Young professionals seeking career growth and prospects typically seek employment in large, well-known national and international companies. However, working in large organizations has its unique characteristics, and not all employees may find such large structures comfortable. Therefore, when looking for a job, you need to determine what type of company is closer to you – large or small.
Let’s explore the key aspects of working in large companies, including both advantages and disadvantages.
Pros of working in large companies
1. Stability.
Big companies are more firmly “standing on their feet”. For many years of work in the markets they have accumulated considerable experience and “fat layer”, allowing them to survive “hungry times”. Well, when the economy is growing, large corporations outwardly are simply a symbol of success and prosperity.
Given that many large companies are partially state-owned, their stability is generally assured. Accordingly, when an employee takes a job in a large company, he or she feels more confident and secure.
2. Good career opportunities.
There are a lot of different managerial positions in big firms, and there are almost always some interesting vacancies. There are many offices in different cities, regions and even countries. Promising employees move up a “step”, making room for their younger colleagues.
Opportunities for career advancement extend beyond a single office to various locations such as branches, representative offices, retail outlets, and production facilities.
Also, as a rule, such companies have special programs for recruiting young specialists and a whole lot of stories about how yesterday’s graduates made a very successful career within the company.
3. Opportunities to learn and gain valuable experience.
Large companies have all the resources they need to train their staff and have plans and schedules for professional development.
And if you are involved in a large-scale project (especially an international one), you can gain truly unique experience.
4. Stable salaries, social package and guarantees.
In large companies, salaries are usually paid on a certain day. Financial stability allows you to plan your income and expenses and the family budget. Getting a stable proven salary, it will be much easier to get a loan from the bank.
5. Clearly defined regulations, responsibilities, etc.
A very convenient feature of working in large companies is the availability of ready-made materials for all occasions. You can not be distracted by functions that are not typical for your specialty, and focus on improving your skills in the chosen field. All rules, authority and work order are clearly defined, responsibilities are delineated.
6. Prestige.
Work experience in a prominent company will always be a significant plus on a resume. At the interview, a potential employer will not ask you what the firm where you work (or have worked) does.
Working for a well-known company fills you with pride, gives you self-confidence, and clients and partners treat you with more respect.
7. Comfortable working conditions.
Working in the office of a large company implies a fully equipped workplace in a modern business center. Naturally, it is better to work in good conditions.
8. Corporate events.
Also an additional pleasant moment. Corporate events are more interesting and are held with a scope.
But that’s not all.
Working in large corporations has its own disadvantages, and the pluses are actually not so unambiguous.
To begin with, the work itself can be quite stressful. The same notorious stability of big business is a relative concept. The previous crisis showed once again that even a very large company can go bankrupt or be on the verge of bankruptcy.
If we are talking about career growth, there are indeed quite a lot of opportunities, especially if the company is growing. But advancing to senior management may be easier in a small company, unless you secure a senior position in a newly established branch or department.
As for narrow specialization, it, accordingly, does not give you the opportunity to develop your skills in other directions. In small firms you will have many of such opportunities.
So,
The disadvantages of working in large companies
1. Bureaucracy.
Every document has to go through a lot of approvals. Decisions often take quite a long time to be made. Paperwork, letters, reports, etc. take a lot of time. And in addition to reports, you have to have time to do the work itself!
2. Rigid corporate rules that must be strictly adhered to.
Dress code, lack of ability to independently plan your working day. (For example, it will be more difficult to get away from work to go to a job interview.)
Smaller companies often offer more freedom, self-initiative and decision-making opportunities, and less supervision.
3. Impersonalization of the employee.
It’s hard to identify your contribution when you are just one of thousands of clerks working for a given corporation. There is much less individualization in the approach to employees.
As for the salary, for the same reason, you are unlikely to be able to “bargain” for anything significant when you are hired, since salaries can be strictly prescribed in advance.
4. A large number of bosses.
In large companies there are a lot of not only ordinary employees, but also all kinds of bosses. Taking into account that bosses are usually not liked, there is something to think about.
5. Limited communication within a large company.
Since there are so many people working, the circle of communication is mostly limited to a department or floor, and the communication itself is more formal than in small firms.
6. Intrigues.
As is known, the majority of staff is hardly useful to the company (also because the responsibility is not so personalized as in small firms). Instead of real work, these employees are engaged in creating the appearance of work, socializing in social networks, gossip, intrigue, etc. In small companies, on the contrary, the climate is more “family-oriented”.
7. The possibility of mass layoffs.
When a large company runs into problems, quite a large number of personnel can be “optimized”. The headquaters will simply issue the order to dismiss a certain percent of employees. And even the most caring manager will be forced to provide a list of candidates for dismissal.
So being downsized is a very real risk, especially in a crisis. When you’re one of thousands of employees and you’re not hard to replace, you can easily be fired without much regret.
8. Brainwashing employees.
Sometimes the employees of famous international companies behave so arrogant that it looks ridiculous. After all, they are really just hired staff. And a brand (even a very famous one) is not a subject for idolatry.
Thus, taking into account the above-mentioned disadvantages, it can be said that work in large companies is not suitable for everyone.
Think about what is more important to you, where you will work better, and then make your choice.
If you have the opportunity, it is better to work in both large companies and small ones. In this case, the experience gained will be more holistic and versatile.
