Research has shown that promotion prospects and job satisfaction are often higher with small companies.
A higher profile within the business - you aren't a small fish in a big pond, so if you perform well this will be noticed. (On the other hand, if you perform badly, there will be nowhere to hide!)
Variety, early responsibility, the opportunity to work on your own initiative, to work closely with other people (including senior management) and to have your work noticed.
A survey of 200 UK graduates commissioned by Give A Grad A Go found:
91% believed big corporations paid more
79% felt they provided greater job security
74% felt they offered better career progression.
But they felt that SMEs
encouraged creativity in the workplace(95%).
provided greater job satisfaction(82%).
better work ethic (75%).
better work-life balance.
Cary Curtis of GAGAGO said "Graduates are often unaware of the fantastic career opportunities that exist in SMEs, and certainly have no idea how to take advantage of them.”
Flexibility to get involved in a number of different tasks and functions: job roles are often less rigidly defined.
A working environment that may be more informal and less bureaucratic than in larger organisations
Feeling that you are making a real contribution to the business: seeing your ideas implemented and seeing projects through from start to finish.
These are things that students often seek in their first graduate job and SMEs can offer all of them! In return, they want graduates who are practical, flexible, quick to learn, willing to "muck in" and who do not expect special treatment just because they are graduates.