It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all — in which case, you fail by default — JK Rowling
During the placement process, a lot of students tend to analyse a company on fairly similar set of parameters. Among these, salary and brand name of a company top the list. Which is why, when students are placed in a small company or a mid-sized firm, they feel like they have ‘failed’. But have they?
The real question is: does the idea of failure really amount to what you think it does? Is getting an internship or a job at a small firm really a bad thing?
Nobody is denying that life would be easier if you got an internship at a top company. But the point is, where you are or what you have been has no bearing on what you can be.
The same can be said for working in a small company or start-up, that has immense potential to make it big. What matters most is the sense of satisfaction you get in your association with it. This could be because it is a role you wanted, or the pride in knowing that the work you’re doing has great prospects.
Then there are other advantages, like experiencing a great work culture, or being among people who are more driven than MNC employees because they have a lot more at stake if they fail. The volatility associated with working in a start-up is complemented by the undeniable exhilaration you feel, if thrill is what motivates you.
Start-ups are generally decentralised, owing to an organic structure, which puts you in a unique position of effecting a greater degree of positive change. However, the same cannot be said in case of MNCs. The latter is generally more centralised, but if predictability and stability is what you seek, then it certainly a good choice.
Analysis of a company
Apart from the parameters mentioned at the beginning of the article, you must consider other criteria that are equally important in your analysis of the company.
~ Career growth : There is always a myth among people that working in a small company is a hindrance to one’s career growth. That is not true. In fact, working in a smaller company can give a person better knowledge, experience and exposure than one would get in an established firm.
~ Leadership skills : These can be greatly developed when working for a smaller firm, since fewer number of people work on a project. This would mean that there are greater chances of you showcasing your skills and taking up initiatives. People can develop better companionship with fellow workers in a small firm compared to a larger company.
~ New ideas : The concept of shared knowledge too comes into play in smaller companies. Lots of new ideas tend to develop in such businesses; people collaborate more and experiment with newer ideas. But large firms think twice before bringing a new idea to fruition.
~Flexibility : The flexibility involved in working in a small firm is also higher when compared to a larger one. People tend to work better when there is flexibility in their work.
But larger firms may find it difficult to manage the freedom that comes with such flexibility. Work life is certainly more interesting when small shifts can be made, in contrast to a more rigid work schedule !
~ Opportunities : One’s strengths and weakness can be more honestly analysed and improved in a smaller firm. And there will be more opportunities to explore and experience.
So, even though learning and experience are of paramount importance, what a good job means differs from person to person. Even the definition of a good job might change over time.
A person, therefore, needs to arrive at a trade-off. Does the job which provides a huge salary take away much of one’s family life and health? The job might provide a person with the best learning experiences, challenges and, of course, a stellar package, but at what cost?
Another answer would be to really think about what motivates you to do something 365 days of the year. Is it money? Power? Or the respect of your peers? Ultimately, the kind of job, the learnings and the company are all interlinked. Life keeps throwing opportunities towards all of us. At the end of the day, we need to take them, build on them and improve our career path.
(The writer is a student of IIM Trichy)