Over the years, I’ve realised most client’s don’t plan ‘what next’ in their career, or even think about the sort of company that they would like to work for. Yet the sort of company (whether big or small) you work for can have a huge impact on your overall career and lifestyle.
So in this article, I share with you the key differences between working for a large company versus a small company. Hopefully you will take this into account, in terms of the type of jobs and companies that you target.
While weighing up the pros and cons it is important to make a choice based on what suits you, rather than buying into the hype, or brand name of a company. (For the purposes of this article, a large company is defined as an entity that employs over a 1,000 members of staff).
Large Companies
Benefits
- Generally more stable work environments, but during economic downturns / recessions, people still get laid off fast.
- Status and prestige of working for a visibly well-known business name, or company.
- Usually better resourced, with relevant IT support and staff facilities, with many large companies providing services such as staff canteens and gyms.
- Potential for greater salaries in particular at management level.
- Potential for greater benefits, such as medical insurance, tertiary education, clubs and subsidised loans.
- Usually more resources for training staff, with many running on-site training centres.
- More choice in relation to practice or work areas with greater emphasis on specialism
- Greater scope for advancement and promotion
Negatives
- Often less autonomy, with greater restrictions on decision-making.
- Less broad-based experience available to staff.
- Way less potential to influence overall management of the company, even at the partnership and senior level.
- Many of the larger companies have workplace cultures that expect employee’s to work hard, with long work hours. In spite of the rhetoric, work/life balance is balanced in favour of work, which can limit career choices for many employees such as woman with children.
- Less visibility, so it will take longer to be noticed, unless you can directly influence key decision makers.
Small Companies
Benefits
- Often more autonomy in decision making, in particular at the management level.
- Greater focus on broader-based experience, with more responsibility and exposure to a range of experiences within the workplace.
- Greater potential to influence decision makers, no matter what level within an organisation.
- More part-time opportunities available, which suits employees such as woman with children.
- Usually a more personal work environment – with direct contact with the owners.
- Greater visibility and greater accountability.
Negatives
- Often less stable work environments, with smaller companies more likely to lay off staff during an economic recession.
- Workplace culture directly influenced by the owners (which can be positive, or negative, depending on the owners).
- Less potential for large salaries and benefits and training opportunities
- Limitations on how far you can advance your career, with a cap on the level of advancement.
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