What makes working for SMEs different?
Now that you have a clearer idea of what an SME is, it’s time to consider some of the ways in which working for a smaller business might be different to a larger one.
Watch this short video from recruitment agency Robert Half, which describes some of the benefits of working for a small company.
There are many ways in which a small business differs from a large one, and you’ll continue to explore some of these differences as you progress through the course, but first you’ll focus on one of the key criteria for an SME, number of employees.
Some of the ways in which the number of employees might impact on your day to day experience in the workplace are outlined in this table.
| Small business (<50) | Large business (>250) | |
|---|---|---|
| Opportunity to get to know everyone | Much easier in an environment with fewer people. | You’ll get to know everyone in your team, but probably not across the organisation. |
| Relationship with top management | You might see them regularly or even share open plan office space with them. | You might see them occasionally at all-staff meetings or when they visit your department. |
| Understanding the wider business | Easy access to colleagues with different responsibilities, usually in the same building. | More effort might be required to meet and talk with people from different areas of the business, especially if they are based in different locations. |
| Level of responsibility | Probably quite high early on as there are fewer staff involved in each business function. | Offers the potential for a more gradual increase with support from more experienced colleagues. |
How you perceive these statements, i.e. whether they feel like challenges or opportunities, will largely come down to personal preference.
Here are some other ‘pros and cons’ that are commonly referred to when you research this topic:
- Your contribution is more likely to make a tangible impact in an SME with fewer employees, but your mistakes could also have an impact so you will need to be resilient. You’ll look at developing your resilience later in the course.
- In an SME there will be less competition for internal opportunities and you may even be able to create some for yourself, but they might arise less often than they do in a large business.
- An SME may be more likely to operate regionally and away from big cities, so you’ll need to think about the kind of environment you want to live and work in.
- In an SME you might be required to take on multiple roles, whereas in a larger company you can usually focus on one.
- An SME employer might find it easier to offer flexible working in a way that works for you than a large employer with strict policies in place.
Graduates into Work: Understanding and Interacting with SME Employers
Graduates into Work: Understanding and Interacting with SME Employers
Reach your personal and professional goals
Unlock access to hundreds of expert online courses and degrees from top universities and educators to gain accredited qualifications and professional CV-building certificates.
Join over 18 million learners to launch, switch or build upon your career, all at your own pace, across a wide range of topic areas.
