It’s true; working for a small entrepreneurial company is lots of fun. And if you’re having a tough time choosing careers, it may be the best place for moving around to try different jobs. While small company jobs may be the most enjoyable, they do have some downsides as well. Let’s look at both sides of the coin.
Advantages of Working for a Small Company
The biggest plus to working for a small company is the fact that you’re
always going to be treated like a person – not a number. Everyone will know your
name, including the president and owner. You may also find that they actually
care what you think!
Small companies are a lot like a family. You really get to know your coworkers
and their personal lives. You are probably more likely to build friendships that
go beyond work. If you have a personal problem, they’re more likely to cut you
slack and may even offer to give you a hand.
As I mentioned above, you’ll have a lot of work options in a small company. If something needs to get done, people just do. No one cares about job titles, college degrees, or job descriptions. You may be in accounting, but if the president wants to place an ad, you could be in charge of marketing for a few days. If you’re still choosing careers, a small company might be the place to test drive different options.
Finally, small companies are great places to build your personal career network. There is no easier place for “getting on the radar screen” with future leaders. The relationships will be deeper and your odds of being called for another job opening down the road are very good.
Disadvantages of Working for a Small Company
On the downside, larger companies often discount the value of small company experience. They see it as minor league and question someone’s ability to achieve similar results on the larger stage.
A big reason why people say “I need help deciding what career to choose,” is because they want balance between their personal and professional life. If that sounds like you, working at a small company could be a bad career choice. There will likely be more quasi-mandatory picnics, outings, and parties. There will also be a lot of crunch time requiring working late nights and weekends.
That said, if you want to bring your pet to work, or simply work at home when the mood strikes, a small company may be the right place for you.
You can also read articles from Dave Horne at www.careersecretsauce.com
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Dave Horne
