Small or big firm?
Small or big firm?
(OP)
I'm trying this again b/c my previous post was deleted...
I'm early on in my career, 2 years out of school, and am trying to decide what career path would be better in terms of experience and advancement possibilities: a large firm(international type design/construction firms) or a smaller firm (20 person staff, regional-type firm).
All of my experience so far (current job and internships) is with the smaller type firms, working on residential and commercial buildings as a consultant to architects. This is the path I've envisioned for myself for awhile now, but I'm starting to have second thoughts.
I really like the ability to work on a pretty wide variety of projects and participate in all aspects of the building design that comes with a smaller consulting firm. On the other hand, I see a relatively limited opportunity for advancement working for a smaller firm.
With a larger company, I'm somewhat concerned that I could possibly be pigeon holed into doing the same type of design work over and over, and would end up with relatively narrow experience. The plus side is that there may be more opportunities for advancement and moving into management positions.
I'd really appreciate some different opinions/observations on the pros/cons of each career path.
Thanks!
I'm early on in my career, 2 years out of school, and am trying to decide what career path would be better in terms of experience and advancement possibilities: a large firm(international type design/construction firms) or a smaller firm (20 person staff, regional-type firm).
All of my experience so far (current job and internships) is with the smaller type firms, working on residential and commercial buildings as a consultant to architects. This is the path I've envisioned for myself for awhile now, but I'm starting to have second thoughts.
I really like the ability to work on a pretty wide variety of projects and participate in all aspects of the building design that comes with a smaller consulting firm. On the other hand, I see a relatively limited opportunity for advancement working for a smaller firm.
With a larger company, I'm somewhat concerned that I could possibly be pigeon holed into doing the same type of design work over and over, and would end up with relatively narrow experience. The plus side is that there may be more opportunities for advancement and moving into management positions.
I'd really appreciate some different opinions/observations on the pros/cons of each career path.
Thanks!





RE: Small or big firm?
thread731-199150: Small company or large or career change turned up straight away and I'm sure there was another that I'd posted to.
thread732-47523: Public vs. Private vaguely relevant.
thread731-256277: Help/ Advice needed for mid career engineer may also apply.
I'm pretty sure there's been at least one other but as you're the one that wants to know I'll let you continue the search.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Small or big firm?
Keep in mind that your decision is never permanent and if you find yourself unhappy where you are, look for something different. You have a long career ahead of you and it's almost a guarantee that you won't be at the same place for the duration so go with whichever gives you the best feeling now, and re-evaluate regularly.
RE: Small or big firm?
In bigger companies you can be lost in the crowd...you're just a number.
Chris
SolidWorks 09 SP4.1
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion
RE: Small or big firm?
RE: Small or big firm?
But I have heard just the opposite from others. Flip the coin.
Any company is only as good as it is going to be...and your atitude may have a lot to do with that....
RE: Small or big firm?
RE: Small or big firm?
An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a very narrow field
RE: Small or big firm?
RE: Small or big firm?
I have worked in smaller firms, one specializing in tensioned fabric design and a second which does all typical forms of construction and have been thinking about applying at some larger companies to widen my consulting experience.
RE: Small or big firm?
In the larger firm, you have to do a lot more to distinguish yourself. You're one of many. You get what the masses get unless you are outstanding. Usually in the large firms there are two career paths...management and technical. Those who choose management and survive it will be rewarded with more perqs and salary. Those who choose the technical side will typically find a slow grind to the "top", which is still below the management side! Believe me...I've been there. I worked completely on the technical side in the very large firm. After 15 years became a minor "officer". At 17 years, a VP. I was given the highest technical position in the company (1 of 25 at that level), but my salary lagged behind a manager with comparable experience.
In the mid-level firm, I was both technical and management. My management position was 2nd to the president(1 of 4 in that position...all equal in responsibility and position). My technical position was high because of my experience with the larger firm...they wanted to emulate the larger firm, so several of us were accorded rather high technical "respect" for our past experience.
In my own firms (twice in 25 years), none of that crap prevails. I do what I choose, when I choose and answer only to my clients (...well, and the wife!). I enjoy that. I'm not much of a corporate player...I hate corporate politics. I enjoy working with other engineers, not other managers. I don't mind running a business, but I hate the administrative tasks. I'm decisive, I just don't want to always be the person to do the mundane admin and management tasks. My associates understand that. One of them picks up a large part of the admin. and the rest chip in. ALL of the associates in my company are ENGINEERS first...anything else is second.
RE: Small or big firm?
Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."
RE: Small or big firm?
My business is small, but even though I am probably looked as insane on what and how fast I want work done, I am much more willing to let certain things slide. I felt like the places I worked before were like this. Imagine doing a 20+ hour straight job, then coming in after 4 hours of sleep, and then the boss either lets you go home or not, early. The larger places I don't think will let this happen. That's my crazy example of somewhere.
I also loved how the smaller places let the owners families kids run around or bring pets and stuff. That brings a nice break to all the office nonsense.
Civil Development Group, LLC
Los Angeles Civil Engineering specializing in Hillside Grading
http://www.civildevelopmentgroup.com
http://www.civildevelopmentgroup.com/blog
RE: Small or big firm?
Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."
RE: Small or big firm?
For example, a director or the second largest (I think) engineering company in my country had a junior develop a design for a simple tilt-up building, however both of the engineers involved were heavy mining engineers. The design they came up with was so out there that the builder refused to build it without a second engineer signing off on the plans. They had completely ignored the BCA (building code of Aust) AKA the end result was a redesign by rowingengineer.
An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a very narrow field
RE: Small or big firm?
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Small or big firm?
Training and experience are usually greater in a larger firm; although you might get pidgeon-holed into mundane tasks with a larger firm. In a smaller firm, you're more likely to have a broad range of exposure and responsibility.
RE: Small or big firm?
Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."
RE: Small or big firm?
Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."
RE: Small or big firm?
To the best of my knowledge we have no ethics hotline. Also, most of the worst ethical issues I've seen have been by senior staff.
Of course, perhaps my definition of 'ethical issues' is different from yours too.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Small or big firm?
Large firms offer more training, policies and procedures to help you determine what they think is the right and wrong way to do your job, and usually a competitive salary and good to excellent benefits. There is, at least in theory, more opportunity for in-company advancement or lateral job moves or changes of location simply because there are more positions and job titles available. There is usually more specialization leading to narrower experience for each person. Large firms also tend to be far more impersonal, bureaucratic and rigid in their dealings with employees, often using a "human resources" department for this purpose.
Small firms can offer more variety of assignments WITHIN a given job description, a wider scope of responsibility, and enough rope to hang yourself with. Pay can be far poorer OR far better than in a larger firm. The same with retention in slow times- it can be worse OR better. Benefits are usually poorer. They're less impersonal in their dealings with their employees (that can be good OR bad), and they're also usually less "skilled" in those dealings. There are fewer policies and procedures, less bureaucracy, sometimes less opportunity for mentorship, and usually less training. Advancement is either by growth or by leaving and finding another place to work.
RE: Small or big firm?
I also feel that advancement in a small company is highly dependant upon what the exact needs of the company are as opposed to your seniority or ability. If the guy above you quits, it's your job now whether you want it or not.