Analyst Graduate Career Growth in a Big Vs Small Company

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  Halo375 on 12/10/2019 - 20:21

  +1

  There’s a lot of generalisations here but let me try my best. First - focus on the job they’ve asked you to do. Are you happy doing that for two years because that’ll be the minimum time you’ll spend in that role before they will think of moving you somewhere else. In my experience larger companies have more staff movement so more jobs available. Challenge is they also have more staff to choose from for those roles. Smaller companies have less opportunities to offer you so they keep expanding your job role to compensate. You will learn more in a smaller company, you will earn more in a bigger company.

  In either role if you work hard to help the company, work well with others, are open to change and sharing ideas, then I reckon you’d be a valuable asset they’d want to keep, train, develop and promote.

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    poormansfriedchicken on 13/10/2019 - 08:13

    Are you happy doing that for two years because that’ll be the minimum time you’ll spend in that role before they will think of moving you somewhere else.

    I'm happy to try it as I think it is one step further of becoming a business analyst. The position that I'm chasing does not exist in my current company and although business analysis is performed there is no confirmed time frame on how long I will need to be at this position to get promoted. Promotions only exist once there is a job opening or if a person resigns.

    larger companies have more staff movement so more jobs available

    The plan is to accept this offer and attempt to get myself a better understanding of the position that I am chasing through networking. Once I have completed my 6 month contract, there is an chance of being re-hired by the company.

    My current position is a permanent role.

    You will learn more in a smaller company, you will earn more in a bigger company.

    I'm looking to advance my skills and am chasing the job title. Would this be better in a bigger organisation?

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  serpserpserp on 12/10/2019 - 21:13

  You haven't discussed salary. Are you taking the new job because you are being paid more? Is this important to you?

  Did you ask in your interview if being a Data Analyst in this workplace lends itself to BA work? Did you ask if they offer support for your to educate yourself in that space?

  Becoming a BA is nothing hard to aspire to, if your small company doesn't seem like it can give you the opportunities to do this work, then going to a bigger place will def give you a better run at getting some basic BA experience. But you have to have a boss that is willing to support you doing this.

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    poormansfriedchicken on 13/10/2019 - 08:25

    You haven't discussed salary. Are you taking the new job because you are being paid more? Is this important to you?

    The new position has offered me a few more thousand dollars but that isn't a big concern. I'm taking this job title as I believe an data analyst position is one step closer to becoming a business analyst in comparison to a level 1 support position.

    Did you ask in your interview if being a Data Analyst in this workplace lends itself to BA work? Did you ask if they offer support for your to educate yourself in that space?

    I had not ask if this position had any career growth as this position is a 6 month contract position. I have mentioned that I'd like to progress my career in this field of work and they did not mention anything to make me doubt this was the right step forward.

    going to a bigger place will def give you a better run at getting some basic BA experience

    I'm going into this new position with this mindset in place.

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      serpserpserp on 13/10/2019 - 09:41

      I had not ask if this position had any career growth as this position is a 6 month contract position.

      Did you at least ask what the real prospects are of keeping employment after the 6 months? 6 months will only give you enough time to really do data analyst work.

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        poormansfriedchicken on 13/10/2019 - 11:33

        keeping employment after the 6 months

        I had not asked this as I had only believed that experience in this new position would get me closer to becoming a business analyst. It was mentioned that there was possibility of keeping employment after my contract had finished based on my performance. I enjoy analysis and hope it will be more beneficial to swap to a new position (instead of troubleshooting).

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  H E B on 12/10/2019 - 22:44

  My thoughts are:

  Will I be able to branch out from a data analyst position to a business analyst position?

  Sure. But this is something you should discuss with your prospective employer and see timeframe, support, pathways etc. Otherwise it's hard to know.

  What are some key differences of working out of a small vs big company at an entry level position?

  Small is like working with family, in a good family even when you don't always get along you learn to love them all the same. Big everyone is different and you'll get support in ways that your immediate smaller family can't but at the same time they might not love you all the same.

  Would I be able to progress my career and hone my skills faster in a smaller or bigger company?

  That is mostly up to you. Then depends on the bigger company. Some will pidgeon you into a specialised area and that's that, whereas others will be flexible and reward your skills and motivation to move. Depending on the small buiness you currently work at, chances are if you're very happy there they are happy with you too and if they had the future areas / roles you want to work in they will better support you into moving towards that role quicker than a big company.

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    poormansfriedchicken on 13/10/2019 - 08:33

    this is something you should discuss with your prospective employer and see timeframe, support, pathways etc. Otherwise it's hard to know.

    This position is a contract position with the option to renew after 6 months. I'm stuck in this role for the next 6 months and am not sure whether post 6 months I will be offered a perm position. My current position is a perm full time.

    but at the same time they might not love you all the same.

    My concerns are that I'll just be another statistic in this workplace where my work won't be appreciated and that I won't be given the opportunities to grow my career.

    chances are if you're very happy there they are happy with you too

    I enjoy the current position but there's not much growth in regards to what I wish to accomplish in the future. I'm not sure whether i'd be exposed to more relevant information in my current or my future company.

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      H E B on 13/10/2019 - 19:34

      Interesting choice.

      You're going to move from a perm. full time position straight to a 6month contract. I'm assuming the money is heaps better, don't forget contractors probably don't get superannuation or holiday pay so factor that in. In certain jobs it's not unusual to just keep rolling over contractors. Depending on the industry contractors are on the up anyway.

      Although if you've already accepted the offer and again I'm assuming you've done the right thing and let your current employers know you're leaving then isn't it all a little too late to worry about these things you're asking?

      Tip for next time, network with your new prospective employer's employees and ask them those questions PRIOR to ditching a permanent full time job for a 6 month contract.

      But all that aside, if you want something enough I hear it's all possible with time and effort. You don't have to settle for something you're not happy with and keep working to achieve your goals.

      My concerns are that I'll just be another statistic in this workplace where my work won't be appreciated and that I won't be given the opportunities to grow my career. I enjoy the current position but there's not much growth in regards to what I wish to accomplish in the future. I'm not sure whether i'd be exposed to more relevant information in my current or my future company.

      In a large busy workplace it's easy to become another statistic if you let yourself be. Just remember mummy won't be there to look after you now and you'll have to dictate your career, not someone else. Good on you for taking a chance and seeing what's on the other side.

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        poormansfriedchicken on 13/10/2019 - 21:53

        perm. full time position straight to a 6 month contract

        Life is about taking risks :)

        I'm going from an level one support position to an analyst position(which is where I want to be two years down the track). I've only been at my current position for 3 months. Money is the same but I believe the experience would be more beneficial for me at the new company.

        Although if you've already accepted the offer and again I'm assuming you've done the right thing and let your current employers know you're leaving then isn't it all a little too late to worry about these things you're asking?

        Going to accept the job offer this week and want to know what i'm getting myself into. Should I resign after I've signed the contract or once I get a signed copy sent back to me?

        Tip for next time, network with your new prospective employer's employees and ask them those questions PRIOR to ditching a permanent full time job for a 6 month contract.

        Thank you ! I will note this down and make sure that I ask it in the future.

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  bluesky on 13/10/2019 - 21:07

  What are some key differences of working out of a small vs big company at an entry level position?
  Would I be able to progress my career and hone my skills faster in a smaller or bigger company?

  Cannot speak to your area specifically. But, as for small vs big company, working in small companies can offer huge advantages, if these are your criteria:

  • Desire a highly autonomous working environment.
  • Want to have more creative input, ideas, and solutions into the area.
  • Less work-place politics, a more friendly environment.
  • A challenging job, and more opportunity to get into many different areas.
  • Not doing the same mundane task repeatedly, and not just being a cog in a big wheel.

  Not saying big companies cannot offer the above at all, just more likely with small companies.

  It is doubly advantageous if the company is a fast-growing one. Then, it is possible to progress rapidly up the ladder, something less likely with big companies. A small company is also a fertile training ground if you have a goal maybe to run a business one day in a similar/related area.

  Of course, the assumption, if you stay on in a small company is: you are still learning new things, amassing new skills, enjoying your job and not being stagnant.

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    poormansfriedchicken on 13/10/2019 - 22:00

    I'll miss those things for sure but I don't know if I want to take the long route (level 1 support > level 2 support > analyst > consultant > b.a) to the top. My current company has under 40 members and there are other people in the same position who have been there longer than me.

    I love the my current company, am learning new things and am enjoying the job. It just I want to have a taste of the corporate world and will evaluate my progress once my contract ends.

    I'm just curious on how i'll fit in and whether i'll learn at a high pace within a bigger company.

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      bluesky on 13/10/2019 - 22:13

      +1

      Of course, everyone has to make their own judgement call, based on circumstances, as to what is the best choice. Cheers and all the best.