The Corporate World Gets a Bad Rap But Is It Right for You?
by Lauren Nickels on April 3, 2019 in MindSpring News
From red tape to politics to strict hierarchies, the stereotypes of the corporate world are far from welcoming. But working for a corporation can come with plenty of advantages that make it the perfect choice for some professionals. So, how do you decide if it’s the right fit for you? Here are four major factors to consider if you’re curious about the corporate lifestyle.
Top Benefits
Working for a corporation can come with major perks. Because their workforces are so much larger, benefits like health insurance are simply cheaper – and better quality. Meanwhile, perks like onsite childcare and state-of-the-art gym facilities can be gamechangers. On top of “normal” benefits, like 401(k) match and PTO, they have the resources to provide bonuses like an employee cafeteria or extended maternity leave. You also have access to HR personnel who can help answer any questions you have about taxes, retirement planning, and more.
Smaller companies rarely have the ability to extend the same caliber of benefits to their employees. But for some, having direct contact with key decision makers is worth that sacrifice. Being able to influence business decisions and assist in organizational strategy may be more valuable in the long-term than a few extra vacation days.
Regional Opportunity
Relocating to a new city can be intimidating, and the thought of rebuilding your professional and social circles is a daunting one. Fortunately, many corporations are national by nature, drawing in transplants from across the country who have already faced the same struggle and can show you the ropes. Additionally, larger companies hold regular networking and social events for their staff, such as office happy hours or lunch-and-learns – great opportunities to get to know like-minded professionals. They also tend to emphasize networking in general, so even if you’ve been in the region for years, there are consistently occasions to connect with new individuals throughout your company and industry.
Smaller businesses may hold similar events, but they won’t have the same reach or resources. That said, smaller organizations can lead to stronger relationships with your colleagues due to a greater emotional investment in the success of the business. In addition, you often spend more one-on-one time with your team members, allowing you to develop personal rapport that may not be possible in a large enterprise.
Formal Structure
Where smaller businesses may expect employees to wear multiple hats or juggle a variety of responsibilities, working for a corporation tends to come with more clearly defined roles and expectations. Typically, employees are operating in a single department and reporting to a designated person.
This guaranteed stability can be comforting to the right personality types – your career is on a predetermined path with formal evaluation structures and mechanisms in place to offer you support. On the flip side, more creative types may find this restricting and frustrating. Projects are often filtered through rigorous processes and reviewed by stakeholders, meaning the final product may be a far cry from the original concept.
High Pressure
Corporations have reputations to uphold and high expectations of their employees, often resulting in rigid deadlines, long hours in the office, and increased competition between colleagues. For these reasons, corporate offices tend to be more political than their smaller counterparts.
That said, many people thrive in this kind of environment and find stress motivating. By tackling challenges head-on and clocking a few extra hours, you can quickly climb the ladder to corporate success and take on greater responsibilities.
Should You Work in the Corporate World?
At the end of the day, businesses don’t just fall into the categories of “corporations” and “other” – every organization varies in the opportunities they can offer their employees. Working for a large enterprise is a unique experience, but it takes the right personality to overcome the stereotypes and make the most of it.
Evaluating your ideal office culture fit isn’t a cut and dry decision – let’s talk about your career goals and what you’re looking for in your next team.
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