Is A Large Company The Right Place For You?

by Bruce J. Bloom

Before you start your job search campaign, it's smart to give serious thought to what size company is best for you.

There are plenty of big corporations whose names are well known, who have many employees, and many possibilities for you. But across the nation, there are far more people working for small companiesorganizations with 50 or fewer employees. It's estimated that small companies generate two-thirds of all new jobs.

While it's true your odds may be better looking in smaller companies, there are other important considerations. Consider the matters of corporate style, the career path you'll be asked to follow, and what the name of the organization is likely to mean to you, personally as well as professionally.

Here are some of the most important differences - and similarities -- to consider.

Big companies often have prestigious names, and as an employee you share that identification - you're seen as a corporate type.

Big companies often have formal guidelines for training and advancement. Your career path is predictable, as you move up through the ranks. It's rare to jump ahead quickly.

Typically, in a big company the major rewards come when you're middle aged. That's when you get the big-time money, and big-time title.

If you think big organizations are more secure than small ones, you're wrong. Especially in today's economy, reorganizations and layoffs happen as often in big companies as in small ones. Maybe more often.

As an entry level person in a big organization, your responsibilities tend to be narrow and intensive. In a smaller company you'll probably wear more than one hat, and be exposed to a broader view of the organization.

In big organizations, there are people moving up most of the time, generating a flow of slots into which you might be promoted. In a small company, there may be long periods with no staff movement.

It's usually tougher to move from one department to another in a large organization, because you have little contact with the decision makers in areas other than your own. In a small company, you know everyone and everyone knows you.

Small companies are often more thoroughly entrepreneurial than large companies, because no one in a small company is very far removed from the quest for new business and profits, while most people in large companies never come in contact with customers.

In general, big organizations have the potential for higher salaries. At the entry level the differential may be insignificant, but in middle and upper management the differential can be dramatic.

Whether one is more appropriate for you is something only you can decide. It's a matter of your own personal style and your career objectives. But understand that although there are important opportunities in all sizes of organizations, there can be significant differences in working environments and daily work experiences.

About the Author:

Bruce J. Bloom has helped thousands of job seekers find career success. He's the author of the popular job search manual "Fast Track To The Best Job," and many articles for national magazines. He knows how and why hiring decisions are made by today's employers. His new e-book, Multiple Job Offers In 75 Days," is an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system for breaking into today's "hidden" job market.