The first company I worked for after grad school had around 1,000 employees. It felt massive to me. Every day, I kept meeting new people. After a decade of working there, I still had not met everybody.

My next workplace had 80,000 employees, which made my first company feel incredibly small in comparison. Knowing everybody was out of the question. Then, I moved to a company that had 240,000 employees. Massive doesn’t even begin to describe it.

I didn’t intentionally plan for my career to progress in this way, but each role was vital to my growth and advancement. Every company, because of its size, presented me with different opportunities and benefits — along with various challenges and frustrations. The same would probably be true had I started at a large company and made my way towards a smaller company.

As you begin building your own career, you may find yourself wondering if you should take company size into consideration when applying for and accepting new roles. What size organization will be right for you?

The truth is that organizations of all different sizes come with both pros and cons.

Small-Scale Organizations

You might be surprised to learn that most businesses in the U.S. fall in this category: 99.9% of businesses across the U.S. are small businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. These organizations employ nearly half of all U.S. employees and might have just a couple of workers — like microenterprises and early startups — or up to 500 employees.

Pros:

• Learning opportunities: Smaller organizations can offer up great learning opportunities when you’re just starting out in your career. Because of the lower headcount, you’ll likely end up wearing multiple hats, exposing you to various aspects of the business. Take advantage of these opportunities — say yes to them, volunteer for them, and create them if you see a need. This exposure can help you determine what activities and roles you’re most interested in, allowing you to make more informed decisions about your next career steps. In the first company I worked in, I made it a point to learn about all of the products and solutions we offered. I learned more working there than in all my years of formal education.
• Flat organization: Smaller organizations are typically flat as opposed to hierarchical, meaning that everyone at the company has some decision-making power, not just those at the top of the company. Working at a smaller company will likely mean you’ll have more flexibility in decision-making and will encounter less bureaucracy. Even as an entry-level employee, you’ll also likely be just a level or two below the executive team, making them more accessible to you. When I worked at a smaller company, I made a habit of emailing the CEO and president with suggestions every few months. They were always gracious in replying, and sometimes, my ideas were implemented.
• Impact: In a smaller organization, your contributions can significantly impact the company’s success. If you embrace an intrapreneurial approach, you can quickly go from idea to execution. That’s how I initiated and ran a monthly educational forum for seven years at my organization that grew from a couple of attendees to hundreds of employees. This was useful for the company, but it also helped me expand my network and visibility.

Cons:

• Uncertainty: One of the most common assumptions about smaller companies and startups is that they’re generally unstable. In some ways, this is true —approximately 20% of new businesses fail within their first two years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). But these days, job security is a challenge regardless of company size and industry. In fact, all of the companies I’ve worked at, regardless of their size, have experienced layoffs.
• Limited resources: In a smaller company, budget constraints may limit the tools, benefits, and resources available to employees. For example, you might not get funding to go to a conference, or you might need to work with outdated software. Plus, smaller teams can mean more significant individual workloads, which could lead to burnout.
• Limited career growth: While a flat hierarchy can be beneficial for visibility, it can limit your advancement opportunities. At a smaller company, you can sometimes move up quickly depending on the speed of its growth and your performance. However, there are often limited opportunities at smaller organizations, especially if your goal is to land a specialized role. And if the company has no growth plan, you may find it hard to get managerial experience.

Medium-Scale Organizations

You probably hear a lot about both “big businesses” and “small businesses” in the U.S., but you likely don’t hear so much about mid-sized companies. There’s a simple reason for that: The federal government doesn’t formally recognize a mid-size category. But there is a big difference between working at an organization with 1,000 employees and one with 20,000. There’s no official definition, but for our purposes, let’s consider mid-sized organizations as employing 1,000 to several thousand employees.

Pros:

• Balanced structure: Mid-sized organizations usually strike a positive balance between the agility of startups and the structure of larger organizations. They may have established processes while still maintaining a degree of flexibility. For example, mid-sized companies usually have standard procedures in place to ensure quality and consistency. But these companies also typically empower their employees to suggest improvements or modifications based on their experience.
• More resources: Compared to small businesses, mid-sized companies usually have access to more resources. This includes financial resources, technology, and often better benefits for employees. You might benefit from educational reimbursement, or more systems and tools to support your work.
• Career growth: There may be more opportunities for career advancement compared to smaller organizations. While not as specialized as larger organizations, mid-sized companies still offer a variety of roles. The organizational structure is often more defined, which could allow you to see and explore more potential career paths. And you’ll have the opportunity to wear multiple hats and gain experience in different areas.

Cons:

• Limited specialization: Similar to smaller organizations, there may be fewer opportunities for highly specialized roles at mid-sized companies. Because of the limited resources, certain specialized roles might be outsourced to short-term contractors. For example, say the company has a need for advanced data analytics to optimize marketing strategies and campaigns. Due to limited resources and the specialized nature of data analysis, the company might choose to outsource this function to a data analytics consulting firm or hire a short-term contractor. This allows the company to access expert insights and analysis without the need to invest in building an in-house team of specialized data analysts. While beneficial for the company in terms of limiting costs, this could impact your career growth if you’re seeking expertise in a niche area.
• Bureaucracy: Depending on the organization, you’ll likely experience a bit more bureaucracy in decision-making at a mid-sized company. While bureaucracy has a bad reputation, some level of it is needed to create governance on important initiatives. However, it can be frustrating if you enjoy a more innovative and fast-moving environment. Bureaucracy can slow down the implementation of new ideas and initiatives.
• Market competition: Depending on the industry, mid-sized companies can also face stiff competition from both smaller and larger competitors. This competition can pose challenges in terms of market share and growth, which will bring a need for operational excellence and cost consciousness. Employees might feel significant pressure, leading to heavier workloads, heightened stress levels, and a need to innovate and meet stringent performance metrics to remain competitive.

Large-Scale Organizations

Large organizations are fewer in number — they make up less than .5% of all businesses in the U.S. These companies might have thousands to hundreds of thousands of employees. Large corporations also typically have more complex organizational structures, and they can sometimes be traded on the stock market. Often, these companies will be multinational and operate in multiple countries, managing a network of subsidiaries and affiliates.

Pros:

• Resources: A large company will usually have extensive resources, including comprehensive benefits, training programs, and well-established processes. You might even receive perks like gym reimbursement or access to free coaching. The tools at your disposal will probably be better too — like software to help visualize data or understand your clients’ buy patterns. All of this can contribute to a more comfortable work environment.
• Career options: In a large organization, you will find that career paths are often more abundant. You will have opportunities to go deeper into your role and specialize, explore a different function with a lateral move, or plan a promotion. Large organizations also typically have more formal processes around advancement, so you’ll have a better idea of what you need to do to rise up.
• Global opportunities: Many larger organizations also have a global presence, offering you opportunities for international assignments and exposure to diverse cultures and markets. If you’re eager to work abroad, working at a larger organization may be one of your best ways to make this move.

Cons:

• Bureaucracy: Large organizations may have more layers of hierarchy, leading to increased bureaucracy and slower decision-making. Tasks that you might be able to do in a few days at a small or mid-sized organization might take months in a larger company. New ideas may need to be socialized and approved by multiple people across levels before they can move forward. Things will feel like they’re moving really slowly, which could test your patience if you like a more fast-paced environment.
• Limited impact: Individual contributions may seem less noticeable in a larger organizational structure. You might end up feeling like a small cog in a big machine. Due to overspecialization, your work might be just a tiny piece in a much larger puzzle. While your work is still important, it might not feel like you’re having a significant impact.
• Office politics: In a large organization, it’s essential to know people across teams in order to complete your work. You will likely need to make an extra effort to network to increase your visibility and advance. Employees may even form “alliances” to consolidate power and protect their interests. This can result in exclusionary behaviors and a divided workplace.

• • •

As you consider your career options, it’s useful to be aware of the differences between small, medium, and large organizations. Each size has its unique set of challenges and advantages. However, it’s important to acknowledge that you might encounter variations on what’s typical —a small company might be bureaucratic, and a larger company might be innovative. It’s important to do your research on individual companies by reading about them and talking with people who work there.

Besides understanding the differences in company size, it’s equally important to know yourself. A small company might be a great fit for one person and a terrible fit for another. To help you sort through your options, reflect on these questions:

• Do you prefer a close-knit team (small), a balanced structure (medium), or a hierarchical setup (large)?
• Are you comfortable with broader responsibilities (small), or defined roles (medium/large)?
• Do you want on-the-job learning (small), or formal training (medium/large)?
• Do you value direct influence on decisions (small), or a defined role (medium/large)?
• Do you want a wide professional network (medium/large), or closer relationships (small)?
• Are you aiming for diverse experiences (small), or specialized expertise (medium/large)?
• Do you prefer a startup-like environment (small), established processes (large), or a little of both (medium)?
• Do you enjoy being involved in various aspects of the business (small), prefer working within a specific department (medium), or want to develop a specific niche (large)?
• Do you prioritize a hands-on approach to problem-solving (small), or formalized procedures (medium/large)?
• Are you looking for a workplace where innovation and experimentation are encouraged, even if it means taking risks (small), a workplace that balances innovation with stability (medium), or a workplace that values proven methods and minimizes risk (large)?

Keep in mind that your preferences might change over time — while you may start your career targeting a large multinational company, you might shift your interest over the years and prefer a startup (or the other way around). Ultimately, a job is a job, and what matters most is what you make of it.