Move to a small company

[whoamI00]

I'm working for a big corporation but our team is small. My colleagues are knowlegeable and generally good. My position is secure but not challenging and my salary is low and there is little prospect of a big pay rise. Since we have a new manager, I feel sidelined.

I'm considering moving to a small company. The pay is better. What I'm concerning about is the company is relatively newly established and not that reputable. It's a small industry so if I don't like the company or worst case scenario if I'm being made redundant, I'll struggle to find a job in the same industry.

If I start a new job, I'd like to work for the company at least 10 years..

In this case, would you consider moving to the small company? Would it be worth it to send an email to my manager if he could review my salary?

No, I wouldn't (having just quit 2 jobs for really shitty small employers); particularly if they've already got a poor reputation.

Before you decide to jump ship, it's worth considering what you seriously want from your current employer (that is possible), then having a chat with your manager. I wouldn't jump in with an email first, I would bring it up in a 1:1 or your annual review. Ask if they have any guidance on what you could do to progress in your career. Does your company have a graduate training scheme? If so, they must have some sort of formal career path mapped out - what is this route and how can you get onto that path?

• Could you expand your role by taking on more responsibility (possibility by assisting another team), and would you be happy with this if your salary remained the same?

• Is there any external training you could do (that your company may pay or partially pay for) that would help you move up in your career?

I'd definitely speak to your manager first about how you're feeling. If you like your team, you're already very lucky as it's not always easy to find a job where you get on well with your co-workers and properly gel with them.

If you know you'll struggle to find another job within the industry, that's another reason to really explore your options with your current employer before jumping ship.

Small companies can be great though so don't dismiss them just on size, if you do eventually decide to leave.

Small companies want to you to work 7 days a week for paying 5.

They might pay intro pension contributions straight away but that's all they know.

Get a contract before the 4th week......

When you say not that reputable - do you mean that due to their age and size they have no track record or do you mean that they are known for producing low-quality output - ie a poor reputation?

If it's the latter, I'd stay put or consider a change of industry If it's the former, I'd ask for an informal chat with some of the employees to gauge what it's like to work there. How they feel about their job security, future in the company, the culture etc. Ask about growth plan, what are the company focusing on for the next 3-5 years.

Working for a small company can be great - you get an opportunity to work and learn from senior staff, often being given more responsibility at an earlier stage (if you are keen to learn this is a big bonus - if you are not probably been staying put), you get involved in a wider range of company activities and can have influence over how the company evolves.

Have you met the MD? you should! - do people rate them? What kind of leader are they, ask why they set up the company, ask about their vision, how they like to work etc, their values. Maybe it's worth checking with Companies House to check on their financial situation?