From a Big Fish in a Small Pond

After graduating from co-op management program at a prestigious school, most of my friends were applying for positions in big corporations such as Telus, Proctor & Gamble, Toyota, TD, to name a few. Unlike any of my friends, I shied away from big brand names and went into a medium size business in the industrial sector.

When asked why, I replied “why not?”….but without any clear reason in the back of my head. I wanted to shy away from the norm, the rat race, to create my own experience, make my own path, shape my career roadmap in the way I want.

After three years of working in a medium size company, I now know that logical reason behind the rebellious instinct.  For pure adventure, entrepreneurial reasons – and that I was not concerned with make big bucks at the time.  Already free from my OSAP loans, I didn’t need to play safe with my decision; I wanted to experience entrepreneurship by working in intimate environment where decisions are made faster and direct impact and results were more a

pparent.

With that said, I wouldn’t recommend trading off money-making opportunities at corporate level for the need to experience the world. Choose your own battle, but remember, money can come later with experience.

Working in Corporate vs. Small-Medium Enterprises.

I chose an industrial distributor in the capital goods sector with manufacturing capability – a place I have never experience through co-op. Started off spearheading the estimating department pricing projects as a Project Estimator, after one year I was been given the authority to take command of the company’s Marketing initiatives

as a Marketing Analyst.  The company created the position for me after my recommendation and proposal for a marketing department to be established to growth sales.

When asked by others what has been my most significant accomplishment professionally, this was it.

Having directorial dominance in a field that I love – Marketing, a position where I can be creative and entrepreneurial, and having a direct working relationship with great business minds – the President and the Vice-President of this 80+ employee company. While I wore many hats doing design, executive and direct marketing programs throughout the four branches nationwide, the work was expanding my strategic and visionary through discussions with the owners.

At the occasional meet-ups with friends from the same graduating class discussing work, sometimes I doubted about my choice to stray away from corporate companies.  As much as I love my job at the company very much, I can’t help to speculate the fact that maybe it would’ve been better for my skill and finances if I went to the other side.

So how do you choose between either during job search? What decisions do you need to consider?

Choosing your first full time employment after graduation is a very serious decision. You are choosing the cornerstone of your career, setting the path for your career road map.

Let me help you put into perspective choosing between jobs at corporate level and small medium enterprises.

Pros & Cons of Corporate & SMEs…