It really depends on the company(ies). There's a lot to be said for working at a big established outfit: clear paths to career progression, decent and reliable

It really depends on the company(ies). There's a lot to be said for working at a big established outfit: clear paths to career progression, decent and reliable pay, the kudos of working for a firm people have likely heard of, mostly free weekends and evenings. The downsides are office politics, bad managers (inevitable), the constant feeling that things could be done better/more efficiently, being a small largely unknown cog in a big machine. And yes after a few years people do tend to get disillusioned and hacked off - often prompting a move to the country or a start-up or something different. Saying that I wouldn't knock the experience. Seeing how big businesses operate is probably an important education for every wannabe entrepreneur. And if you learn to play the corporate game you can do very well - and put away a few dollars for when you make the jump to something a bit more risky. Startups will generally involve less pay, longer hours and a more unstable / insecure career outlook. So if you decide to go this route, choose your firm with great care. But saying that, in a smaller firm you'll be closer to teh day-to-day administration of the business which also would be great experience re starting your own outfit.