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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?


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    D Offline
    D Offline
    Dan Neely
    wrote on last edited by
    #3

    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[^]

      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

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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.


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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[^]

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              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
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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
                          #14

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


                          Logifusion[^]

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                          • 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
                            #15

                            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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                            • 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
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                              • 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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                                      • 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[^]

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                                        T Offline
                                        tgrt
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #21

                                        For me, the question wasn't big or small, but public or private. I'm leaving a public company that I've been with 12 years for a private company. The public company definitely had better over-all benefits, but the private company isn't too far off. I'll be making a little more, but for the most part it's quality of life. I'm leaving a mid-size company that acts like it's a large-size company. Management doesn't care for their employees at all (in fact all they care about are shareholders). On the other hand the company I'm at does care about their employees (I've seen this as I've done consulting for them in the past). So when you make you're decision consider more than just the size.

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                                        • D Dustin Metzgar

                                          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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                                          S Offline
                                          Sarsipius
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #22

                                          It should really come down to what is important to you right now, and in the foreseeable future. If you absolutely need the security and extra cash, then go with the big company for now. But if you can get by with the lower pay and handle less security, then go with whichever one you enjoy more (sounds like the smaller company). I've never actually taken a job because of higher pay. Actually, every time I've left a job, it was for the same or even less pay, but other factors were more important (closer to home, better environment, more growth potential, etc.) S. I got no sig.

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