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Posted June 4, 2014
Postgrad Careers: Big Companies or New Start-Ups?
In today's climate it can be tempting to pounce upon any job opportunity that comes your way. However, it's important that when you take your first step into the world of work, it's with a company that suits both you and your intended career path.
Whatever your chosen industry, there are vast differences between the kinds of companies that you can work for. Though the large and established firms may be the most obvious, there will always be plenty of start-ups to explore. As a postgraduate you're at an advantage in the job market so you should always consider all of your options carefully before rushing into making a decision.
Large companies can be a great place for a postgraduate to start a career because they provide the perfect platform for learning. Bigger companies inevitably have bigger budgets and can therefore afford to invest more heavily in your training, both internally and externally. If you find a course you'd like to enrol in, as long as you can provide a justification for doing so, you're likely to have it signed off without any trouble. In addition, by spending your day surrounded by hundreds of professionals in your field, you'll undoubtedly soak up their knowledge and expertise. With so many brains within easy reach of your workspace, you'll rarely find yourself with questions that remain unanswered.
This luxury of having a large number of colleagues not only addresses 'what you know', but 'who you know' too. In some cases the two are regarded as equally important and working within a large company provides you with a vast and valuable network. In ten years from now, those colleagues will have dispersed across multiple different companies which will potentially create opportunities for you later down the line.
On the other hand, having fewer colleagues can be equally as advantageous as you're thrown into the deep end and forced to learn faster. You'll be expected to pick up every aspect of a job which may otherwise have been split into different job roles. This can be challenging but beneficial in the long run and highly regarded by future employers. At least, at a small start-up you'll have the undivided attention of your teachers rather than competing alongside hundreds of other postgraduates.
Secondly, although you have access to considerably less colleagues, you'll have far more exposure to those who are higher up. Whereas it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for a postgraduate at a large firm to never personally encounter their CEO, in a start-up you may even find yourself sharing a desk space. One needs to weigh up whether it's better to have a high number of connections or a smaller number in higher places. Either way, the acknowledgement of your work by senior members of staff at a start-up will in turn lead you to feeling like a more valuable asset to the company. Feeling valued plays a huge part in job satisfaction and is an important factor to consider.
Furthermore, with fewer people standing between yourself and the decision makers, you're likely to have more of an influence on the future of a start-up company. If the business succeeds, your involvement within it will be a fantastic achievement to lay claim to and look great on your CV.
That said, you must take into account that a high proportion of start-ups will fail and so it's vital that you only work with those you truly believe in. Though no job in today's market can be said to be one hundred percent secure, if you're not the type to live on the edge, you may prefer to work for a more established company. There's no shame whatsoever in swaying towards a safer option and a big name on your CV can be just as impressive as a successful start-up. You may even consider enrolling in a grad scheme to further your training whilst simultaneously gaining work experience.
As discussed, both large companies and small start-ups can provide postgraduates with fantastic opportunities. Whilst the success of a large company speaks for itself, the potential of some start-ups can be too exciting to turn down. Before finalising a decision, consider your options and determine what it is that you're motivated by, and ultimately what will make you happy in the workplace.
Related articles
Whatever your chosen industry, there are vast differences between the kinds of companies that you can work for. Though the large and established firms may be the most obvious, there will always be plenty of start-ups to explore. As a postgraduate you're at an advantage in the job market so you should always consider all of your options carefully before rushing into making a decision.
Large companies can be a great place for a postgraduate to start a career because they provide the perfect platform for learning. Bigger companies inevitably have bigger budgets and can therefore afford to invest more heavily in your training, both internally and externally. If you find a course you'd like to enrol in, as long as you can provide a justification for doing so, you're likely to have it signed off without any trouble. In addition, by spending your day surrounded by hundreds of professionals in your field, you'll undoubtedly soak up their knowledge and expertise. With so many brains within easy reach of your workspace, you'll rarely find yourself with questions that remain unanswered.
This luxury of having a large number of colleagues not only addresses 'what you know', but 'who you know' too. In some cases the two are regarded as equally important and working within a large company provides you with a vast and valuable network. In ten years from now, those colleagues will have dispersed across multiple different companies which will potentially create opportunities for you later down the line.
On the other hand, having fewer colleagues can be equally as advantageous as you're thrown into the deep end and forced to learn faster. You'll be expected to pick up every aspect of a job which may otherwise have been split into different job roles. This can be challenging but beneficial in the long run and highly regarded by future employers. At least, at a small start-up you'll have the undivided attention of your teachers rather than competing alongside hundreds of other postgraduates.
Secondly, although you have access to considerably less colleagues, you'll have far more exposure to those who are higher up. Whereas it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for a postgraduate at a large firm to never personally encounter their CEO, in a start-up you may even find yourself sharing a desk space. One needs to weigh up whether it's better to have a high number of connections or a smaller number in higher places. Either way, the acknowledgement of your work by senior members of staff at a start-up will in turn lead you to feeling like a more valuable asset to the company. Feeling valued plays a huge part in job satisfaction and is an important factor to consider.
Furthermore, with fewer people standing between yourself and the decision makers, you're likely to have more of an influence on the future of a start-up company. If the business succeeds, your involvement within it will be a fantastic achievement to lay claim to and look great on your CV.
That said, you must take into account that a high proportion of start-ups will fail and so it's vital that you only work with those you truly believe in. Though no job in today's market can be said to be one hundred percent secure, if you're not the type to live on the edge, you may prefer to work for a more established company. There's no shame whatsoever in swaying towards a safer option and a big name on your CV can be just as impressive as a successful start-up. You may even consider enrolling in a grad scheme to further your training whilst simultaneously gaining work experience.
As discussed, both large companies and small start-ups can provide postgraduates with fantastic opportunities. Whilst the success of a large company speaks for itself, the potential of some start-ups can be too exciting to turn down. Before finalising a decision, consider your options and determine what it is that you're motivated by, and ultimately what will make you happy in the workplace.
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