If you know what you want to do, the next step is deciding where you want to work. One factor that could have a big impact on your potential happiness in your career is whether you work for a large or small employer. One isn’t better than the other, but in general, there are key differences between large and small employers.
How Large Is Large and How Small Is Small?
There isn’t a standard that defines an organization as small or large. Usually an organization with more than 500 employees is considered to be large. A small business can have as few as three people or as many as a few hundred.
Should I Work for a Large Company or a Small Business?
Ask yourself these five questions to determine whether it’s better for you to work for a large company or a small organization.
Do I Prefer Structure or Flexibility?
If you prefer structure, you’ll probably enjoy working for a large organization. You’ll likely receive thorough training before you start your position. You’ll learn about the company’s policies and procedures. When an issue arises, you’ll know what forms to fill out, whom to contact, and what action to take.
If you prefer flexibility, you’ll likely appreciate the lack of bureaucracy at a small organization. When an issue comes up, you may have the opportunity to determine how to handle it on your own or to work one-on-one with your boss to resolve it. You might even be able to develop policies rather than following policies.
Do I Want to Specialize or Generalize in My Profession?
In a larger company, you’re more likely to be a specialist. Your role will be clearly defined. You’ll gain experience in a particular niche. For instance, if you are a recent graduate with a BS in Communication seeking a marketing role, in a large company, you might work solely on social media marketing for a particular product line. In a small company, you might work in all aspects of marketing, from marketing research to social media, advertising, public relations, email marketing, special events, and more.
In a smaller company, you’ll likely be a generalist. You’ll take on a variety of roles within your department—you may even be a department of one. This will give you a broad base of experience in your profession.
What Benefits and Perks Are Important to Me?
Most employers offer health insurance, retirement benefits, and paid time off to their employees. Because big companies have more employees, they’re often able to negotiate better terms for health insurance. Small companies with fewer than 50 employees may not be required to offer health insurance at all. Big companies may offer 401(k) contribution matches, while small companies may not offer matches or a company retirement plan. While state employment laws may dictate the minimum paid time off that employers must offer, larger companies may offer additional time off. Some big companies even offer unlimited paid time off.
When it comes to additional perks, larger businesses usually offer more for employees than smaller businesses. Some of the more unique perks offered by large companies include pet insurance, tuition reimbursement, on-site gyms or gym membership reimbursement, cooking classes, free dry cleaning, and cash incentives for volunteering.
What Do I Value More: Impact or Opportunity?
If you value impact, you’re more likely to thrive in a smaller organization. That’s because it’s easier to make a difference in a smaller organization. In addition to a lack of bureaucracy, you’re more likely to be able to communicate with the owner, CEO, or leadership team in a small company. You’ll have a better opportunity to share your ideas and implement them. Larger companies tend to be slower to make changes, and it can be difficult to make your voice heard when you are one of thousands of employees.
If you want opportunities, you’ll likely prefer a large company. With hundreds or thousands of employees, it’s inevitable that turnover will create open positions. It’s easier to get a new role in an organization than to start over at a new company. You could make a lateral move to gain new skills, transfer departments to gain a new perspective, or even move to a different location. Each change can be an opportunity to move up the corporate ladder and earn more money with each new title. By contrast, in a smaller company, turnover is lower and there simply may not be a position available for you to advance into.
Do I Want My Workplace to Feel Like a Family?
Small organizations often describe their employees as a family—everyone knows each other and works together, day in and day out. In a large organization, employees may only know the people they work with on a regular basis. Both scenarios have benefits and drawbacks.
If your co-workers are like a family, that’s great—if everyone gets along. But if that family has conflict, the workplace can become tense. Business decisions may feel personal or emotionally charged. On the other hand, if you’re employed by a large organization, you might feel disconnected from the company’s mission and goals. You might never even meet the president or CEO. You may feel like your work doesn’t matter when you’re one of thousands (or hundreds of thousands) of employees.
As you can see, there are benefits and drawbacks to working for both small companies and large companies. By answering the five questions above, you’ll have a better idea of what size of business is probably best for you. When you’re looking to make your next career move, online education can help prepare you for a new position. Walden University is an accredited university offering online degree programs for working adults. Whether you want to earn a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, you can enjoy the flexibility of an online learning platform that’s available from anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering online bachelor’s degree programs, online master’s degree programs, and online doctoral degree programs. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.
Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.