Especially early in your career, working for a small company is a great way to build on your ability, connections, and a reputation that will stay with you for years to come.

The company is lively and flexible

Working closely with all of your colleagues isn't just about being in their line of sight. You have direct access to the controls. You can discuss emerging problems or propose a great idea directly to the management, without intermediaries. In a large company, such things can take from a couple of days to several weeks. While in a small organization, you just need to knock on the next door where the boss is sitting.

The responsibilities are much more varied

In a large corporation, you can switch to different positions and gain different skills without leaving the company. In a small organization, you will need to know a variety of skills in one job. This is especially felt in startups, where one employee is called upon to perform several roles at once - which goes far beyond the highly specialized work. Here you need to correct the photo in Photoshop, check your computer for viruses, then you also need to update the information on the corporate website … If you like such a versatile activity in one workplace, then a small company will be the right place for you.

Small company problems

If you can easily talk to the director of the company, this does not mean that all your problems will be immediately resolved. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a small company as your place of work.

All failures are visible at a glance

When your director sees that it was you who brought a large client, that's great. But such a situation is a double-edged sword. What if you make a mistake? A good employee will, of course, try to keep all setbacks to a minimum. But when you realize that most of your colleagues will be aware of your fucking, it becomes a little uncomfortable.

Less bonuses

Smaller companies, especially startups, tend to be unable to offer an employee an impressive benefit package. The team must somehow maintain its existence until it grows and gets stronger. The hope that SOMETHING will come out of nothing is always risky. If you need certain benefits or allowances, and the company does not offer them, it is wiser to find an organization that would provide you with bonuses right now, rather than feeding them with hopes for a brighter future.

Most likely there is no legal department or HR department

Small companies are often not up to creating a legal department or HR department. On the one hand, it simplifies the roster of the organization's employees. On the other hand, there is no person in the team whose responsibilities would include receiving work complaints, finding new employees, or simply buying cookies for the office. The same problem with the legal department. Having a full-time lawyer is expensive for a small company, but it is also impossible without legal assistance at all: you always need to know whether all the actions you perform are legitimate, and it is extremely difficult to control all legal issues yourself.

Which company to choose in the end - large or small - depends on your personal feelings: which in your opinion suits you best. Not everyone is willing to work for a large corporation with a thousand employees. When choosing your dream job, it is important not only to assess the size of your salary or benefits, but, above all, where you and your skills can be most useful and effectively applied.