Should I take the jump and join a large company or small startup?
Two Paths Diverged in the Woods
Should I take the jump and join a large company or small startup?
I’m at that stage in my career where I need to take
a big jump and get a job with a large company or exciting
startup. I’m an MCSE+Internet and an MCT. I’m good at
my job as an NT admin working with IIS, Proxy Server,
clients (Windows 95/98/NT Workstation), and database design
and implementation (thus far, using Access). I also do
some Web design (database-driven using Active Server pages
and Access/SQL on the back end). I’ve completed a Cisco
router course, but I haven’t had any production experience
on Cisco yet.
My present project is ending, and I either need to
look for another job or go back to school for something
in demand, like Windows 2000, Cisco (CCNA?), or a database
administrator. What would be the right career move for
me at this stage? It seems that there’s an endless list
of skills I should possess: Linux/Unix, Cisco, Microsoft
Site Server, SMS, SQL, hardcore Exchange...
—Brad Suneja, MCSE, MCT
Senior IT Systems Administrator
Walnut Creek, California
Great River, New York
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I’ll bet most of us, those of us in the U.S. anyway,
took American Literature in high school, which means we
read Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken.” You remember,
“Whose woods these are I think I know…” about two paths
diverging in the woods. One of the most frightening moments
we come to as adults is having to choose.
Some choices are trivial: If I choose vanilla ice cream
instead of chocolate, who cares? Anyway, it’s a non-exclusive
choice because I can always have chocolate tomorrow.
Career choices, on the other hand, are neither trivial
nor non-exclusive. When you look at all the things you
could be, whether professional wrestler, dude ranch cowboy,
or IT professional, one choice excludes the others—at
least for some substantial period of time. One thing I
hear in your question, Brad, is that there are many technologies
you want to be good at. As Greg points out, however, unless
you want to be a generalist (jack of all trades, master
of none) you need to make a choice and commit to it.
Fear arises because a choice, for the most part, excludes
all the other known possibilities, but even more so because
you might be passing up future possibilities, like the
next hot thing. Well, you can dismiss that fear right
now because no one knows what the next hot thing will
be. Take an example from the past—you could have committed
your future to video-on-demand. If you remember, Oracle
and Microsoft made a big deal about this a few years back.
The point is, you have to specialize to get ahead, but
your choice of specialization should be based on three
factors: 1) what you like to do, 2) what you have the
ability to do, and 3) what you can do that makes you attractive
to employers. With regard to Microsoft technology, specialization
can either be intensive or extensive. Intensive involves
drilling down into some aspect of Microsoft technology.
Extensive complements your Microsoft experience with something
else, like Cisco or Linux.
It sounds like you have some background in database technology
and Web thingies. To me that spells e-c-o-m-m-e-r-c-e.
Is there a demand for that right now? To quote one of
my favorite beer labels, “Ya, sure, you betcha.” Again,
the point is to build on your strengths. Also, what kind
of company do you want to work for? End-user? Consulting
firm? This will help further determine what else you need.
So you’re not a specialist yet, but you know you need
to be. Being a good specialist means having the knowledge
and experience in your particular technology. You have
some knowledge and some experience, but it doesn’t sound
like you’re at the specialist level in any of them. Gaining
the knowledge on your own is relatively easy but expensive;
gaining the experience on your own is nearly impossible.
My suggestion at this point is to find a company that
values what you already have and that is willing to invest
in making you the superstar specialist they need. Not
easy, but it can be done.
Oh, and I completely agree with Greg’s comments on large
company vs. exciting startup. Assess your risk tolerance
carefully. Also, consider where you’re located and whether
you want to stay there. Some places just aren’t great
incubators for technology startups. Some final advice:
Startups usually don’t have the time or the resources
to “bring someone along”—they need the experienced pro.
Perhaps a stint at a larger organization would give you
the seasoning and intensive experience you need. Then,
after you’ve maxed out your 401(k), you can hitch your
wagon to a startup. Good luck!
About the Author
Steve Crandall, MCSE, is a principal of ChangeOverTime, a technology consulting firm in Cleveland, Ohio, that specializes in small business and non-profit organizations. He's also assistant professor of Information Technology
at Myers College and a contributing writer for Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine.