Looking For A Job? Top 5 Reasons You Should Consider Working For A Small Company

By Lilian Wamaitha

When you are looking to land your first job, it is tempting to want to work for big companies like Safaricom, Delloitte, Kenya Airways and the likes.

While working for a big company has its advantages, working for an SME is actually the better option if you are just starting out.

Here are five valid reasons why you should consider applying for a job at one of the SMEs in Kenya;

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1. Its more personal

A smaller working environment, a small workforce means that you get integrated in every department of the company and get to interact with all your colleagues.

Unlike big companies where you rarely interact with everyone, an SME creates more of a ‘family-like’ environment.

Departments in small companies are more interconnected which means more efficient communication as well as a better understanding of your role.

2. Working in an SME broadens your skills set

When you understand your job, it means that you get more from it. This is one of the thing than you can’t find working in a big company.

Working for a small company allows you to understand your role and in doing so, understand the company as a whole which broadens your skills.

In an SME you are able to work with people in different department and can take on different tasks as well. This allows you to develop transferrable skills which will look really great on your CV.

3. Keeps things interesting

The ability to work in different departments and undertake different task breaks the monotony of doing the same thing over and over again.

If it’s that event coming up in the organization, you can be part of the team that makes it happen.

With such opportunities you will be able to identify skills and abilities that you never even knew you had.

It could also be a turning point in your career if you realize that you love marketing more than IT or any other job.

4. You get noticed for your work

Working in small company means that you get noticed when you do a good job.

You are more likely to get a promotion in a small company that a large one where you have to compete with so many people.

Given that you will have the opportunity to handle different projects, you will have time to prove your worth and get noticed in the process.

An SME also means that you could be working more closely with senior management which gets you noticed more.

This is unlike in a larger organization where there is a lot of bureaucracy and there a lot of voices willing to be heard also.

5. You have more career prospects

One advantage of working in a small company is that a faster career advancement is likely to come your way unlike when you are working in a big company.

An increase in your responsibilities and getting noticed will get you promotions and salary increases.

It goes without saying that if you are looking to grow in your career, you should consider starting out in a small company.

The SME industry in Kenya is growing and with it numerous career opportunities. While it’s not bad aspiring working in a big company, small companies offer better growth prospects before moving on to work for the who is who in the business world. There is a lot that SMEs in terms of work experience that you will not find in the big giants in Kenya.

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