Company Size-Does It Matter?
Though it may seem like an odd thing to consider when you are starting a career in IT, the size of company you work for can make quite a difference in the early stages of your career, which is likely to consist of the most formative years. It is difficult to characterize companies by size, but different size companies have many features in common.
Small Companies
People who work in a small company need to be highly flexible, moving between tasks such as answering the phone or signing for a delivery while still doing their IT job. From a job security perspective, though, small companies offer less because they are more prone to fluctuations in the economy. That said, there are some significant upsides. Because you are working in a small unit, there is a better chance that you will understand how the company works overall, which will provide you with the ability to realize a tenable link between the work you do and the success of the company. This can provide a great deal of job satisfaction.
On a more personal level, working in a small company may make it easier to be recognized for your talents, but there may also be fewer places to go. In a small company it may also be that you are the only IT resource employed, which in itself can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you get to do all of the IT related tasks yourself, on the other, there is the fact that there is no-one around to help you if you come across a problem that you have trouble fixing. Working for a small company can often seem like a trial-by-fire.
Though it is not always the case, smaller companies tend to pay slightly less and have a less structured benefits system than larger companies, the impact of which should be fully considered when comparing offers. One of the best things about working for a smaller company is the sheer speed at which things move. Often in small companies, budgets are tight, which mean that staffing levels are generally at or below required levels, meaning that you are likely to be constantly pushed to produce more work. If this sounds appealing to you and you like the cut and thrust of working in a dynamic and constantly changing environment, a small company could be the right place for you.
Medium-Sized Companies
A medium-sized company offers the benefits of working for a small company (such as the ability to be recognized for your skills) along with the increased security that working for an established company brings. Because medium-sized businesses are likely to have been trading for some time, they may have already weathered harder times and learned how to survive, making them somewhat less susceptible to fluctuations in the economy. In addition, medium-sized companies are likely to have more funds available for training and also for adopting new technologies, both of which will help you to increase your skills and knowledge. Though there is still likely to be a touch of the dynamic to the environment, it will be a little more tempered because the larger the company is, the more time it takes to respond to changes in the market. In terms of benefits, medium-sized companies are more likely to offer a complete package, such as healthcare, pensions, and so on.
Though many medium-sized companies do have a defined IT department, the chance of these "departments" consisting of just a few people is high. For this reason, your ability to relate well to the other people is particularly important, as is your willingness to pitch in with any task at hand. Many people find the combination of security and flexibility found in medium-sized companies particularly suitable for a first job, but this can sometimes make competition for these types of positions particularly fierce.
Large Companies
This is the point where you are more likely to be working as part of a large IT department rather than in a small team. Most procedures-such as those regarding vacations, pay, and promotion-will be set and standardized. Though you will have the ability to shine within your department, you might find it hard to be noticed outside of that environment, a fact that some people can find a litde frustrating. You will often find that your role is heavily defined within a larger company, which is good if you prefer to work within reasonably strict parameters. Larger companies also tend to have a highly organized management structure, another factor that appeals to some people and not to others. Large companies generally use high-quality equipment and software and realize the benefit of training individuals to maximize their investments in those products. They also usually have the money to make this happen.Though not always the case, the benefits available to those working in large companies are often better than in smaller companies. These benefits may include such things as medical and dental plans and even subsidized restaurants, gymnasium facilities, and the like. Large companies will also tend to be more tolerant to those new to the IT field because they have the ability to "absorb" any lack of knowledge the newcomers may have within the team environment.
