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How do you choose?

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  • D Offline
    D Offline
    Dustin Metzgar
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    You're faced with two very good job offers. One offer is with a big company, the other is with a small IT shop in a small- to mid-size company. Both offers pay very well, especially for the area you live in, but the big company job pays much higher (potentially 13 grand higher) and has awesome benefits. The small company job won't hire full-time off-the-bat and wants you to go on contract for a few months before they'll commit to a full-time opportunity. The big company is a full-time offer. Both companies will demand a lot of hours, work with new technologies, and will place you on a highly visible team. The small company has some top-notch employees that you'd absolutely love to work with. The big company has some smart guys, but not quite the caliber of the small company's guys. The small company is working with better technologies. The small company does not have much hierarchy and there's no set career ladder to climb up. The big company is as structured as any other big company with plenty of opportunity for advancement. But most of all, the small company job excites you while the big company job is just another big company. You've worked at a few of them and you're getting tired of that scene. How do you choose?


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    • D Dustin Metzgar

      You're faced with two very good job offers. One offer is with a big company, the other is with a small IT shop in a small- to mid-size company. Both offers pay very well, especially for the area you live in, but the big company job pays much higher (potentially 13 grand higher) and has awesome benefits. The small company job won't hire full-time off-the-bat and wants you to go on contract for a few months before they'll commit to a full-time opportunity. The big company is a full-time offer. Both companies will demand a lot of hours, work with new technologies, and will place you on a highly visible team. The small company has some top-notch employees that you'd absolutely love to work with. The big company has some smart guys, but not quite the caliber of the small company's guys. The small company is working with better technologies. The small company does not have much hierarchy and there's no set career ladder to climb up. The big company is as structured as any other big company with plenty of opportunity for advancement. But most of all, the small company job excites you while the big company job is just another big company. You've worked at a few of them and you're getting tired of that scene. How do you choose?


      Logifusion[^]

      D Offline
      D Offline
      Dan Neely
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      Do you like working in a big company or small company more?

      -- Rules of thumb should not be taken for the whole hand.

      D 1 Reply Last reply
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      • D Dustin Metzgar

        You're faced with two very good job offers. One offer is with a big company, the other is with a small IT shop in a small- to mid-size company. Both offers pay very well, especially for the area you live in, but the big company job pays much higher (potentially 13 grand higher) and has awesome benefits. The small company job won't hire full-time off-the-bat and wants you to go on contract for a few months before they'll commit to a full-time opportunity. The big company is a full-time offer. Both companies will demand a lot of hours, work with new technologies, and will place you on a highly visible team. The small company has some top-notch employees that you'd absolutely love to work with. The big company has some smart guys, but not quite the caliber of the small company's guys. The small company is working with better technologies. The small company does not have much hierarchy and there's no set career ladder to climb up. The big company is as structured as any other big company with plenty of opportunity for advancement. But most of all, the small company job excites you while the big company job is just another big company. You've worked at a few of them and you're getting tired of that scene. How do you choose?


        Logifusion[^]

        B Offline
        B Offline
        Bassam Abdul Baki
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        They both called and offered the jobs to someone else while you were deciding. ;P Actually, I've only worked for small companies where the pay is better than the big guys (or so I'm told), but there's nowhere to climb at all. So in short, show me the money.


        "People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them." - Anonymous Web - Blog - RSS - Math - LinkedIn

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        • D Dustin Metzgar

          You're faced with two very good job offers. One offer is with a big company, the other is with a small IT shop in a small- to mid-size company. Both offers pay very well, especially for the area you live in, but the big company job pays much higher (potentially 13 grand higher) and has awesome benefits. The small company job won't hire full-time off-the-bat and wants you to go on contract for a few months before they'll commit to a full-time opportunity. The big company is a full-time offer. Both companies will demand a lot of hours, work with new technologies, and will place you on a highly visible team. The small company has some top-notch employees that you'd absolutely love to work with. The big company has some smart guys, but not quite the caliber of the small company's guys. The small company is working with better technologies. The small company does not have much hierarchy and there's no set career ladder to climb up. The big company is as structured as any other big company with plenty of opportunity for advancement. But most of all, the small company job excites you while the big company job is just another big company. You've worked at a few of them and you're getting tired of that scene. How do you choose?


          Logifusion[^]

          L Offline
          L Offline
          led mike
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          Dustin Metzgar wrote:

          But most of all, the small company job excites you while the big company job is just another big company. You've worked at a few of them and you're getting tired of that scene.

          It would seem you already answered your question. :~

          led mike

          D 1 Reply Last reply
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          • D Dan Neely

            Do you like working in a big company or small company more?

            -- Rules of thumb should not be taken for the whole hand.

            D Offline
            D Offline
            Dustin Metzgar
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            I've worked in several big companies so far and I don't like it. Too much politics, too much attachment to job title instead of actual skill, too many people that I wonder how they even got hired let alone promoted to manager. After a few months working for a big company I started dreading going to work. I worked for a couple small companies where the pace is faster and the pressure is a lot higher, plus I had to work with clients, which can be good or bad. Even though the work was tougher, I enjoyed it more.


            Logifusion[^]

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            • L led mike

              Dustin Metzgar wrote:

              But most of all, the small company job excites you while the big company job is just another big company. You've worked at a few of them and you're getting tired of that scene.

              It would seem you already answered your question. :~

              led mike

              D Offline
              D Offline
              Dustin Metzgar
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              True, but money always makes you think twice.


              Logifusion[^]

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              • D Dustin Metzgar

                You're faced with two very good job offers. One offer is with a big company, the other is with a small IT shop in a small- to mid-size company. Both offers pay very well, especially for the area you live in, but the big company job pays much higher (potentially 13 grand higher) and has awesome benefits. The small company job won't hire full-time off-the-bat and wants you to go on contract for a few months before they'll commit to a full-time opportunity. The big company is a full-time offer. Both companies will demand a lot of hours, work with new technologies, and will place you on a highly visible team. The small company has some top-notch employees that you'd absolutely love to work with. The big company has some smart guys, but not quite the caliber of the small company's guys. The small company is working with better technologies. The small company does not have much hierarchy and there's no set career ladder to climb up. The big company is as structured as any other big company with plenty of opportunity for advancement. But most of all, the small company job excites you while the big company job is just another big company. You've worked at a few of them and you're getting tired of that scene. How do you choose?


                Logifusion[^]

                H Offline
                H Offline
                Hans Dietrich
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                One thing you didn't mention was training. Can the small company afford to send you to an outside training class every year?

                D 1 Reply Last reply
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                • D Dustin Metzgar

                  You're faced with two very good job offers. One offer is with a big company, the other is with a small IT shop in a small- to mid-size company. Both offers pay very well, especially for the area you live in, but the big company job pays much higher (potentially 13 grand higher) and has awesome benefits. The small company job won't hire full-time off-the-bat and wants you to go on contract for a few months before they'll commit to a full-time opportunity. The big company is a full-time offer. Both companies will demand a lot of hours, work with new technologies, and will place you on a highly visible team. The small company has some top-notch employees that you'd absolutely love to work with. The big company has some smart guys, but not quite the caliber of the small company's guys. The small company is working with better technologies. The small company does not have much hierarchy and there's no set career ladder to climb up. The big company is as structured as any other big company with plenty of opportunity for advancement. But most of all, the small company job excites you while the big company job is just another big company. You've worked at a few of them and you're getting tired of that scene. How do you choose?


                  Logifusion[^]

                  A Offline
                  A Offline
                  amclint
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  I won't work for a small company again until it is my own company. Too many issues with lower pay, crappy benefits, more hours and overall less opportunity to progress unless it is on your own time and your own dime ;)

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                  • H Hans Dietrich

                    One thing you didn't mention was training. Can the small company afford to send you to an outside training class every year?

                    D Offline
                    D Offline
                    Dustin Metzgar
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    Hmm, didn't think to ask about that. However the big company will pay 10k/year if I pursue a graduate degree or mba. From what I've seen so far, that's really good.


                    Logifusion[^]

                    H 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • D Dustin Metzgar

                      You're faced with two very good job offers. One offer is with a big company, the other is with a small IT shop in a small- to mid-size company. Both offers pay very well, especially for the area you live in, but the big company job pays much higher (potentially 13 grand higher) and has awesome benefits. The small company job won't hire full-time off-the-bat and wants you to go on contract for a few months before they'll commit to a full-time opportunity. The big company is a full-time offer. Both companies will demand a lot of hours, work with new technologies, and will place you on a highly visible team. The small company has some top-notch employees that you'd absolutely love to work with. The big company has some smart guys, but not quite the caliber of the small company's guys. The small company is working with better technologies. The small company does not have much hierarchy and there's no set career ladder to climb up. The big company is as structured as any other big company with plenty of opportunity for advancement. But most of all, the small company job excites you while the big company job is just another big company. You've worked at a few of them and you're getting tired of that scene. How do you choose?


                      Logifusion[^]

                      J Offline
                      J Offline
                      Johan Pretorius
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      A choice i had to make : offer 1 : (big company) $$$$$ Do what you are told. Co-workers that are out for them selves (ie. cut throat). Just another project. offer 2 : (small company) $$ I have an equal say in the project ... and when its done up^$$$ Gr8 co-workers that are gr8 to work with. Project that interests me. Needless to say ... I took the offer at the smaller company. But that's just me. Figure out what will make you happy and take it ... AND REMEMBER you might be there a while :-D


                      Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity
                      No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness. ~Sheik Abd-al-Kadir
                      I can't always be wrong ... or can I?

                      _ 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • D Dustin Metzgar

                        You're faced with two very good job offers. One offer is with a big company, the other is with a small IT shop in a small- to mid-size company. Both offers pay very well, especially for the area you live in, but the big company job pays much higher (potentially 13 grand higher) and has awesome benefits. The small company job won't hire full-time off-the-bat and wants you to go on contract for a few months before they'll commit to a full-time opportunity. The big company is a full-time offer. Both companies will demand a lot of hours, work with new technologies, and will place you on a highly visible team. The small company has some top-notch employees that you'd absolutely love to work with. The big company has some smart guys, but not quite the caliber of the small company's guys. The small company is working with better technologies. The small company does not have much hierarchy and there's no set career ladder to climb up. The big company is as structured as any other big company with plenty of opportunity for advancement. But most of all, the small company job excites you while the big company job is just another big company. You've worked at a few of them and you're getting tired of that scene. How do you choose?


                        Logifusion[^]

                        C Offline
                        C Offline
                        Chris S Kaiser
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        Dustin Metzgar wrote:

                        The small company has some top-notch employees that you'd absolutely love to work with.

                        Dustin Metzgar wrote:

                        he small company is working with better technologies.

                        Dustin Metzgar wrote:

                        the small company job excites you

                        Dustin Metzgar wrote:

                        the big company job is just another big company. You've worked at a few of them and you're getting tired of that scene.

                        Doesn't that decide it? Sounds like your needing some support for the decision you've already made which is the smaller company. I'd say go for it. You've gotta get some satisfaction and excitement out of your life, and work will be most of that. So ... GO FOR IT!!! That said, do you need the security of the big company that much? Doesn't sound like you'd have trouble getting another offer down the line. Go for it.

                        What's in a sig? This statement is false. Build a bridge and get over it. ~ Chris Maunder

                        D 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • D Dustin Metzgar

                          You're faced with two very good job offers. One offer is with a big company, the other is with a small IT shop in a small- to mid-size company. Both offers pay very well, especially for the area you live in, but the big company job pays much higher (potentially 13 grand higher) and has awesome benefits. The small company job won't hire full-time off-the-bat and wants you to go on contract for a few months before they'll commit to a full-time opportunity. The big company is a full-time offer. Both companies will demand a lot of hours, work with new technologies, and will place you on a highly visible team. The small company has some top-notch employees that you'd absolutely love to work with. The big company has some smart guys, but not quite the caliber of the small company's guys. The small company is working with better technologies. The small company does not have much hierarchy and there's no set career ladder to climb up. The big company is as structured as any other big company with plenty of opportunity for advancement. But most of all, the small company job excites you while the big company job is just another big company. You've worked at a few of them and you're getting tired of that scene. How do you choose?


                          Logifusion[^]

                          R Offline
                          R Offline
                          Rob Graham
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          If you took the 1k+/month extra pay and invested it, you could retire 10-15 years sooner. Since the large company has "awesome benefits" theyt would likely match a fair part of that in a 401K or similar. With a clear advancement path, likely the pay differential would increase rapidly. The small company might be more fun, but it would be expensive fun.

                          D 1 Reply Last reply
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                          • D Dustin Metzgar

                            Hmm, didn't think to ask about that. However the big company will pay 10k/year if I pursue a graduate degree or mba. From what I've seen so far, that's really good.


                            Logifusion[^]

                            H Offline
                            H Offline
                            Hans Dietrich
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            Yearly training is one thing big companies offer that most small companies can't afford. So while you might feel warm & cozy at a small company, in a few years you will have lost ground technically.

                            C 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • C Chris S Kaiser

                              Dustin Metzgar wrote:

                              The small company has some top-notch employees that you'd absolutely love to work with.

                              Dustin Metzgar wrote:

                              he small company is working with better technologies.

                              Dustin Metzgar wrote:

                              the small company job excites you

                              Dustin Metzgar wrote:

                              the big company job is just another big company. You've worked at a few of them and you're getting tired of that scene.

                              Doesn't that decide it? Sounds like your needing some support for the decision you've already made which is the smaller company. I'd say go for it. You've gotta get some satisfaction and excitement out of your life, and work will be most of that. So ... GO FOR IT!!! That said, do you need the security of the big company that much? Doesn't sound like you'd have trouble getting another offer down the line. Go for it.

                              What's in a sig? This statement is false. Build a bridge and get over it. ~ Chris Maunder

                              D Offline
                              D Offline
                              Dustin Metzgar
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #14

                              You're right, I did make my decision. But that was before the big company offer, so now I'm second guessing. I'm just interested in what others would do in my position. But I agree with you; work should be exciting. What good is driving a more expensive car to work if you hate where you're going?


                              Logifusion[^]

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                              • R Rob Graham

                                If you took the 1k+/month extra pay and invested it, you could retire 10-15 years sooner. Since the large company has "awesome benefits" theyt would likely match a fair part of that in a 401K or similar. With a clear advancement path, likely the pay differential would increase rapidly. The small company might be more fun, but it would be expensive fun.

                                D Offline
                                D Offline
                                Dustin Metzgar
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                I see your point. And the 401k matching is "awesome". 115% match up to 6%.  :omg:


                                Logifusion[^]

                                L 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • D Dustin Metzgar

                                  I see your point. And the 401k matching is "awesome". 115% match up to 6%.  :omg:


                                  Logifusion[^]

                                  L Offline
                                  L Offline
                                  led mike
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #16

                                  Well if you are still having problems with this perhaps you need to ask The Decider[^]

                                  led mike

                                  D 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • L led mike

                                    Well if you are still having problems with this perhaps you need to ask The Decider[^]

                                    led mike

                                    D Offline
                                    D Offline
                                    Dustin Metzgar
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #17

                                    "Wow, he's always wrong." "But he sure is decisive." :laugh:


                                    Logifusion[^]

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                                    • D Dustin Metzgar

                                      You're faced with two very good job offers. One offer is with a big company, the other is with a small IT shop in a small- to mid-size company. Both offers pay very well, especially for the area you live in, but the big company job pays much higher (potentially 13 grand higher) and has awesome benefits. The small company job won't hire full-time off-the-bat and wants you to go on contract for a few months before they'll commit to a full-time opportunity. The big company is a full-time offer. Both companies will demand a lot of hours, work with new technologies, and will place you on a highly visible team. The small company has some top-notch employees that you'd absolutely love to work with. The big company has some smart guys, but not quite the caliber of the small company's guys. The small company is working with better technologies. The small company does not have much hierarchy and there's no set career ladder to climb up. The big company is as structured as any other big company with plenty of opportunity for advancement. But most of all, the small company job excites you while the big company job is just another big company. You've worked at a few of them and you're getting tired of that scene. How do you choose?


                                      Logifusion[^]

                                      L Offline
                                      L Offline
                                      Lost User
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #18

                                      I'd say go for the Smaller company. They sound like nicer, easier to work with people allowing you to feel more comfortable working. Plus, they're working with better technologies. I'd go for them! :)


                                      Extreme Exe

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                                      • J Johan Pretorius

                                        A choice i had to make : offer 1 : (big company) $$$$$ Do what you are told. Co-workers that are out for them selves (ie. cut throat). Just another project. offer 2 : (small company) $$ I have an equal say in the project ... and when its done up^$$$ Gr8 co-workers that are gr8 to work with. Project that interests me. Needless to say ... I took the offer at the smaller company. But that's just me. Figure out what will make you happy and take it ... AND REMEMBER you might be there a while :-D


                                        Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity
                                        No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness. ~Sheik Abd-al-Kadir
                                        I can't always be wrong ... or can I?

                                        _ Offline
                                        _ Offline
                                        _AK_
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #19

                                        Interesting analysis.. :)

                                        Best Regards, Apurva Kaushal

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                                        • H Hans Dietrich

                                          Yearly training is one thing big companies offer that most small companies can't afford. So while you might feel warm & cozy at a small company, in a few years you will have lost ground technically.

                                          C Offline
                                          C Offline
                                          Colin Angus Mackay
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #20

                                          Hans Dietrich wrote:

                                          So while you might feel warm & cozy at a small company, in a few years you will have lost ground technically.

                                          They've got these great new things in many cities now. They are called book shops.


                                          Upcoming Scottish Developers events: * UK Security Evangelists On Tour (2nd November, Edinburgh) * Developer Day Scotland: are you interested in speaking or attending? My: Website | Blog

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