[martieg]

So, the 2008 Fortune 500 list has been released. Who here works for any of the top 20 F500 companies? This is an anonymous poll.

[martieg]

For the full Fortune 500 list follow this link: Fortune 500 Full List

[AJerman]

Nope, definitely don't. There are only 2 people in my office (other than one college girl that works part time, usually more for my boss's wife than for him, haha), and maybe 20 people total.

I like working for smaller companies. There is a lot more room for freedom, improvement, and input into how the business is run. With big companies you're just a number unless you're at the top.

[martieg]

Originally Posted by AJerman

Nope, definitely don't. There are only 2 people in my office (other than one college girl that works part time, usually more for my boss's wife than for him, haha), and maybe 20 people total.

I like working for smaller companies. There is a lot more room for freedom, improvement, and input into how the business is run. With big companies you're just a number unless you're at the top.

I have actually worked for small and big companies, and also on my own. I agree with your assessment on the advantages of working for a small company

There are many advantages of working for a big company too, like expanding your experience and learning, assuming it's a company with leading edge technology, world-class processes and excellent people development. It's like getting another degree!

[xT4iw4n3zx]

Originally Posted by AJerman

I like working for smaller companies. There is a lot more room for freedom, improvement, and input into how the business is run. With big companies you're just a number unless you're at the top.

Sir, I beg to disagree with you there ;D

Who says a Big company can't be free, moving, and show room for input from it's staff?? I'd highly doubt that! And I have proof too!!

Look no further than this company. I would absolutely LOVE to work at this company, and it's a HUGE BILLION dollar company!!!
Kinda shoots an arrow through that theory of yours ;D

[AJerman]

Originally Posted by lecatrache

I have actually worked for small and big companies, and also on my own. I agree with your assessment on the advantages of working for a small company

There are many advantages of working for a big company too, like expanding your experience and learning, assuming it's a company with leading edge technology, world-class processes and excellent people development. It's like getting another degree!

True, there are certainly advantages to both. Sometimes the same loose rulesets and freedoms that are nice are sometimes annoying when you wish there was more strict procedures. I'm in an interesting position though where I'm not in management or anything, however I work very close with my boss and have a lot of input.

The last small company I worked for was a little bigger and I was a bit more disconnected and didn't have the same input, but there still weren't strict rules, so at times I'd be running in circles trying to figure out what we really wanted to do.

Then again, we got acquired by a big company and there were a lot of training opportunities and people to learn from like you say. However, the BS that I had to deal with caused me to quit shortly after.

Originally Posted by xT4iw4n3zx

Sir, I beg to disagree with you there ;D

Who says a Big company can't be free, moving, and show room for input from it's staff?? I'd highly doubt that! And I have proof too!!

Look no further than this company. I would absolutely LOVE to work at this company, and it's a HUGE BILLION dollar company!!!
Kinda shoots an arrow through that theory of yours ;D

Okay, then I change my previous statement to "almost every big company other than Google", haha. Google is certainly an incredible company and I'd love to work for them, but they are far from the norm. I wish more companies would run like Google does.

[grumpybear]

If the company I work for was public it would be part of not only the Fortune 500 but the Global 500 as well. Best place I've ever worked, being large does have it's advantage if good leadership is running the place.

[martieg]

Originally Posted by AJerman

True, there are certainly advantages to both. Sometimes the same loose rulesets and freedoms that are nice are sometimes annoying when you wish there was more strict procedures. I'm in an interesting position though where I'm not in management or anything, however I work very close with my boss and have a lot of input.

The last small company I worked for was a little bigger and I was a bit more disconnected and didn't have the same input, but there still weren't strict rules, so at times I'd be running in circles trying to figure out what we really wanted to do.

Then again, we got acquired by a big company and there were a lot of training opportunities and people to learn from like you say. However, the BS that I had to deal with caused me to quit shortly after.

Working for a big company can sometimes have the small company feeling if one works for a subsidiary, or in a satellite office. That has been my case. I have never worked in the headquarters yet, except for some short-term projects.

[martieg]

Anybody from Michigan working for Ford or GM? (and driving a BMW?) We might not see many of those here, I guess.

[AJerman]

Originally Posted by lecatrache

Working for a big company can sometimes have the small company feeling if one works for a subsidiary, or in a satellite office. That has been my case. I have never worked in the headquarters yet, except for some short-term projects.

Yeah, we were in NC and they were in TX. In fact, my new boss was in the TX office. Not a huge deal since I was doing programming so I just had to be sent specs and I would do the work, however he was a dick and I think the whole company that acquired us thought they were better than us. I'm sure they just bought us for our technology. Oh well.

Actually, the company that acquired my company recently got acquired by a bigger company itself. link

I'd definitely not want to be a two off company from the main company. I can't imagine what kind of hell management is like now. It's going to take a couple of years to sort that out.

[darkcloud]

Originally Posted by lecatrache

Anybody from Michigan working for Ford or GM? (and driving a BMW?) We might not see many of those here, I guess.

Prolly not. GM and Ford practically give their cars away to their management. When you drive by their offices all you see are Escalades, Corvettes, CTS, DTS, Tahoes, G8, Solstices, Navigators, GT Mustangs etc.....

It's kinda funny but hey if I were basically given a loaded upper model GM or Ford for near nothing I'd drive it too.



My buddy works for Dollar (not the bank, the Dollar store) but it's somehow a Fortune 500 company. So far he likes it. Got offered good money right out of his MBA in the advanced program at university of tennessee.

[Kiemyster]

all dem bloodclat company pon dah list dey is a bunch a fuhkin teif! dem is theives allyuh hear me? especially JP morgan. fiyah fi bon he!

[TurboFan]

Originally Posted by AJerman

...I like working for smaller companies. There is a lot more room for freedom, improvement, and input into how the business is run. With big companies you're just a number unless you're at the top.

I would completely disagree - with a large company, I have significantly more financial resources at my disposal, allowing me to break into or create new markets where I see opportunity.

[Ninjaneer]

Haven't worked for a top 20, but I recently resigned from a fortune 500 company and work for a smaller company now... well, it's actually a subsidiary of a larger company so it's actually a decent size but locally it feels small and I'm enjoying it so far. Having the fortune 500 on my resume is great of course. People hear of where I was and always go "oh wow that's a great place!"

I have to agree with some of the above comments on big vs small. There is the financial backing with larger companies, but with small ones I feel like a larger contributor and there's more interaction between fellow employees and management. I also feel more responsible for my success and enhancing my experience since you can't just "coast" or "rest and vest" like some people do in larger companies where it's easier to stay hidden.

Granted I'm sure it differs and depends on the company and organization rather than the size (no pun intended)

[Sara]

Sadly Victorias Secret didnt make the cut so sorry.

['Cane]

Not in the top 20, but I work for #103.

[martieg]

Originally Posted by 'Cane

Not in the top 20, but I work for #103.

I'm a big fan of your company - well, my wife and kids too. So much that stickers of your brand adorn my company Lenovo laptop, my BMW's rear, and my wife's Durango's rear.

You guys have a lot of innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. Keep it up!

[Taittinger]

Walmart greeter

[Couch]

The company I work for was recently acquired by Goldman.

[Sara]

wait a minute it did!! I work for 257.. Limited Brands- Victorias Secret

[nissan]

Originally Posted by darkcloud

Prolly not. GM and Ford practically give their cars away to their management. When you drive by their offices all you see are Escalades, Corvettes, CTS, DTS, Tahoes, G8, Solstices, Navigators, GT Mustangs etc.....

My buddy works for Dollar (not the bank, the Dollar store) but it's somehow a Fortune 500 company. So far he likes it. Got offered good money right out of his MBA in the advanced program at university of tennessee.

You'd be surprised. I worked at GMAC and it wasn't the case there. I was expecting it to be full of GM cars on my 1st day, but only around 30-40% were GMs.

Dollar was one of the client's I worked with when I was @ a law firm last yr.

[dth656]

i had a b-school friend who worked for GM Treasury in nyc. they got a pretty sweet discount on GM products (he would have applied it to a saab of some kind). Also, in his group, you got a free tahoe to drive around in (given the cost of parking in nyc, most people eschewed this particular perk).