Search For The Perfect Company

Maureen Bauer, Human Resource Professional

Although the job duties you perform are very important to your happiness, there are characteristics of a company that may or may not suit your preferences. One of the most common causes of dissatisfaction between a company and its employees is the size of the company itself. There are many differences between large and small companies, and this strongly affects their work environment. Although each company is unique, I have listed some differences you might find between a large and a small company. Think carefully about which of the two types of environments best suits you.

· Small companies frequently have less capital to stave off rough financial times or downturns in the economy. This factor can affect the stability of the organization. For this reason, small companies are inclined to attract and retain employees with risk-taking personalities. Larger companies tend to offer more security - but, as the "risk-takers" would tell you, it's at the cost of excitement!

· Large companies tend to be more hierarchical than smaller companies. When an organization grows beyond the numbers that are practical for team style management, it's necessary to create levels of supervision. This environment is a good fit for workers who thrive in a structured environment, but for those people who are more comfortable in a self-managed or team environment, a small company is more likely to make them happy.

· Small companies often require their employees to make more independent decisions than large companies and "wear more hats." Larger companies tend to have several tiers of the organization who must approve each decision. This "red-tape" can be very frustrating to someone who likes to be able to assess the situation and take action.

· Small companies tend to be staffed more sparingly than larger companies. This means more variety in each position, but it can be a bit frantic at times. If you are more comfortable with a position that can be summarized easily in a written job description, a larger company might better suit you.

There are additional aspects of an organization that you should consider when looking for a new job. For example, does the company hold the same overall values and beliefs that you do? Consider their stance in areas that are important to you such as a focus on family, environmental issues or community involvement.

Also, take time to ask questions about your future supervisor's management style. You might want to include interview questions such as, "How would I know if I am succeeding in this position" or "If I were struggling in some area of my job, how would you handle the situation?" In order to gather additional workplace information, feel free to request a brief meeting with someone who would be your coworker.

Overall, in today's fast-paced work/family juggling act, it's important to consider all aspects of a new position before making a change. If you find that you have no time for a life outside of work, even a dream job will become less dreamy over time.

Copyright 2001 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.