Small Companies

52 per cent of Americans work for companies that employ fewer than 500 people. That means that, in statistical terms alone, chances are very good that you will at some point have an opportunity to go to work for a small business.

Small businesses usually cannot afford to offer the same benefits that corporations do because they have a smaller employee pool to absorb out the cost of services like health insurance. That drawback is offset by a number of advantages. Small companies offer young and ambitious professionals more opportunity to assume responsibility early in their careers. With a small company, you will be able to take on a wide range of duties and learn how the different aspects of a business fit together. You'll also have more access to top management, more complete information about what is going on, and more opportunities for innovation. You can make a real impact at a small company by suggesting an improvement or pointing out an opportunity for growth. In personal terms, small businesses are often more willing to accommodate staff requests for flexible schedules than large employers are. Work relationships are often more 'normal' and less hierarchical than they are in large companies.

On the downside, working for a small company is likely to limit your ability to advance to higher positions. If you want or need to move to another city, or want to try another career track, you'll probably have to look for another employer. The close relationships that come with working at a small firm can also mean some difficulty in separating your work from your personal life.

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