Small vs. Mid-Sized vs. Big Tech: Which Company Size Fits You Best?
I Worked in Companies from 20 to 4000 Employees. Here’s What I Learned About Company Size.
In 13 years, I have worked for a small agency with no more than 20 people, a mid-sized company with up to 400 employees, and two corporations with more than 3000.
And while company size cannot always predict factors like salary, philosophy, etc., there are patterns I observed.
Here’s my observation and tips on finding the right company size for your individual situation.
Small Companies — The Perfect Career Kickstarter?
I made my first steps as a technical writing trainee in an agency specializing in technical documentation.
I could not have made a better choice!
Why?
Because, in my opinion, small companies provide the best learning opportunities for beginners. Sometimes, also for people who transition.
Small companies usually leave a lot of freedom to their employees. Processes are usually very tame or not yet developed.
You can try a lot of things and take on responsibility quickly.
Perks of an Agency
If your company happens to be an agency specializing in the field you strive towards, it’s an even bigger win.
Instead of working on the same product or project for years, you can dive into a variety of projects.
In my case, I was able to:
Moderate workshops with customers on introducing technical authoring tools.
Write documentation for several companies.
Set up editorial style guides.
Become the company expert on legal compliance.
And that’s just from 2 years working there!
Why did I leave after only 2 years if everything was so exciting?
Let’s find out!
Mid-Sized Companies — The Healthy Compromise?
Working in an agency is not all sunshine.
Just like you, I am not a machine. However, working in a small agency, you had to deliver at any time!
The project deadlines were often beyond good and evil. Working overtime with no compensation was more the rule than the exception.
And some customers seemed to enjoy venting to external employees.
You work fast, you learn fast, you may burn out fast.
Oh, and climbing the career ladder is hard when there are practically only two hierarchy levels in the company.
On top of that, the salary was not competitive, especially considering the stress.
These reasons piled up and made me look for a more stable environment.
Pros And Cons of Mid-Sized Companies
I switched to a mid-sized company.
There, I was writing the user documentation for a single, albeit complex, product. And I was able to help introduce a state-of-the-art technical writing tool.
I greatly benefited from my speedrun experience in the agency and quickly made a name for myself.
The salary was slightly better than at the agency, and the pace was much more civil.
Even when you had unproductive days, there were no customers ready to tear your head off. At least, I wasn’t in contact with them.
Processes were already in place, but still flexible enough for change.
In terms of responsibility, it was a calm mix. It depends much on your supervisor, but in my case, I was able to work self-dependently, with relatively little supervision.
This job helped me cool down — eventually, to the point I felt bored.
I asked whether I could develop into a leading or more demanding role. My supervisor assured me he would look for an opportunity, but it was clear that the chances were slim.
There was only one technical writing team, and it already had a lead.
Only one and a half years in, a disappointing thought crept in: I felt like I had seen and done everything this job and company had to offer.
Big Company, Big Opportunities?
When desperation kicked in, I started scanning job openings.
Finally, I read an interesting one: A large software company was looking for a technical writer with the perspective of developing into a project manager.
I applied and got the job.
The salary was almost 30 % higher.
The company was quickly growing. When I joined, it had a little under 1000. Two years later, we were 4000.
In 8 years, I was able to witness firsthand how a company grew from mid-sized to large.
What I fell in love with: The philosophy felt very start-upy. Much freedom to act, much responsibility to take (if you wanted).
At the same time, there were many job openings, hence, many growth opportunities.
In 8 years, I worked as a technical writer, project manager, scrum master, product owner, and operations manager.
I learned a lot, but the bigger the company got, the more it lost its familiar atmosphere.
Processes got stricter, and employees became numbers.
Yes, the salary grew into a corporate one, too. But the price was too great for comfort.
Eventually, the decision to leave the company was made for me. I lost my job, but not without receiving a substantial severance package.
So, even though I lost my job, I consider a job at a large company much safer than one with a smaller company. The risk of being fired is a little smaller, and the safety net is much bigger.
What did I take from this job?
A good salary
Several promotions to managerial positions
Being able to work on several different products, as the portfolio was pretty wide.
What will I not miss?
Top-level managers who have either lost or never had a connection with the actual work.
Politics.
Stiff processes.
The competitive mentality between different teams of the same company.
Not many growth opportunities to polish your subject matter skills, like technical writing. Since the projects and processes are very similar to each other.
So, What is The Right Choice for You?
As mentioned, there are no two identical companies.
But comparing my experiences with different-sized ones, here’s my summarized recommendation:
Choose a small company if:
You are a beginner or transitioner who wants to learn the basics quickly.
You enjoy constant change in your tasks.
You want to build something yourself, little constraints.
You are stress-resistant.
Money or career building is not a priority.
Choose a large company if:
You want to earn your stripes and build a career, e.g., become a manager.
You want to make big bucks.
You can live with stiff processes and not constantly learning new trends about your job.
Job security is a key aspect for you.
A mid-sized company is your ideal solution if:
You want to have a compromise between a large company and a small one, in pretty much every aspect.
Which company size do you feel most at home in — and why?
Share it in the comments!