OT - Choosing Internships: Big Companies vs. Small
Yes, there's google, but it's all very generic crap that isn't helping me at all. I figured since this is a board dedicated to a prestigious school, there would be lots of folks with knowledge on the topic. This applies to anyone with experience in the industries of Law, Finances, Banking, etc.
Basically, I'm being courted for a few internships and want to know if it is better to sign with the monster/huge companies, or the smaller upstart ones. One of the big firms offering me hires like 70 interns, but they said I'll get something a bit better than the regular errand boy job. Then there are smaller places who only hire 2 or 3 and promise a much better hands-on experience where my work will actually be important. I'm looking for the best experience and the one that will help my career both image-wise (prestige) and with actual knowledge.
Any help on this issue is greatly appreciated. Small vs. Large Firm debate. Thanks.
Hopefully they don't post on these boards D=
edit: after reading your a hockey agent... you're probably fine.
This summer. If you're starting your Junior year this fall, you'll have the opportunity to pick a smaller place next year. But as many others have said, a big company will enhance your resume. That's what it's all about until you're deciding on a more permanent position.
If the point of the internship is to post it on your resume and help your future 'real' career (non-internship), then my advice from experience is to take the position that will give you the most relevant responsibilities that future employers will see as a benefit that you have done before.
If you are an errand boy at super massive reputable firm X - who cares if you just ran errands, you could do that at a grocery store.
If you are responsible for nothing/doing nothing of interest at a small firm because they have nothing to offer - again who cares.
Take the position that will best allow you to gain experience that is meaningful to have and discuss in a future interview.
I work in politics, which is a lot different than more traditional businesses, but I assume there's some stuff that transfers. I thought of one more point in favor of big firms I haven't seen posted here yet - you can learn more about the industry as a whole.
If you're already as well-versed as the OP, this probably doesn't matter for you. But if you're just getting your bearings in a given field, working for a large firm can help you learn a lot more about the behind the scenes norms folks pick up over time and learn more about who's who out there.
I had internships in college with a small campaign office and the state party apparatus, and the second one was a lot more useful for learning how to get my first real job and what sort of options were out there. The smaller campaign let me do more work for individual movers and shakers, but I only got a limited view into how stuff works, because I only saw how a few select people went about getting where they are in life instead of a general overview of the industry as a whole.
On a more general note, I wouldn't be too afraid of getting lost in the shuffle at a big firm (one of those with 70 interns or whatever). As long as you have some higher up who sees your work and you feel you're good enough to stand out among your peers, you will. They know they're only asking you to do paperwork, etc, but they'll appreciate you're the best at whatever it is they've asked you to do as long as they see the results.
I think the bullet points under the company name are more important than prestige. i worked for a bunch of no-name places at my internships and regularly beat out guys who had worked at places like Ford and GE because I had better experience at the small places
I think you made the right move. I chose intern at a small, elite firm that no one outside my industry has heard of as oppposed to a Fortune 500 firm in my industry. So far I'm very happy with my decision and love the interesting work and personalized attention that the small firm provides. However, it was pretty annoying having to explain to all my friends what the hell the company I work for does and why the hell I chose to work their.
For anyone in IT - internships on your resume will be appreciated by hiring managers no matter whether Big or Small company. Big = you were in the top quartile of applicants and got the gig, so you have that going for you. Small = exposure to bleeding edge technology + early adapter clients along with the ability to evangelize a brand rather than relying on logo recognition to get you in the door (like the Bigs do). In IT, it is not universally true that you can "always go from Big to Small". I often get mandates from hiring managers that include this language: "nobody directly from IBM or Oracle - candidates must be one-step removed from the Bigs". The transition from Big company culture to Small company culture is not easy. For all the obvious reasons plus one not so obvious: you are much more "visible" in a Small. You can be somewhat invisible & hide inside a Big, but not inside a Small - in a Small, your every move is seen by everyone else, nothing is invisible. Not everyone can deal with that culture. Good luck to all. . . . national employment figures announced today not encouraging.
GO BLUE!
The bigger the better. When I interned the most valuable aspect was networking. I met so many high profile people working for a large company that it helped me later in life. Also, stay in contact with the interns as well. One of them just might be your manager some day.
As an engineer, I always figured I'd try and find smaller start up type companies for the summers after freshmen and sophomore year, and try and find a more well known company for junior year.
Your last internship is the one that matters the most when it comes to finding an actual job out of college, but for the first few it always seems like a good idea to try and hit it big at a start up. I had an awesome time working for a startup after sophomore year, unfortunately the company didn't end up going anywhere, but it was a cool environment and a good experience.