How do you choose?
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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?
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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Do you like working in a big company or small company more?
-- Rules of thumb should not be taken for the whole hand.
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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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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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?
One thing you didn't mention was training. Can the small company afford to send you to an outside training class every year?
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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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One thing you didn't mention was training. Can the small company afford to send you to an outside training class every year?
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.
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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?
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? -
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?
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
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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?
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.
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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.
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.
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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
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?
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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.
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Well if you are still having problems with this perhaps you need to ask The Decider[^]
led mike
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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?
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! :)
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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? -
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.
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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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?
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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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?
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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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?
Easy-- Go Small-- The big boys will always be there and sounds like you can land a job anytime-- the small company may lead you down some exciting paths. Speaking from experience I have spent the last 20 years riding the small company/startup road. It can be scary but it is always exciting and you are usually making a difference-- not just coding a widget :zzz:!! Enjoy !!