4 ms·

I've worked at small companies for 10 years, large companies for 5... and IMO you're not missing anything. After switching back to a small company it's a big re

I've worked at small companies for 10 years, large companies for 5... and IMO you're not missing anything. After switching back to a small company it's a big relief, much of the big company "experience" is learning to deal with tons of bullshit. Small companies have their own problems to deal with, but to me they feel like actual problems... a lot of big company stuff is kind of corporate theatrics. Maybe it's necessary at scale, but it isn't fun.

cphoover 5y ago
this 100%
tharne 5y ago
Big $CORP employee here. This is a pretty solid take in the parent comment. Big companies offer good pay and advancement opportunities. But, that does come with a heavy dose of corporate theatrics and organizational bullshit. At small companies, on the other hand, your options to advance may be more limited, and if you don't like the job you're in, you can't always jump to a different part of the company the way you could at a big $CORP. Like anything else, it's a tradeoff. My advice to OP would be to simply try it out. If you see a job at a big company that interests you, go for it. You'll quickly see whether you like working for a big company or not. I never thought I'd enjoy working for a large company, but I gave it a try and I like it very much, corporate BS notwithstanding.
- johnny_canuck 5y ago
  I'm currently working at a growth-stage company, and I wonder if its the worst of the two worlds. We used to get things done quickly, and now we have all these bureaucratic layers inserted. But they are also immature in that folks are often thinking in the old world "we must pivot" mindset, which we just can't do given how things don't move quickly anymore.
  - micromacrofoot 5y ago
    I've gone through this at multiple jobs too. It's hard. You want the company to succeed (especially if you have a stake) but the work itself becomes less enjoyable. I very much understand why some companies choose to stay small even if it means they're limiting their potential.
SkyPuncher 5y ago
> much of the big company "experience" is learning to deal with tons of bullshit. This has been my experience as well. * Startups ask you to work on a huge scope of things, but often give you ownership over those things. Politics are minimal and you kind of just do things in the best way you see fit. * Enterprises ask you to work on a narrow scope, but you have to spend a bunch of time coordinating with a massive amount of other people.

cphoover 5y ago

this 100%

tharne 5y ago

Big $CORP employee here. This is a pretty solid take in the parent comment. Big companies offer good pay and advancement opportunities. But, that does come with a heavy dose of corporate theatrics and organizational bullshit. At small companies, on the other hand, your options to advance may be more limited, and if you don't like the job you're in, you can't always jump to a different part of the company the way you could at a big $CORP. Like anything else, it's a tradeoff. My advice to OP would be to simply try it out. If you see a job at a big company that interests you, go for it. You'll quickly see whether you like working for a big company or not. I never thought I'd enjoy working for a large company, but I gave it a try and I like it very much, corporate BS notwithstanding.

johnny_canuck 5y ago
I'm currently working at a growth-stage company, and I wonder if its the worst of the two worlds. We used to get things done quickly, and now we have all these bureaucratic layers inserted. But they are also immature in that folks are often thinking in the old world "we must pivot" mindset, which we just can't do given how things don't move quickly anymore.
- micromacrofoot 5y ago
  I've gone through this at multiple jobs too. It's hard. You want the company to succeed (especially if you have a stake) but the work itself becomes less enjoyable. I very much understand why some companies choose to stay small even if it means they're limiting their potential.

SkyPuncher 5y ago

> much of the big company "experience" is learning to deal with tons of bullshit. This has been my experience as well. * Startups ask you to work on a huge scope of things, but often give you ownership over those things. Politics are minimal and you kind of just do things in the best way you see fit. * Enterprises ask you to work on a narrow scope, but you have to spend a bunch of time coordinating with a massive amount of other people.