Speaking from a non-IT standpoint (mech engineer, rail industry), BigCo offers a number of cool benefits that I'd not get working for SmallCo (that may or may n

Speaking from a non-IT standpoint (mech engineer, rail industry), BigCo offers a number of cool benefits that I'd not get working for SmallCo (that may or may not hold analogous to the IT sector in some cases): - Economies of scale #1: when you're purchasing 10,000 instances of something, people listen and new techniques of doing things become available. - Economies of scale #2: Design changes when milking an extra $100 out of the design or manufacturing process means saving $1m at 10,000 instances. You get exposure to new design/manufacturing techniques as a result. - Project diversity: I could find 20 projects in this office of 150 engineers, all significantly different. They range across design, asset management, PM work, maintenance/reliability, acquisition, etc. Each applies to a number of different targets - fixed plant, mobile assets, facilities, etc. If I grow bored of something I can reasonably rotate to something new and different within 6 months. More long-term, there's opportunities in multiple countries if I so wish to pursue them. - Institutional knowledge: I can walk in to our drawing room and still find drawings dated from 1870. Some of the greybeards here seem almost as old, and come with a huge amount of knowledge (both specific and simply general 'tricks of the trade') that isn't recorded anywhere. There's also downsides: - Work sometimes feels like it's a game of thrones. The fiefdoms can grow tiring. - Stuff happens slowly. BigCos carry inertia that can be cumbersome. Counterpoint: inertia can produce some amazing results if you get everyone paddling in the same direction - Career advancement usually requires jumping ship to different companies. Said greybeards are in it for the long haul and unless a new position opens up, you're generally stuck below the glass ceiling.