[pride1760]

Hi

I am a fresh graduate, and have got a job offer from a very small export firm, with only 15-20 employees...they have offered me the position of asst. manager, and salary will be around 15000pm.

what i want to know is whether i should take it, or look for a job in some of the big companies...

one aspect that needs to be considered is that in any of the big companies, any managerial position is ruled out...further, i dont think i would get a salary equal to or greater than what is currently being offered to me...

if i take this job, will the b-schools count this work experience as "serious" work experience? or should i look for a job in a well known company?

please advise as i am really confused at this stage...

thanks.

[mituag]

It all depends on whether YOU want to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond

The salary which you are being offered is good enough as you are starting as a fresher...

There are advantages as well as disadvantages of joining a big company as well as small company...

in the present offer you will get a chance really work and also grow faster in the company if you and company do well...

In a big company you never know what kind of progression will you make...

If you plan to go for a MBA at later point of time, the present job will give you a lot of exposure to leadership, management etc etc... also you can differentiate urself from the regular work-ex.

A little info on ur graduation would have helped in replying ... what other jobs can you get apart from this and things like that...

All the best...

Originally Posted by pride1760

Hi

I am a fresh graduate, and have got a job offer from a very small export firm, with only 15-20 employees...they have offered me the position of asst. manager, and salary will be around 15000pm.

what i want to know is whether i should take it, or look for a job in some of the big companies...

one aspect that needs to be considered is that in any of the big companies, any managerial position is ruled out...further, i dont think i would get a salary equal to or greater than what is currently being offered to me...

if i take this job, will the b-schools count this work experience as "serious" work experience? or should i look for a job in a well known company?

please advise as i am really confused at this stage...

thanks.

[rmbt]

Originally Posted by pride1760

Hi

I am a fresh graduate, and have got a job offer from a very small export firm, with only 15-20 employees...they have offered me the position of asst. manager, and salary will be around 15000pm.

what i want to know is whether i should take it, or look for a job in some of the big companies...

one aspect that needs to be considered is that in any of the big companies, any managerial position is ruled out...further, i dont think i would get a salary equal to or greater than what is currently being offered to me...

if i take this job, will the b-schools count this work experience as "serious" work experience? or should i look for a job in a well known company?

please advise as i am really confused at this stage...

thanks.

As i have said again and again, its not the job profile that matters, but what you learn from it, how did it make up ur mind for MBA and how do you justify it that matters.

I think its a gud profile and you will learn alot.

All the best.

[The Raven]

Originally Posted by pride1760

Hi

I am a fresh graduate, and have got a job offer from a very small export firm, with only 15-20 employees...they have offered me the position of asst. manager, and salary will be around 15000pm.

what i want to know is whether i should take it, or look for a job in some of the big companies...

one aspect that needs to be considered is that in any of the big companies, any managerial position is ruled out...further, i dont think i would get a salary equal to or greater than what is currently being offered to me...

if i take this job, will the b-schools count this work experience as "serious" work experience? or should i look for a job in a well known company?

please advise as i am really confused at this stage...

thanks.

It may actually add more value to your CV than a cliched brand such as Infosys or TCS, which every Tom, **** and Harry has on his profile.

I hope your company is registered. If you say you worked on your pop's unregistered company and get a certificate from your pop confirming the same, that may not count.

[pride1760]

thanks for the advice, guys...
after going through all ur opinions, i think i will take this offer...

thanks again

[dan555_trade]

With S.E.Z coming all over the country, Export could be one of the most sought after career. What products does your company deal in?

[atouchofcrypticthunder]

Its been over a year since 'Pride' posted his/her dilemma. My addition to this discussion may come to late but nevertheless could be probably useful for future freshers with the same dilemma.

I started of my career with pretty much the same question: Small growing company or big name? Being naive and uninformed at that stage I had opted for a small company without doing the necessary indepth background check/study of the company. I joined, performed exceedingly well, noticed that I was far above the rest and I was wasting my time and not learning anything new rather I was helping contribute to new thoughts and idea within the company. This for me personally was not satisfying. I contributed towards the betterment and building up of a company while I lost out on personal development which I believe is crucial in one's formitive years of work ex.

The beginning stages of one's career, I believe is the phase where one has to learn and grasp as much of information and knowledge as possible along with contribution towards the overall betterment of the firm. Working in a small company does not foster this enviroment. You might be a big fish in your small pond but when you step out you would, PROBABLY be a 'nothing'.

Just before quitting my previous firm I was requested to open its operations in a city abroad. It has been one of my toughest decisions to-date. Quit now and join the big name or stick around and open the new operations. In hindsight I made the right decision, the learning curve at large organisations are usually very steep and the quality of professionalism, the level of intellect, knowledge base and maganagement are very high. These would serve as key enablers to one who starts off a career - and help lay a base for one to build upon.

I look forward to reading your views.

Regards,

Rosh

[subodh_iit]

Originally Posted by atouchofcrypticthunder

Its been over a year since 'Pride' posted his/her dilemma. My addition to this discussion may come to late but nevertheless could be probably useful for future freshers with the same dilemma.

It has not been an year dude , just over a week.. Or u r so enterprising that a week's delay looks like an year to u.

Quit now and join the big name or stick around and open the new operations. In hindsight I made the right decision, the learning curve at large organisations are usually very steep and the quality of professionalism, the level of intellect, knowledge base and maganagement are very high. These would serve as key enablers to one who starts off a career - and help lay a base for one to build upon.

Cant comment with conviction as I am yet to work in a small firm. But still ur reasons appear valid at least on surface.

All said and done, it depends on individual to individual and the personal goals. The kind of exposure you can gain in a small firm in day-to-day operations is diff to be obtained in a large one, where u will have to drop a mail even to know who does what.

Basically if ur priority is to open ur own company, it is good that u work in a small firm, but if executive level positions in large organizations is ur cup of tea, try to stay in larger firms..

My Views are subject to change in future with continued learning..

[Tumtum]

Well well well....a slightly tricky question not to say the least.

Let us analyze this in a slightly different fashion by asking somw questions.

1) Why does a person have to join a smaller company?

A probable answer is that the cansidate might be a fresher or not have the relevant work-ex or might be trying to get a break into a new field altogether and big companies as we know are a bt stringent about their policies and may not allow such a candidate to be on their rolls. Sounds logical. So what does the candidate do? He joins a smaller company to satisfy either of the abovementioned causes.

Advantages: Informal working environment in many cases, good learning opportunities, greater visibility in the organization and a greater chance to move up the ranks in the company.

Disadvantages: The formal grooming part does not take place fast in many cases, many a times the individual's growth (in terms of learning/challenges/rising in hierarchy) is faster than that of the company itself ! Secondly, when one wants to get into a big company later on, then depending on the company profile, it may or may not push the candidate farther compared to a candidate who already has a prestigeous name on his resume'.

2) Why does a person want to join a larger/reputed company?

I think the answer to this is fairly simpler- brand matters, more formalized environment grooms professional attitude in an individual much better, many a times the travelling to foreign countries in a large set-up is fun and it expands ones horizons and finally, a much better pay and perks give a lot of satisfaction when one is able to buy his/her own house, vehicle, trendy gadgets etc. It gives a feeling that one is well-settled in life.

However, this also has disadvantages galore: Possibly lower visibility in the organization, getting a feeling of being stuck in a rut regarding the quality of work that one does and so on.
Now my question to you is what do you want?

Personally, I have seen both the stages in my life as I have worked my way up from woeking in a trash-like place for 1.5 years and then making a job change to a really prestigeous organization and I could actually feel the change in both the scenarios. But frankly speaking, did I have the choice at that time? NO......I had to fend for myself and I got what I wanted.

In the same way, do you have a clear choice between a large and a small company? If you do then I would ask you to look up for the job profile but like I came to know if you want to ultimately start your own venture, then I guess working in a large set-up has its own advantages as it grooms you better and improves your outlook/personality much better than a small firm would.

My own $0.02 on your query, comments welcome.

[bizskool]

Agreed mostly with Tumtum. My ideas having worked in small and big co.s--Indian and MNC

1. If the company is too small, you always have issues with sustainenance of the co. itself. Never know when it goes belly-up. Bigger co.s have deep pockets to survive recessions/downturns with good risk mgmt. Also smaller co.s dependent on few clients.

2. Learning will be definitely less. You may be a big fish in small pond but the world outside is a ocean. when you decide to come out you still remain a small fish comparatively.

3. Where you will grow if you report to the MD/owner/CEO directly. Will the co. match industry salary. There may be discrimination due to 'pappu system' where some favorites get more.

3. Big co.s (Like GE, Infy etc) have well laid down process perfected over years. Learning will be high, so will be growth depending on performance. Usually no discrimination as you are part of process. Competencies, goals, perfomance based salaries and increments.

4. Leadership issues--usually bigger co.s have motivated leadership and well laid leadership plans. Mentoring and personal growth. Spend money on training and recreation.

5. Networking+++ opportunities in bigger firms.

My exp/idea will be to always look for bigger established firms, learn the ropes of business, build networks and then go for entrepreneurship if so wished.