Finding the right creative work, as we have seen, is not easy. In fact, in the previous article we introduced you to the topic: is it better a large company or a small one?
Now we will explain step by step everything you need to consider to make the right choice! 🙂
The 3 advantages of a large company
“A single arrow breaks easily, but not ten arrows held together,” Japanese proverb
1. The structure of your work is clear
When you join a large company you take part in a machine that has been around for a long time and as such, there is typically an established way of doing things.
As soon as you enter, you will know what your job is, how you will fit into your department, and over time you will also learn the obvious paths to promotions.
This isn’t the right path for everyone, but if you want to get into a job with a sense of stability and a well-defined path to advancement, larger companies typically already have proven models.
2. The benefits package is great
Larger companies, in general, are more likely to provide benefits such as health insurance or retirement plans.
The lower a company’s income, the less likely it is to be able to afford to pay such “benefits”. According to a recent study, only 47% of companies in the United States with 2 to 99 employees offered no benefit.
An ADP study showed that just over half of eligible part-time employees of large companies actually enroll in corporate benefit plans.
Likewise, only 77% of eligible full-time employees choose to enroll.
Regardless of the size of the company you work for, it’s always good to find out what benefits are available to you.
3. You can change jobs by staying in the same company
Large companies need a lot of people to work and, even if you have a specific role, it is possible to change positions and explore a new area without leaving the company.
Developers can become project managers, designers can become marketers, or the senior vice president of a web browser can become the head of a project to create an operating system.
It may take a little more research, but if you already work for the company you’re applying for a new job, this is an advantage.
The 3 disadvantages of a large company
1. Changes happen slowly
If you have a brilliant idea in mind that has been buzzing in your head for days and want to propose it, be careful: in a large company this can take a long time due to many steps and authorizations that are the norm in a large company.
Even if your company is open to new ideas, in proposing a new model or a new product you will certainly find obstacles in your path.
But never give up! “Nothing ventured nothing gained”.
For example, these are the words of design guru Matias Duarte who said about the 2000 launch of Palm for Google:
“Coming in and being put in charge of the design and UX for this enormously successful platform that now has years of legacy behind it. It’s completely unlike getting behind the steering wheel of a zippy, agile little car. It’s more like driving an aircraft carrier.” He gestures as if he’s pushing a button, “Okay guys, turning left! Are we turning left yet?”
Not all companies are ready to accept change and if you are someone who wants to make an impact on your workplace in a short time, this can be easier in a smaller company.
2. It will be difficult for you to establish interpersonal relationships
If you are a very sociable and empathetic person, in a large company it may not always be easy to establish important relationships due to the numerous commitments, the meetings set and the routine to be followed.
Even if you are a sociable person, if you work in a company with hundreds or even thousands of employees, you will very often have to compromise.
You will find yourself needing to speak to your manager after some of his decisions about your way of working, but that meeting could take place after some time. In a large company it is natural to make room for only major critical issues.
But do not be discouraged, it is natural that it is so, on the contrary, commit yourself to overcome the possible difficulties independently and prove yourself wise.
3. The team assigned to you can limit you or make you grow, it’s up to you
Very often the people who make up your team cause happiness in the workplace because working with a dysfunctional group can reduce the quality of your work, despite your best efforts.
Here is a statement from a Google employee:
“Your quality of life will vary greatly depending on the team you get assigned to. Being part of a good team will make your life wonderful, a bad team will make your life miserable. Whom you work with has a major influence on your career (don’t expect promotions in a dying product) ”
The 3 advantages of a small company or startup
“Be prepared for a long journey with often uncertain traits. Good results don’t come easily,” Tim Westergren, founder of Pandora
1. Everyone knows about you and your qualities
While in a large company you are one like many others, when in a small reality you get an important result, everyone can see your work and you can easily distinguish yourself from your other colleagues for your particular skills.
Most importantly, if you’re just starting out, working for a small business is a great way to establish your skills and gain references and reputation.
2. Changes happen fast
Compared to the big company, here you have the possibility to speak directly with your manager and solve problems quite quickly – what can take days or weeks of processes in a big company here you can solve it simply by knocking on your boss’s door.
3. You have to be multitasking
As already anticipated by Daniele Bucci, in this type of environment you will have to know how to do a little bit of everything.
One day you will be asked to do magic in Photoshop, the next day you will have to take part in an important meeting with the top client and on the following Friday you will have to spend a few hours with your accountant to put some numbers in order.
Compared to a large company where everything has its own rhythm, in a small company you will need to be able to exercise a series of skills that you will be called upon to demonstrate from time to time.
All of this, however, can be very stimulating. You will be able to learn faster and you will be able to apply yourself in more fields by making your training transversal and not vertical.
The 3 disadvantages of a small company or startup
1. Everyone sees your failure
Knowing that your company’s CEO can see when you land a great customer is fantastic, but this can become a double-edged sword, however, when you get it wrong.
Of course, a good employee should minimize failures, but it’s never nice when most of your coworkers know when you’ve made a mistake.
2. The benefit package is small
Large companies certainly have a wider range of benefits or job facilities than small ones.
If you’re in a start-up situation, you may be able to hold out until the outfit grows enough to start offering things like health insurance, but keep in mind that hoping for something to come out of nowhere is almost always a gamble.
If you need benefits and the company you are applying to is not offering them, it is more prudent to find one rather than hoping to get what you need someday.
3. There is likely to be no legal or human resources department
Small businesses often fail to create legal or human resources departments until they have been set up for a while.
This can be helpful as it simplifies the number of people in your company, but it also means that there is no one in the company whose only job is to file complaints.
Especially in the legal department, keeping a lawyer in custody is expensive, but there is a reason for this: knowing if something you want to do is legal is extremely valuable and difficult to understand on your own.
It is important to keep in mind that, regardless of the work environment you choose, you will not only have to think about where you will be paid the most or will have the best benefits, but where your particular personality and your skills can be used in the most efficient way.
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