Is Bigger Really Better?

By Eileen Shackleford and Barbara Ellis
Contributors, Career Services and Corporate & Strategic Relationships

Where do most people start career searches? Often it begins by thinking about the dream companies from which they’d like to receive a job offer. Those companies are usually the highly branded companies we see or hear about in the media and experience in our everyday lives – Coke, UPS, Raytheon, Dell, Disney, or Price Waterhouse Cooper. These are just a few of the Fortune 500 companies with whom many of us interact on a daily basis and might think of first for a new job search. The question is: Is bigger really better?

In the world of recruitment, the phrase “right fit” is a frequent topic of discussion. Companies understand that even though a candidate has the right skill set, they may not be the right team member. They know their company culture and work environment can also have a huge impact on the success of an employee.

Let’s turn this idea around and use it from the job seeker perspective. What is your “right fit” or ideal team? Be honest with yourself, and think through these questions:

• Do you like being able to walk into an adjoining office to discuss an issue or do you prefer email?
• Do you enjoy navigating large organizational structures and cultures or do you prefer a personal, hands-on approach?
• Are you willing to work more than what is required to advance your career or are your weekends valuable to you?
• What is the ideal team size you want to be a part of: small, medium, or large?
• Where would you most like to see your personal impact: globally or locally?

While large companies have many job opportunities, bigger is not always better. Midsize and smaller companies often offer intangible benefits that larger companies cannot; maybe that is right for you. When job seekers find a right fit—at an organization of any size — they have better chances at exceeding expectations and excelling in their roles. Being open to opportunities with companies that may not have originally been on your dream job radar can open whole new world of success.