Corporate Culture: The Size of a Company

What size company would you like to work for?–a large corporation, mid-size company or a boutique, family-size business.

The right type of company will make all the difference of whether or not you feel like you’re stuck in a cubicle with three walls and a bottomless pit as a floorboard. With large companies, each worker has its place, but the workers do nothing more than their assigned duties. For example, I have a friend who works for a large corporation as a graphic artist. He beautifies all the fabulous models you see in the magazines; just a tip, they’re not really skinny and they have lip hair, but that’s beside the point. He’s also a computer geek, so he can maneuver an Apple computer like a flying mantis. But if his email software glitches, he can’t troubleshoot that on his own. It’s not within his job description. That’s for the IT (information technology) guys.

Some of you might say, “Great. The less work I have to do, the better.” But for others, this boundful box may seem frustrating, especially if you have more than one skill. Your hands are tied, even if the task seems like a natural transition from your job description to the next–no can do. The upside is that large corporations tend to pay higher salaries. They have the money to do so. They oftentimes have stockholders funding their capital. And merging with other companies tends to be commonplace, which could lead to massive layoffs.

Employers are apt to wearing many hats at small and mid-size companies. They don’t have the financial resources to have it any other way. Administrators double as receptionists, mail clerks, bike messengers and Mr. Coffee. Employees in this work environment get to think outside of the box on many levels, which stretches job experience and skill set. They both tend to give out more job titles to over compensate for the low salaries they’re paying their employees. However, red-tape enthusiasts and hierarchy buffs won’t thrive in this environment because you actually have to work.

A Word About Work Ethics

People do strange things to get ahead, and oftentimes, will mash on anyone along the way to get there. This is what people do for money. Competition is fierce, even if there are only five of you in the office. Your fellow co-workers will rat you out if they have to. Don’t do or say anything in front of them that you wouldn’t do or say in front of your boss.

Browsing the web and checking your personal email account in the workplace will certainly give your co-workers some ammunition. A stunt like this could land you into the unemployment’s office. And no one should send–or have sent–questionable emails to a corporate email account. Jokes, granddaughter photos and hijacked software should be sent via personal email, so you can check it at home because companies have access to this email account. There is no real workplace privacy.