my experience working in different companies

I am a DevOps engineer who has tried all of the above options. Of course, there were pros and cons everywhere, but in the end I ended up in a project company again. Why? It's simple: only here I could find the optimal balance between stability, development opportunities and interesting tasks. Yes, startups are bustling with life, and small companies have an almost family-like atmosphere, but you have to pay for this with instability, risks and limited prospects.

In this article, I will share my experience of working in different companies and tell you what pros and cons I encountered at each stage. I hope my story will help those who are now choosing between a startup, a small business and a corporation. And if you have anything to add or object to, join the discussion in the comments.

Startup: From Game Development to Online Casino in the Company of Singaporeans

A startup is always a risk. Like many others, I was attracted by the high salary, minimum bureaucracy and ambitious tasks. Who doesn’t dream of participating in a project that will definitely take off? And so I agreed to the offer of a former colleague and joined a gamedev startup.

It was quite a complicated story. The startup was spun off from a Russian company that developed games. Initially, my colleagues and I planned to provide IT services, namely, to support the infrastructure for gaming platforms. But finding projects in this niche turned out to be not so easy. Instead, in order not to sit idle (and earn a salary), we found a project to support 4 online casinos in Asia.

Our team of 8 people was responsible for one of the support shifts. At first, it was quite good. That is, for them it was night shift, and for us it was kind of “moderate”. I think until midnight or until one in the morning. It was convenient. But then everyone went their separate ways, and for me personally, the shift ended at 4 am. This schedule was not easy for me, despite 4 days off (I worked on a “5/4” schedule). It would seem that my body had adjusted, but no – the sun rises, and I’m just going to bed. At my previous place of work, for example, even on projects with a 24/7 regime, we organized shifts differently: one or two people were on-call and could sleep relatively peacefully, knowing that they would be called if something happened. Here, the whole team had to work.

So, about online casinos. Two specialists flew in from Singapore to train us, newbies. They spent three months with us, teaching us all the intricacies of working with Asian casinos. The winter was cold, and quarantine measures were just starting to be lifted, so they had a hard time. They flew in to us in November, and before leaving we even apologized to them: we usually have more fun and warmer summers. By the way, they had to get the well-known vaccinations here, and soon they spoke Russian quite well. This was a fertile topic for jokes about them being chipped.

The project eventually closed after a year and a half, as did the entire IT services line of the startup. There were many reasons – major changes in the customer’s organizational structure, global instability, a decline in the industry as a whole. The company supported us as long as it was possible and for some time after that, so the separation took place without hard feelings and mutual claims. This is an absolute plus in the karma of the management.

I don't regret this experience. The team was great, we learned a lot from each other. In addition, I had the opportunity to get to know the culture of Southeast Asia better. But it is worth noting that startups often lack a community and mentorship. You find yourself in a small, closed world, and you have to rely only on yourself and your colleagues. This situation is different from working in large companies, where you can always count on the support of your colleagues.

Small Business: How I Implemented Remote Working Before It Was Mainstream

I also worked for a small company (only 10 people on staff) that was engaged in retail automation: installing cash registers, software, installing and setting up servers. It was a classic small business that seems like it will never change. A small team, limited resources, everyone knows each other. The company has been around for 30 years, and it seems like nothing has changed there yet. In fact, I led projects, was a delivery manager from start to finish. Sometimes this role was combined with the role of a person who does everything, is responsible for everything. Of course, it was hard for one person.

On the one hand, such an atmosphere was very comfortable: no bureaucracy, management is always ready to listen and support. On the other hand, low salaries, no career prospects and a constant feeling that you are stewing in your own juice.

By the way, it was in a small company that I first encountered remote work, even before it became mainstream. My family and I decided to move to Belarus, and we needed to somehow resolve the issue with work. I had to convince my colleagues and management that it is possible to work effectively remotely, and that modern tools allow solving most problems without personal presence.

Corporation: project, bench, new project

In the end, I still chose to work for a large company. I really like it here. In particular, the fact that there are quite wide opportunities. There are different directions: you finish one project – you go to the bench, and then you start another project, and it can be with completely different technologies and require completely different knowledge from you, you meet new people.

The transition from a small company, where I was practically an irreplaceable specialist, to a large corporation was unusual. Of course, at first it was a little scary, especially nervous before the interview. But in the end I realized that my skills and experience are in demand and appreciated.

Large companies offer what startups and small businesses do not have: stability, competitive salary, development opportunities, interesting projects. And, of course, large companies have much more opportunities for networking and professional growth. An endless project is too easy. You already know everything there and do not develop at all. You come to work like a robot and just close tickets. Therefore, the opportunity to switch to another project – more complex or, conversely, simpler, if life priorities require it. This is very convenient.

However, there are some downsides here too: bureaucracy, routine, slow decision-making processes – these are just a few of them. But for me, at this stage, the pros outweigh the cons.

So where is better?

There is no clear answer. The choice between a startup, a small business, and a corporation is always a compromise. Before making a decision, ask yourself: what is more important to you? Stability or risk? A high salary or the opportunity for rapid growth? Freedom of action or streamlined processes?

Don't be afraid to experiment, try different options and look for a place where you will be comfortable working and developing!