Employer Characteristics

Type of Employer

Advantages

Disadvantages

Big

Company

Chance to meet lots of people and grow a big network

Likely more structured and defined role

May be overwhelming

Role may be very siloed and narrow

Small

Company

You may know all or most of your colleagues.

Chance to develop a small, but deep, network

You might have more variety in your tasks due to lack of staff

Insular culture due to fewer perspectives

Less room for growth as there are fewer levels to move up into or fewer other departments to move laterally

New

Company

Chance to be part of growing and establishing something

Likely fast paced with lots of variety as there are no established structures in place

rack record, so you may be getting into something that turns out different than expected

Lack of structures means lots of volatility

Old

Company

Established structures and best practices identified

Proven track record provides stability and security

Might be less innovative or less receptive to change

Colleagues might be closed to new staff, hard to establish credibility

Brand Name

Great résumé builder, company’s brand casts a halo effect on your qualifications

Glamour and prestige that accompanies working for a famous name

People may have preconceived notions of the brand that cast a negative effect on you

Fewer brands means a more narrow search

Unknown

Brand

There are more of these companies out there.

Not everyone can work at the market leader

Today’s unknown might be tomorrow’s market leader

Not as valuable for marketing for your next job

Harder to market yourself for conferences and professional association leadership positions