When beginning your job search, it’s often a good idea to determine the size of company where you would like to work. Work environments and company cultures can vary greatly depending on the number of employees that make up a business. There are advantages and disadvantages to working at a small or large company, and one size may not fit all. To determine what kind company size best matches your personality and work style, consider these typical traits of small and large companies.
Small Companies
If you’re interested in a fast-paced environment where you can work on numerous projects with a wide scope of responsibilities, a small company might be for you. They are often agile environments where you can gain lots of transferable skills and decisions can be made quickly. Due to the smaller number of employees, you can make a direct impact on the company as a whole, have a higher rate of promotion as a stellar employee, and are able to have close working relationships with many of your coworkers.
However, small companies are not always ideal for those who wish to quickly climb the corporate ladder of success. Small companies tend to offer lower salaries and fewer benefits than large corporations. In addition, if you are not seen as a key employee to the company, promotion could be very difficult. With a smaller company size, there is a chance of feeling micromanaged by some owners, as they have a very vested interest in every aspect of their business. Finally, if you prefer structure and reasoning for business decisions and processes, some job seekers will not like the lack of order and varied decision making that is often found at small companies.
Large Companies
If you’re interested in a company where there are lots of resources for employees and you can focus on a particular task or project, a large company may be for you. Large corporations tend to offer higher pay and more benefits than a small company – think company cell phone or paid transportation. They usually can offer employees development opportunities and training programs. The work at larger companies is typically more focused so you can feel well grounded in your role. In addition, large organizations are usually more structured and organized, and follow processes and policies in order to move forward on projects and ideas.
Working at a large company isn’t for everyone. Some people will find the bureaucratic structure stifling and get frustrated with the slower reaction of the company to new ideas and when making decisions. Your particular job might feel too limited and compartmentalized if you prefer being able to work on a variety of projects. In addition, although a large company can have thousands of employees, there may be only a few that you work closely with. Finally, although there are many opportunities for advancement because of the larger number of positions, getting noticed for your work may be more difficult, as you will need to do more and better work to stand out against your colleagues.
If you prefer working at large corporations, you can filter your job search based on jobs only at Fortune 500 companies. You’ll find this filter under “Special Filters” to the left of your search results.
Keep in mind that no two companies are alike, so not all the qualities above will apply to every small and large company. The key is doing thorough research about the company, talking to other employees if you can, and asking questions about the company culture in interviews, so that you have a clear picture of what working there would be like.
Do you prefer working at small or large companies? Can you think of other qualities of small or large companies? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Posted at 08:00 AM in Advice, Search Tips | Permalink | Digg This | | Comments Company Size Preferences in a Job SearchWhen beginning your job search, it’s often a good idea to determine the size of company where you would like to work. Work environments and company cultures can vary greatly depending on the number of employees that make up a business. There are advantages and disadvantages to working at a small or large company, and one size may not fit all. To determine what kind company size best matches your personality and work style, consider these typical traits of small and large companies.
Small Companies
If you’re interested in a fast-paced environment where you can work on numerous projects with a wide scope of responsibilities, a small company might be for you. They are often agile environments where you can gain lots of transferable skills and decisions can be made quickly. Due to the smaller number of employees, you can make a direct impact on the company as a whole, have a higher rate of promotion as a stellar employee, and are able to have close working relationships with many of your coworkers.
However, small companies are not always ideal for those who wish to quickly climb the corporate ladder of success. Small companies tend to offer lower salaries and fewer benefits than large corporations. In addition, if you are not seen as a key employee to the company, promotion could be very difficult. With a smaller company size, there is a chance of feeling micromanaged by some owners, as they have a very vested interest in every aspect of their business. Finally, if you prefer structure and reasoning for business decisions and processes, some job seekers will not like the lack of order and varied decision making that is often found at small companies.
Large Companies
If you’re interested in a company where there are lots of resources for employees and you can focus on a particular task or project, a large company may be for you. Large corporations tend to offer higher pay and more benefits than a small company – think company cell phone or paid transportation. They usually can offer employees development opportunities and training programs. The work at larger companies is typically more focused so you can feel well grounded in your role. In addition, large organizations are usually more structured and organized, and follow processes and policies in order to move forward on projects and ideas.
Working at a large company isn’t for everyone. Some people will find the bureaucratic structure stifling and get frustrated with the slower reaction of the company to new ideas and when making decisions. Your particular job might feel too limited and compartmentalized if you prefer being able to work on a variety of projects. In addition, although a large company can have thousands of employees, there may be only a few that you work closely with. Finally, although there are many opportunities for advancement because of the larger number of positions, getting noticed for your work may be more difficult, as you will need to do more and better work to stand out against your colleagues.
If you prefer working at large corporations, you can filter your job search based on jobs only at Fortune 500 companies. You’ll find this filter under “Special Filters” to the left of your search results.
Keep in mind that no two companies are alike, so not all the qualities above will apply to every small and large company. The key is doing thorough research about the company, talking to other employees if you can, and asking questions about the company culture in interviews, so that you have a clear picture of what working there would be like.
Do you prefer working at small or large companies? Can you think of other qualities of small or large companies? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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