Depending on where you live, when you look for a job you are probably confronted with a series of companies ranging from small to large.  If you’ve never before considered the size of a prospective company, now may be a good time to start.

The size of a company has a lot of impact on things like visibility, advancement, stability, salary, and flexibility.  Most people have a specific work environment in mind that they would like to be a part of so it helps to know where to look.

Large companies tend to offer more in the way of day-to-day stability.  Established hierarchies, departments, and organizational systems can help make your job easier and also support you when something goes wrong.  Human resources and legal departments help prevent mistakes from becoming disasters.

Big companies also offer bigger budgets, meaning bigger salaries, and recognizable names on your résumé that can indicate to future employers that you are capable of keeping your head above water in a big-league environment.

The typical drawbacks associated with large companies tend to be true, for the most part.  It’s harder to get noticed in a big company.  When there are a lot of people in your department, personal achievements may be attributed to the group or go unrecognized.  In order to combat this, you need to market yourself properly within your department and keep track of your accomplishments so as to highlight them during a performance review.

Additionally, a recent Wall Street Journal article noted that many large companies are downsizing right now due to economic concerns.  The result of this is that there are fewer jobs at these companies and none of them are likely to be bulletproof.  Small companies are eagerly recruiting people who have lost their jobs at larger companies in an effort to gain these talented corporate refugees.

Smaller companies offer a lot of advantages and disadvantages.  In a small company, you are more likely to encounter a flatter hierarchy so you will have the opportunity to work more directly with senior people.  Smaller departments mean that accomplishments stand out and are easily attributable and there are often greater opportunities for assuming responsibilities outside your established role.

Small companies can also offer more in the way of flexibility to employees.  It may be easier to get fast responses to requests, such as for better equipment or policy changes, and the impact per individual has the capacity to be greater.

On the flip side, a lot of the perks associated with working for small companies depend on the management.  I have worked for small companies almost the entirety of my career and some have been wonderful while others have been frustrating. 

The flexibility of a smaller company is almost entirely dependent on the preferences of management.  Some CEOs are fine with granting a lot of liberty to employees while others will avoid it at all costs.  When considering joining a small company, try to get a feel for how the members of senior management approach their jobs.  This will indicate to you a lot about the work environment at that company.

Another thing to pay attention to is what you need in terms of structure.  Small companies can lack the formalized structure of their larger counterparts so the work environments tend to be more volatile and shifting.  Bear in mind that these kinds of companies work well for a person who thrives on constant change but could drive someone who craves stability crazy.

The increased visibility in a small company can also work against you.  Mistakes tend to resound louder in a small company.  That harmless email you sent could potentially lose one of your company’s major clients and the blame will rest squarely on your shoulders.

The most important thing to consider when deliberating between working for a small company and a large one is what you want from the job.  Knowing yourself and what you need in order to be satisfied at your job is the key to making a wise decision.

Do you have experience working for either a small or a large company?  What was the work environment like and do you have a preference either way?