Is bigger always better? That’s certainly a discussion to be had when it comes to deciding whether to pursue work at a large company or at a small or medium-sized company. There is no universal truth in this area, and there are advantages and disadvantages in either choice. However, with this list of pros and cons to consider, Bayt.com hopes that your decision will be easier to make.
Large Companies: the Positives
Large corporations are large for a reason. Through increased success and growth, a small company becomes a larger one over time, gaining unique advantages and perks in the job market. Here are a few positives to consider about pursuing work at a large company:
+ Clearer Structure
Entering a large company is like becoming part of a machine that has withstood the test of time. For this reason, there is usually an established order of doing things that enables you to know exactly what your job is, how you fit into your department and the obvious pathways for promotions and raises as soon as you walk through the door. Although this sort of structure is not the right path for everyone, if you want a job with an increased sense of stability, clearly defined and structured paths for advancement, then larger companies have these in spades.
+ More Benefits
Generally, larger companies tend to be better when providing benefits such as health insurance, transportation allowances, training budgets, etc. This is because they often have a larger revenue than smaller corporations, making it easier for them to afford paying for increased benefits packages.
Of course, this only matters if you end up taking advantage of all the available benefits. Regardless of what company size you end up going for, it is always prudent to find out what benefits are available to you before joining.
+ More Room for Career Change
While your role may be very specific in a large company, it is easier to change positions and explore new areas of work without leaving the company altogether. You can go from being a web developer to being a project manager, or start off as a graphic designer and wind up working as a marketer. You might still need to hunt a little and work hard to qualify for the career change you want, but it is definitely a plus if you are already working for the company. That is one less thing the hiring manager has to worry about.
Large Companies: the Negatives
Working for a large company is not all sunshine and rainbows, however. While you may be tempted to get in at a large, multinational company, you should consider these drawbacks beforehand.
- Change Happens Slowly
Change can move at a glacial pace at some companies. Even if the company you work at is open to new ideas, convincing your department to move to a different model, take on a new strategy or create a new product can take a lot of time. Many of you will want to leave their mark on the company they work for; however, this might be more straightforward and easier in a smaller company than a large one. You have to remember that since the company has been around for a while, it will have its own way of getting things done.
- Getting to Know Everyone Is Hard
You could be the most social, friendly person in your company, but if you work at a company with hundreds or thousands of employees, it will be a very challenging feat to get to know everyone. What becomes inevitable here is the chance your job will be affected by someone you have never even met. This could be the CEO, the legal department, or any number of potential suspects, but someone could make a decision that determines how you work and it will be difficult for you to speak to that person directly to raise your concerns. Of course, a good company will typically have a method for employees to voice serious objections to upper management, but this is not always guaranteed.
- Your Surroundings Influence Your Success
Another issue is that your success, happiness and work-life balance can be determined by where in the company you are placed. Working within a dysfunctional team can bring down the quality of your work or force you to put in more hours no matter how hard you work. It might even affect your chances of moving up within the company. In large corporations, team effort is incredibly important. Ideally, your team or department will raise you up and not bring you down.
Small Companies: the Positives
You may or may not consider smaller companies less impressive than a large, multinational, but there remains many perks to be enjoyed if you are employed at a smaller company. Here are some of the benefits
+ Greater Visibility of Success
Unless you hold a high enough position, the victories and achievements you accumulate while working at a large company might never reach the ears of the CEO. In contrast, your great work will be seen by everyone at a small company. This makes it much easier to distinguish yourself through applying your unique skills. Your actions are also seen as much more significant due to your increased visibility in smaller companies.
If you are just starting out in a new career, working for a small company is an excellent way to establish your abilities, gain confidence, improve your skills, and build a reputation that can follow you for years.
+ Greater Agility
Working more closely with your coworkers does not only mean you have increased visibility, it also means you have easier access to a lot of the machine’s moving parts. The fact you will be able to speak directly to your upper management to voice concerns or pitch ideas will result in much faster movement and application of changes. What could take weeks or even months to get done in a larger corporation as you move through all the official channels can be as simple as knocking on your boss’s door once at a smaller one.
+ More Varied Responsibilities
While working in a larger company enables you to switch to a different job and exercise an entirely new skill set without leaving your company, smaller companies may require you to exercise a different skills set without ever leaving your desk. This is especially true for startup companies where you might be asked to fulfil more roles that lie outside a narrowly-defined job description. For instance, you could work primarily as a copywriter and find yourself trying your hand at Photoshop on the next. If you are the sort of professional who enjoys using and developing a variety of skills without having to change jobs entirely, a smaller company may be more suited to you.
Small Companies: the Negatives
There are also a few things to consider when weighing the negatives of working at a smaller company:
- Greater Visibility of Failure
Just like your triumphs and successes will be magnified under your CEO’s gaze at a smaller company, your misfires will be, too. Of course, a good employee will always want to minimize failure regardless of how many witnesses there will be, but it is definitely disheartening if you have made a mistake and all your coworkers know. It is important to note that this should not stop you from seeking work at a smaller company. Part of becoming a better professional is learning how to fail gracefully and learn from your failures.
- Limited Benefits
Smaller companies generally do not have as many benefits as larger organizations do. If you wind up working for a startup, you will need to be able to hold out until the company grows enough to begin offering things like better health insurance or educational allowances. Having said that, not all small companies are created equal and many offer unique perks that may be more attractive for you.
- Lack of a Legal or HR Department
Many small companies do not set up legal or human resources departments until they have been established for some time and can afford expanding their company to include those departments. The issue with this is that it means there is no one in the company whose sole responsibility is fielding complaints. Keeping a lawyer on retainer can be expensive, but it is expensive for a reason. Knowing whether something you want to do is legal or not is incredibly valuable and difficult to figure out on your own.
At the end of the day, there is no right answer when questioning whether it is better to go for a large company or a smaller one. After all, it is down to your preferences and the point you are at in your career. Hopefully, this outline of the advantages and disadvantages of working at either a small or large company assisted you in choosing your ideal workplace.
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