There are certain advantages to working for a bigger company rather than a smaller one. Not only might a larger company have the resources to pay you a more competitive salary, but your benefits package might be superior to what you'll find at a smaller firm. On the other hand, there are plenty of good reasons to accept a job offer from a small business. Here are a few to consider.
1. More individual attention and recognition
It's easy to get lost in a sea of employees when you work for a multi-thousand-person company. But when you take a job at a smaller shop, you get an opportunity to not only learn more, but snag face time with the company's leaders. This, in turn, will make it easier for them to recognize your value and acknowledge your contributions, both of which will set the stage for healthy career growth.
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2. The opportunity to make an impact
When you work for a large company, you don't always get a chance to get directly involved in important projects. That's because bigger businesses tend to get bogged down with backend operations, processes, and documentation -- which means that unless you're in a high-level position, you might get stuck with many of those administrative tasks. A small company, however, might take a more "all hands on deck" approach to key projects and initiatives, which means you'll have an opportunity to actually produce results and take pride in your work.
3. A chance to grow along with the company
When you're hired by a large company, it often takes years to climb the ranks and work your way toward a promotion. But because smaller businesses tend to be more loosely structured, working for one could help you get promoted faster. That's because as new positions open up, you might be first in line, especially since you'll have had the chance to prove to management how competent you are.
4. More flexibility
Because large companies have numerous employees to manage, many make a point of staying consistent in how their staff is treated -- and that often means being less flexible with things like scheduling and working from home. Smaller companies, on the other hand, don't tend to have as strict HR policies, so if, say, you want to work from home once a week or change your hours to better suit your preferences, you'll more likely be granted that option. After all, it's easy for companies to be flexible when they're only dealing with a handful of employees, and the more leeway you get, the better your chances of an ideal work-life balance.
Of course, none of this is meant to suggest that you shouldn't take a job at a larger company. If you find the right firm, you could end up benefiting from most of the perks listed above. At the same time, don't assume that signing up to work for a smaller business will thwart your career, because you may very well come to find that the opposite is true. And who knows? One day, that small company might morph into a larger one, at which point you just might experience the best of both worlds.
