Career Services

Table of Contents

• Handbook Home
• Planning Your Career
• Developing Your Career Plan
• Checklist for Job and Internship Search Success
• Transferable Skills
• Informational Interviewing
• Internships
• Job and Internship Search Strategies
• Mobile Phone Use Tips for the Job and Internship Search
• Job Fair Success
• Developing a Personal Brand
• Networking
• Using Social Media
• Large vs Small Companies
• Resumes and CV's: The Difference
• Writing Your Resume
• Action Verbs
• Categories and Examples Using Action Verbs
• Resume Examples
• Job and Internship Search Correspondence
• Outline Cover Letter
• Letter Examples
• Sending Resumes and Letters
• Developing and Using a Portfolio
• Interviewing
• Types of Interviews
• Why Aren't You Getting Job Offers?
• Evaluating a Job Offer
• Negotiating Salary and Benefits
• Deciding on Graduate or Professional School
• Writing Personal Statements
• References: The Importance of

• Contact Career Services
• Career Services Home
• UMD Home

Career Handbook

Large vs Small Companies

Small companies are generally privately owned and operated with fewer than 500 employees and/or less than $7 million in annual receipts. They can be an important, yet often overlooked, consideration in your job or internship search.

IS A SMALL COMPANY RIGHT FOR YOU?

Life in a small organization can be very different from life in a large organization. You should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each and make an informed decision about which environment is most appropriate for you.

Advantages of a small company over a large one:

• You may be given more responsibility and may not be as limited by a "job description."
• You may be allowed to use your own initiative, rather than being closely supervised.
• Your ideas and suggestions may be given more attention. You may have more clout.
• Career advancement may be rapid in a growing company.
• You are likely to be involved in the whole organization, not limited to one area.
• The environment may be more informal and friendly. There may be fewer rules and policies.
• You may have the chance to be involved in the growth of something great.

Disadvantages of a small company over a large one:

• Many small businesses fail; you may have less job security.
• There may be lower starting salaries and fewer benefits.
• You may put in longer hours.
• A dominant leader can control the entire organization. This can lead to more "political games."
• You must be able to work with everyone within the organization.
• Both your successes and failures may be more visible.
• You may have fewer resources and support.

ARE YOU RIGHT FOR A SMALL COMPANY?

Because of the different nature of a small business, different qualities in employees may be needed. You will do well if you are:

• Self motivated
• A generalist with many different skills
• A good communicator
• Enthusiastic
• A quick learner
• Able to get things done on your own

FINDING A JOB IN A SMALL BUSINESS

Getting a job in a small company may require more work on your part, but the jobs are certainly there. When approaching a small company for a job, you may find the following differences in hiring practices: