Member-only story
Think Twice Before Joining Large Companies as a Junior Engineer
Your Dream Job Can be Your Worst Investment for the Future!
In our undergrad life, we often hear about companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and dream of working there someday.
Most of us don’t get the chance to work there because getting into those companies is very tough. Those who get there are definitely talented!
Sure it’s a great experience to work in these companies, but behind every light, there is shadow. And we need to talk about that part of the equation too!
Today we will talk about why you should not work in these big companies as a fresher. This is a one-sided discussion, so don’t get offended!
Less Scope to Try out Things
At the beginning of your career, you don’t have a clear vision or path of what you will do. It’s tough to know what you enjoy if you don’t even get to try it.
In smaller companies, you can (or sometimes have to) do multiple things. You can try out many things. They are open to trying out new technologies and ideas. But that’s not the case in huge corporations. They are already using some technology that is well established, and it’s hard for them to switch.
I agree that this can have some downsides too. If you have to switch to too many things, then you become good at nothing. Many will tell you to master one skill really well and then branch out.
But what if the skill you are mastering is a very custom and company-specific technology that nobody else uses?
So I think it’s better to try out things like crazy at first. Just scratch the surface of as much technology as possible for the first 1/2 year. Then take a deep dive into one.
This way, you can make your career safe. Because no matter how great your current company is, the truth is you will switch maybe after 2–3 years anyway. So get prepared for that early on.
More Political Environment
Larger organizations tend to have a political environment there. Conflict of interest can ruin a junior developer's career and confidence.
