advantage and disadvantages of working in small company.
Discussion
I did for 8 years and now work for a very large company.
Working for small company I'd say biggest advantage was the flexibility, mostly getting days off at short notice that would never happen in my current situation. They also treat you as an individual not just a number.
On the other hand the biggest disadvantage was the opposite of being flexible, when the company was going through a rough patch we took days off unpaid. You were also expected to multi task in different areas of the business
Working for small company I'd say biggest advantage was the flexibility, mostly getting days off at short notice that would never happen in my current situation. They also treat you as an individual not just a number.
On the other hand the biggest disadvantage was the opposite of being flexible, when the company was going through a rough patch we took days off unpaid. You were also expected to multi task in different areas of the business
Based on my experience.
Advantages
- Feel "closer to the metal", i.e you feel like you can see your impact more clearly. Not just a spoke on a wheel.
- Fewer rules and regulations
- Easier to stand out and impress management/owner(s).
Disadvantages
- Cash Flow / Financial stability. Not always a problem but can be and its toxic if there are concerns.
- Less Support. Often no proper HR function, IT Support is the same pleb who changes the lightbulbs etc.
- Harder to avoid knobheads (can't change teams / departments
- Fewer opportunities to progress.
It largely depends on the actual company themselves. Some large companies and great to work for and others are terrible and visa versa.
Advantages
- Feel "closer to the metal", i.e you feel like you can see your impact more clearly. Not just a spoke on a wheel.
- Fewer rules and regulations
- Easier to stand out and impress management/owner(s).
Disadvantages
- Cash Flow / Financial stability. Not always a problem but can be and its toxic if there are concerns.
- Less Support. Often no proper HR function, IT Support is the same pleb who changes the lightbulbs etc.
- Harder to avoid knobheads (can't change teams / departments
- Fewer opportunities to progress.
It largely depends on the actual company themselves. Some large companies and great to work for and others are terrible and visa versa.
The key difference is that you work every day with the guy who signs the checks. He becomes a colleague instead of the big boss you see twice a year. You do not have lots of layers of management that just try to fulfill their targets instead of working in the best interests of the company. You have direct access to the person show can just say yes to something without any red tape.
The key downside for me is you are expected to muck in and help with areas you were not employed for. Most of these I don't mind but just occasionally you are expected to do something you don't want to do.
The key downside for me is you are expected to muck in and help with areas you were not employed for. Most of these I don't mind but just occasionally you are expected to do something you don't want to do.
I echo the above. I work for a fairly small company and because you're not "cog x" you get to see a lot of different parts of the business and can really make a difference. The disadvantage is that "progression" generally means just taking on extra responsibilities for little or no extra pay (though you will be recognised for it). If it was a larger company, you'd move from job A at x salary to job B at y salary.
In my humble experience people will say working for a small company is good as there's career progression, more hands on, more input and more chance of standing out.
In my very humble experience and very generally I disagree entirely although there are exceptions.
Smaller firms tend to have
Worse pensions
Worse sick pay
Worse holiday pay
Worse benefits
Less pay rises
Less chance for career progression
Less kudos.
More pressure to do other people's work if they're off sick etc
Every industry is different but in the main that's the reality. I'm sure there are no he hedge funds, niche car dealerships and niche jewellers that have amazing potential but in the main bigger is better
In my very humble experience and very generally I disagree entirely although there are exceptions.
Smaller firms tend to have
Worse pensions
Worse sick pay
Worse holiday pay
Worse benefits
Less pay rises
Less chance for career progression
Less kudos.
More pressure to do other people's work if they're off sick etc
Every industry is different but in the main that's the reality. I'm sure there are no he hedge funds, niche car dealerships and niche jewellers that have amazing potential but in the main bigger is better
smaller
+ get s
t done
+ less red tape
+ more variety
+ more control / responsibility
= more bottom line driven
= harder to hide in small companies but easier to stand out
- Sometimes pay is less competitive and can be harder to get pay rises without leaving
- generally harder to get expensive professional training
- generally smaller pool of experts and value of experience can plateau
+ get s
t done+ less red tape
+ more variety
+ more control / responsibility
= more bottom line driven
= harder to hide in small companies but easier to stand out
- Sometimes pay is less competitive and can be harder to get pay rises without leaving
- generally harder to get expensive professional training
- generally smaller pool of experts and value of experience can plateau
944fan said:
Based on my experience.
Advantages
- Feel "closer to the metal", i.e you feel like you can see your impact more clearly. Not just a spoke on a wheel.
- Fewer rules and regulations
- Easier to stand out and impress management/owner(s).
Disadvantages
- Cash Flow / Financial stability. Not always a problem but can be and its toxic if there are concerns.
- Less Support. Often no proper HR function, IT Support is the same pleb who changes the lightbulbs etc.
- Harder to avoid knobheads (can't change teams / departments
- Fewer opportunities to progress.
It largely depends on the actual company themselves. Some large companies and great to work for and others are terrible and visa versa.
My experience is very much the opposite in terms of opportunities to progress.Advantages
- Feel "closer to the metal", i.e you feel like you can see your impact more clearly. Not just a spoke on a wheel.
- Fewer rules and regulations
- Easier to stand out and impress management/owner(s).
Disadvantages
- Cash Flow / Financial stability. Not always a problem but can be and its toxic if there are concerns.
- Less Support. Often no proper HR function, IT Support is the same pleb who changes the lightbulbs etc.
- Harder to avoid knobheads (can't change teams / departments
- Fewer opportunities to progress.
It largely depends on the actual company themselves. Some large companies and great to work for and others are terrible and visa versa.
I have found in smaller companies if you are good and prepared to make an effort you can progress very easily and quickly. Larger companies I have worked for tend to be very structured and aren't as flexible as a smaller company.
I work at small company
Advantages include flexibility as noted above, in-fact at the moment we don't even get our days off signed off because our boss is so busy he's never here! He just signs off when he comes back. Basically there is a lot of trust and responsibility placed on you not to be a douche with it.
Can be very varied work as well, you have to be able to muck in with all sorts. Not just doing your specific task. At the moment we're starting to grow, or at least because we've been bought out (along with our rivals) and amalgamated with other there is a lot of change in the air. So some opportunity to progress or end up in what will be high positions down the road if it all takes off.
No health and safety... well, bare minimum. There just isnt the man power yet. This is great for engineers of course because we can get on with just doing stuff. You just have to be sensible about it. So its all good at the moment until, I suspect, someone gets hurt. Then it'll become a living nightmare.
bad points...mainly money. As I said we've been taken over. That is because the original company went bust. We worked under administrators for weeks and lost out on pay. At the moment as well we don't really have enough money to do the projects we have on. This is very trying for the customers and frustrating for us, but we just have to muddle through some how. But its often a bit of a downer as your hands are tied when it comes to producing something professional (our current new ECU design is about the size of a carry on!...we don't have the money to further miniaturize it and due to no project planning from the off, we're already miles behind on deliverables).
This lack of money has often extended to not even being able to afford fuel to run engine test cells (a major part of our work) or fuel oil to actually heat the offices (sat here in my coat this morning!).
And i mentioned about getting in on the ground floor of a growing company. Well seems many of the top jobs have already been assigned to friends and buddies of the money men. Bound to happen of course as the new owners will use people they know, safe pairs of hands, but there are still opportunities.
Work load can vary wildly too. We're often either all hands to the pumps or twiddling our thumbs. Never just plodding along.
Absolutely no prospect of pay rises either, even if you solve all the problems. No prospect (for now) of extra training, promotion (nothing to promote into as yet). There just isn't the money and from where I sit, there wont be for a long time. But if everything comes to fruition, everyone could do very well out if it.
Still waiting for the dust to settle and find out what the grand plan is going forwards. Its quite exciting really. Or it will be if they can pull off what I have heard about so far.
Advantages include flexibility as noted above, in-fact at the moment we don't even get our days off signed off because our boss is so busy he's never here! He just signs off when he comes back. Basically there is a lot of trust and responsibility placed on you not to be a douche with it.
Can be very varied work as well, you have to be able to muck in with all sorts. Not just doing your specific task. At the moment we're starting to grow, or at least because we've been bought out (along with our rivals) and amalgamated with other there is a lot of change in the air. So some opportunity to progress or end up in what will be high positions down the road if it all takes off.
No health and safety... well, bare minimum. There just isnt the man power yet. This is great for engineers of course because we can get on with just doing stuff. You just have to be sensible about it. So its all good at the moment until, I suspect, someone gets hurt. Then it'll become a living nightmare.
bad points...mainly money. As I said we've been taken over. That is because the original company went bust. We worked under administrators for weeks and lost out on pay. At the moment as well we don't really have enough money to do the projects we have on. This is very trying for the customers and frustrating for us, but we just have to muddle through some how. But its often a bit of a downer as your hands are tied when it comes to producing something professional (our current new ECU design is about the size of a carry on!...we don't have the money to further miniaturize it and due to no project planning from the off, we're already miles behind on deliverables).
This lack of money has often extended to not even being able to afford fuel to run engine test cells (a major part of our work) or fuel oil to actually heat the offices (sat here in my coat this morning!).
And i mentioned about getting in on the ground floor of a growing company. Well seems many of the top jobs have already been assigned to friends and buddies of the money men. Bound to happen of course as the new owners will use people they know, safe pairs of hands, but there are still opportunities.
Work load can vary wildly too. We're often either all hands to the pumps or twiddling our thumbs. Never just plodding along.
Absolutely no prospect of pay rises either, even if you solve all the problems. No prospect (for now) of extra training, promotion (nothing to promote into as yet). There just isn't the money and from where I sit, there wont be for a long time. But if everything comes to fruition, everyone could do very well out if it.
Still waiting for the dust to settle and find out what the grand plan is going forwards. Its quite exciting really. Or it will be if they can pull off what I have heard about so far.
Depends what you are looking for
I have worked in multinationals and start-ups and companies in-between.
Whilst small businesses and start-ups can be very rewarding they can also be very draining from a peace of mind point of view
I currently work within a small business, not been paid on time for 9 months, no communication from the owner as to why, criticism when I ask when I will be getting paid - all leading to a complete breakdown of working relationship which is very sad
I'm looking to get back in to a bigger organisation purely because, at this moment in time, the simple things - job security and being paid on time are more important to me than work flexibility, being a big cog in a small wheel etc
I have worked in multinationals and start-ups and companies in-between.
Whilst small businesses and start-ups can be very rewarding they can also be very draining from a peace of mind point of view
I currently work within a small business, not been paid on time for 9 months, no communication from the owner as to why, criticism when I ask when I will be getting paid - all leading to a complete breakdown of working relationship which is very sad
I'm looking to get back in to a bigger organisation purely because, at this moment in time, the simple things - job security and being paid on time are more important to me than work flexibility, being a big cog in a small wheel etc
944fan said:
Based on my experience.
Advantages
- Feel "closer to the metal", i.e you feel like you can see your impact more clearly. Not just a spoke on a wheel.
- Fewer rules and regulations
- Easier to stand out and impress management/owner(s).
Disadvantages
- Cash Flow / Financial stability. Not always a problem but can be and its toxic if there are concerns.
- Less Support. Often no proper HR function, IT Support is the same pleb who changes the lightbulbs etc.
- Harder to avoid knobheads (can't change teams / departments
- Fewer opportunities to progress.
My experience is also identical to the points stated above (I work in insurance broking). I moved last year from a global company of some 5,000 in a London office of several hundred people where I would see the CEO twice a year if I was lucky to a company of some 40 odd people.Advantages
- Feel "closer to the metal", i.e you feel like you can see your impact more clearly. Not just a spoke on a wheel.
- Fewer rules and regulations
- Easier to stand out and impress management/owner(s).
Disadvantages
- Cash Flow / Financial stability. Not always a problem but can be and its toxic if there are concerns.
- Less Support. Often no proper HR function, IT Support is the same pleb who changes the lightbulbs etc.
- Harder to avoid knobheads (can't change teams / departments
- Fewer opportunities to progress.
I much prefer the smaller company. The CEO is at the end of the same room as the rest of the staff, always has his door open and I feel perfectly relaxed walking into his office and having a chat with him. I have clients that are truly my own and I'm just allowed to get on with it. I definitely have more responsibility and I can also make more of an impact. My skills are also valued more in this company and the office is generally a more relaxed atmosphere. In contrast to another poster above, my pay rises to date have been the same as my previous (large) employer so I have no complaints here.
The downsides are also the same as above really. I've not come across any cash flow issues (it's a successful company thankfully) but definitely echo what's been said above re IT and HR, though there is now a new permanent (albeit part time) HR manager. IT is outsourced and they are pretty hopeless when you need help, but the equipment is decent enough most of the time. Definitely can't avoid knobheads, but thankfully there aren't any in my immediate team! Benefits and pensions are definitely worse though, however when I was hired I negotiated an extra 2 days leave as standard so it matched my old job.
Progression in the longer term is my only real worry, but I'm very much happy in the role I am currently in for at least another 2/3 years. After that I'll probably be looking to have children, so that's the point where I might have to look elsewhere if I've not progressed much, but that's a long time away and a lot can change in that time!
Edited by rossi1001 on Friday 4th December 00:34
I generally like working for a (very) small company, there is lots of variety, something different each week etc. Of course some stuff is better than others. I can end up working on the other side of the world on an important job one week, and then be doing basic office admin the next... fine when it balances out, not so good when you are flat or for days / weeks or stuck in the office for days / weeks. We're not really at the level where we can have someone who just sits in the office doing "office" stuff, while we go out and do the real job sadly. Upside is I get a bit more say in travel arrangements and the like, as I book it myself!
I think we could be a bit more organised - it's hard to get everyone together to sit down and decide what the short term and long term plan is. Which can be a bit frustrating communication isn't always brilliant!
I think we could be a bit more organised - it's hard to get everyone together to sit down and decide what the short term and long term plan is. Which can be a bit frustrating communication isn't always brilliant!
I like working for large companies.
My experience hasn't matched those posted above (not that I doubt any of the above accounts, just that it doesn't always have to be like that).
I find that working for a large company can give you:
- more responsibility
- more cash
- more career progression
A large company will have larger projects. They still run out of staff to do the large projects, esp if they come up at short notice, so if you are working for them already and prepared to do it, then things are looking good for you. This has happened to me several times.
I find small companies tend to be:
- lower pay
- more time spent on multiple small projects (which doesn't fit me personally, it may fit others)
- more time having to spend meeting potential customers and marketing
My experience hasn't matched those posted above (not that I doubt any of the above accounts, just that it doesn't always have to be like that).
I find that working for a large company can give you:
- more responsibility
- more cash
- more career progression
A large company will have larger projects. They still run out of staff to do the large projects, esp if they come up at short notice, so if you are working for them already and prepared to do it, then things are looking good for you. This has happened to me several times.
I find small companies tend to be:
- lower pay
- more time spent on multiple small projects (which doesn't fit me personally, it may fit others)
- more time having to spend meeting potential customers and marketing
I worked around 2 years for each of the following, currently at the latter:
Company with 6 employees, company with ~50 employees, company with ~3000 employees.
Of the 3, the second was the best to work for.
Advantages of small company:
- first name terms with everyone and normally within speaking distance of them
- face to face with the wage-payer, allows for better relationship
- more noticeable impact from your daily work
- sense of close-knit team rather than a number in the system
- less red-tape, hoops to jump through, etc
- more personal treatment, eg. easier to get time off, more sympathetic to grievance leave, flexibility of working hours
Disadvantages:
- harder to progress or advance as many people are long term position holders
- less chance of big company benefits (cars, savings schemes, health insurance plans etc)
- disputes can be tougher to overcome if you're in loser proximity with the persons involved, and it can become 'cliquey'
- less financial stability - this is a tricky one as big companies can just as easily make layoffs when the going gets tough, but from my experience the effects of the recession and economic dips are more noticeable in the smaller companies
That's just off the top of my head, if I could go back to working for a smaller then I absolutely would.
Company with 6 employees, company with ~50 employees, company with ~3000 employees.
Of the 3, the second was the best to work for.
Advantages of small company:
- first name terms with everyone and normally within speaking distance of them
- face to face with the wage-payer, allows for better relationship
- more noticeable impact from your daily work
- sense of close-knit team rather than a number in the system
- less red-tape, hoops to jump through, etc
- more personal treatment, eg. easier to get time off, more sympathetic to grievance leave, flexibility of working hours
Disadvantages:
- harder to progress or advance as many people are long term position holders
- less chance of big company benefits (cars, savings schemes, health insurance plans etc)
- disputes can be tougher to overcome if you're in loser proximity with the persons involved, and it can become 'cliquey'
- less financial stability - this is a tricky one as big companies can just as easily make layoffs when the going gets tough, but from my experience the effects of the recession and economic dips are more noticeable in the smaller companies
That's just off the top of my head, if I could go back to working for a smaller then I absolutely would.
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