I put together a list of my favorite things about my company and small businesses that I’ve found make it a terrific experience right out of college. These are definitely some things new grads should consider when looking for jobs – so let’s jump in!

1.    More Responsibility

Small companies give you the opportunity to be responsible for bigger projects sooner. Why? A lot of times they don’t have the man power to do otherwise – so you’re constantly put in a position where you’re being asked to step up to the plate and get results.

2.    More work, less sleep

In small companies, if you don’t do something, most of the time it won’t get done. This means that you have to be very dependable, willing to work long hours, and be ready to be held accountable for your projects – for better or worse. This will really teach you to take ownership of every project you have and make sure it’s a success.

3.    You get to wear a lot of hats

I’m the webmaster, blogger, IT guy, stock boy, newsletter writer…you get the point. In my opinion, this just makes you a very well rounded employee and definitely gives you some job security, as you’ll be indispensable to your company.

4.    Merit based, usually not age

One of the advantages of small companies is that you often have the opportunity for promotion much more quickly than in larger firms. In large firms, you’re often going up against 4 or 5 other employees for a particular position. In boutique firms, as long as you prove yourself to be competent and capable, it’s very likely they’ll promote you right away.

Not to toot my own horn, but to give you an idea – I was an intern in January 2008 and I’ve been promoted four times since. However, you should also keep in mind that not all small companies may follow this model.

5.    Develop great relationships with your management team

With five employees, we have a very tight-knit group. It’s a terrific experience to be able to walk down the hall to the President and have a candid conversation about the client you represent, various projects, life – whatever you need to. We are definitely a team and we all understand how important each individual is to the company.

All in all, working for a small company can be a really rewarding experience, but you have to be willing to put in the extra time and effort it will take to help the company succeed.

So do you work at a small company? If not, how do you think big companies compare?