Big Corporation vs. Small Business: What’s Best For You?

Company culture is important. It’s one thing to make a lot of money, but it’s another to really love your job, and a lot of times it’s not just the work itself that makes you happy, it’s the workplace you fit into.

So what’s the difference between working at a big corporation vs. a small business? And which is the best fit for you?

In general, millennials seem fairly invested in working for large companies. A recent survey conducted by Bentley University found that 72% of individuals expressed an interest in working for a big corporation someday.

Working for a big company or firm brings an obvious prestige to your resume, but it’s also easy to get lost in the mix. Nonetheless, and while it might take a bit longer to climb the corporate ladder than it would be to find yourself in a central role at a small business, large corporations bring other benefits—both literally and figuratively. Benefit packages and starting salaries will almost always be more attractive at a big company than a small one, mainly because there’s a lot more money to throw around.

Another thing working at a big company facilitates is lateral job movement. Whereas you might have to leave a small or mid-sized business to find a new position, at a large corporation you’ll have access to plenty of new opportunities as a potential in-house hire.

Still, obviously not everything is great at large companies. Some workers struggle with feeling like a nameless cog instead of having hands on every part of the business, and it’s not uncommon to feel a bit lost in the ranks of an enormous workplace.

Small businesses, by contrast, offer millennials some attractive intangibles without the lucrative take-home pay and benefits. While not all small businesses are on the cutting edge, especially among young people, working for a small business often allows you to try something new.

Working for a small business can also open up a wide array of responsibilities that wouldn’t be required (or available) at a large company. It’s not always easy to market the experience, but if you’re the type of person that wants to be a part of every step in the process, working for a budding small business will often allow you to achieve that satisfaction. On the other hand, more responsibility often means more accountability, so working for a small business can often result in longer and more involved work-hours as well. And while your performance will stand out if you’re doing well, the inverse is just as true.

Ultimately, most millennials will end up working for both large and small businesses during their careers, but it’s worth thinking carefully about what you want from your career and where you’ll be happiest.