More and more job candidates are telling me they want to leave their big company and go work for a small company. I always ask “Why do you want to do that?” The answers I usually get seem to be the same. “Well I just can’t get anything done here with all of the bureaucracy and politics.” Another popular response is “Well I really just need a change.” and my all time favorite is, “I will rock the doors off of a small business because I have big business experience!” HA!
Well before you make that change tiger, let me fill you in about what you may encounter with such a move. The biggest change you will find is you can’t hide in a small company. You know the 9:15 coffee break and the 2 hour lunch, it ain’t happening. The little perks that perhaps you’re accustomed to don’t really fly in many small companies. Half day Fridays after lunch may be hard to pull off unless it’s across the board. Small businesses have to fight for every dollar they make and every dollar is accounted for.
If you really want to take that leap then be prepared for a change. We have placed people from large corporations to mid size corporations and that transition has shocked many. For some reason people that have made that transition thought that it was going to be a cake walk. Well I have news for you, it isn’t. It’s just like people that have moved from the North to the South. They think that the southerns aren’t sharp and that their going to take over and own everything. Going to a small company may be a great experience if you really like to get involved with many aspects that go on. One day you may be doing a sales presentation and the next day you’re fixing the copier. Being politically correct and dealing with all of the games that go on in a large company, don’t exist in a small company. Sucking up to gain points with a “team leader” and crap like that is not happening in a small company.
I personally have worked at every sized company, from large to small, and today I am self employed. What I have found is that owning your own business is the hardest way to earn a living, yet most rewarding. The larger the company the easier it seems to be overall. Now I know I’m going to get grief over saying that because many of you will probably disagree, but I must ask if you have experienced them all.
This is just my personal experience. For the record, it has been a long time since I worked for someone, but I do hear from candidates and clients about their experiences. It’s funny because it’s not easy going from a small company to a large company but that’s another blog!
If you are interviewing at a small company and you are coming from a large company here are some tips:
1) Don’t be cocky
2) Don’t be laid back
3) Don’t start giving tips about how you can make things much better (cocky)
If you are interviewing at a large company and are coming from a small company background here are some tips:
1) Do not be overwhelmed like your first time at Disney.
2) Have confidence
3) Don’t be cocky
I am really curious what you think and what your experience with this transition has been.