Small Business, Big Learnings: What Graduates Gain From Starting Their Careers With SMEs

Graduates tend to be ambitious and excited to start their careers. If they’ve been given opportunities to join larger corporations, then they’ll usually take them without question. After all, working with a major tech company or international corporation as your first job can be a great way to kickstart your career. But is it the right first step for you?

Joining and working for a smaller business can be equally, if not more, fulfilling than an entry-level role at a major company. SMEs can be the perfect starting point for graduates that want to build their skills and be given more opportunities to grow, contribute and innovate, so they’re equally worth serious consideration.

Smaller teams mean more responsibility

One of the downsides to working in a large corporation is that you can often feel like a very small part of something much larger, so much so that your contributions feel insignificant. It can quickly strip any sense of ambition and excitement that a graduate has, especially once they realise just how small their position and work is within a larger company.

But that’s not the case for smaller teams and businesses.

A smaller group of people means that you typically have more responsibilities due to making up a larger portion of the team. This leads to more recognition for your contributions to the company, and it creates a stronger sense of teamwork and collaboration. In a smaller company, the culture is more tight-knit which leads to more positive interactions, greater responsibility and exposure.

More learning and development opportunities

Being part of a smaller team also means that you’re closer to the work and projects that directly influence the success of the business. All actions that you take will have a bigger impact on how the company operates, leading to a deeper understanding and learning of business operations.

This also means that you can develop new skills and experience new things on a regular basis. You’ll be faced with new challenges on a regular basis, and you’ll have the opportunity to learn new skills and train for different and diverse roles. Graduates are highly receptive to learning, and small businesses can take advantage of this to help shape their careers. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship that can lead to faster promotions and more future opportunities.

A smaller team also means more opportunities to shadow and learn from senior members. It’s not uncommon in a larger company for someone to rarely see their seniors, and you’ll seldom be given the chance to learn from them. In a smaller company, there are far more opportunities to ask questions and receive insights on how the business functions and the skills that one needs to grow a successful career.