Small or large business?

One question we ask our candidates when searching for their new career is ‘what size of company would you prefer to work in?’ as this can actually be one of the most important decisions that’s made whilst job hunting. There is no right or wrong answer, it is down to preference and what type of work culture suits you. We have put together some advantages and disadvantages of each.

Large companies are large for a reason. Success collates and over time a small company turns into a large one, gaining advantage in the market. When you enter a large company, you’re taking part in something that has been around for a long time, and there are set ways of doing things. As soon as you walk in you will get to know what your job is and how you fit into your department. This is best if you want a well-defined path for progression.

If you plan on being with a large company for a long period of time, you will start seeing the benefits. There may also be an option of moving around, for example if you work in London but don’t want to travel, there may be a branch closer to where you want to be.

Generally speaking, the bigger to company, the more money they have to spend. This therefore means there can be more employee perks such as health care, discounts and even business trips!

The vast number of people working for large companies can mean you may feel faded into a sea of faces. There is less of a personal feel to your company which may make you feel like you are in an office full of strangers. No matter how friendly you are, if you work in a company with hundreds or even thousands of employees, it will be impossible to know everyone.

It’s sometimes hard to truly see the graft of your labour come to light when working in a big business. You’re usually one part of the process, or contributing a small amount to a massive result. This isn’t for everyone who really like to see the impact they make at work.

If you accomplish something significant at a large company, it will probably never reach the ears of the manager. At a small company however, great work can be seen by everyone. This makes it easier to distinguish yourself with certain skills. Your actions are also more significant, every success is magnified and it’s a huge deal.

In a smaller company, you may be required to exercise different skill sets. Especially in a start-up environment, you may be called on to fulfil more roles outside a narrowly defined job description. No two days are the same, so if you like using a variety of skills without changing jobs, a smaller company may be more suited to you.

Working for a small company can feel like being part of the family, and in some cases like us there are family members in the team! Everyone knows everyone and the fact that everyone makes a noticeable contribution towards shared goals really pulls people together. You’re definitely not just a number with a small company, you have more of an opportunity to shine.

Small companies can stay afloat and be successful without significant growth. Therefore, it may be hard for you to move forward, this doesn’t mean that your responsibilities won’t change or you won’t get any pay rise. But it’s more important that you make sure the role is right for you. This will keep you content for the future.

Companies with more employees typically have more opportunities for advancement within the organisation. In comparison, staff at smaller companies may feel uncertain on the future of the company, particularly if it’s a start up.