Why you should join a small company
For any job seekers out there I would like to put forward an argument for choosing a smaller, dare I say it, less mature company over one that is bigger and more grown up. Particularly if you are an extremely talented software engineer that could, in theory, work anywhere you want.
Outside of the number one question, can this company afford to pay me what I am worth in the market? There are other factors that one might consider. Job title? What will I be doing on a day to day basis? What is the company culture like? What are my potential teammates like? These are all important factors to consider. Now let’s assume that you have two offers that are identical and tick all your boxes. The difference is…..
Why would anyone, let alone a talented software engineer that could work wherever they want, pick the small and unestablished company over the big and established?
3 reasons why you should pick small over big:
1. Try on hats, it’s fun and you’ll likely learn something
Small, less mature companies that are growing quickly give you the opportunity to learn and explore outside of your specialist domain. Whilst a bigger company recruits specialist roles for specific tasks, smaller companies have to rely on a limited number of employees to execute these same tasks. Application developers will have to pitch in with DevOps and Testing, even the gathering of user requirements. Product managers will likely have to spend more time managing delivery than they would normally care to. Not to mention all the base admin that comes with standing up a business.
At a larger company you may be exposed to new areas via “training” after jumping through bureaucratic hoops. In a smaller company you’ll have to get hands on and expand horizontally from day one. This may seem daunting at first but ultimately it is a rewarding experience. You may discover a new passion. At a minimum you will get a better appreciation of a different professional skill which will make you more well rounded as an employee.
2. More visibility, more accountability
When there are a limited number of hands on deck it is easy to see who is doing what. Who is actually accountable for specific deliverables. Advancement within a small company is totally based on merit, a visible record of accomplishments that can be credited to a specific individual/s because it is clear who is accountable for what. It is not lost in a sea of people jockeying for position.
This is not without its risks. If things do not go according to plan it is still clear who was accountable. When this happens how one acts is important. In companies with positive cultures, you will find that most people are forgiving and supportive of failures in the workplace, especially when they take ownership and learn from the experience.
As a small company starts to grow and recruit specialist roles, it is the employees that proved themselves in the beginning that will be asked to fill leadership and other key positions.
3. Have a hand on the steering wheel — Control your own destiny
If career progression is important to you then look for a small company that is on the up. Bigger companies have defined paths for vertical progression, which brings clarity and order. But you risk being boxed in by sets of rules, formalised processes and a hardened company culture that was defined before you even arrived. This reduces your ability to influence your own destiny if you don’t fit in the box. The earlier you join a company the greater your impact on the initial processes and culture that will be carried forward.
Outside of your own personal progression, your visible impact on the overall success of the company will give you greater influence over your own destiny.
In summary bigger is not always better. The variety of experiences, visibility and accountability and the sense of control over one’s destiny is likely to be greater at a smaller company. Warning it is not for everyone but if you are looking for something different with your next role. Don’t overlook the little guys.
Follow us at Tapico, currently a small company with bigger ambitions, as we build tools to make the connections between financial applications easier and more secure, ushering in the era of Open Finance.
