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Generalist at 100-strong firm or Manager alone in 40-strong firm?

Hannah

I am four years into HR and currently work in an office of 45 with one other HR person (my manager). I want to leave in order to grow and have more autonomy.

I have secured interviews at two places. One is the same size (c.45) but I'd be People Manager and setting up the department. The other is a generalist role with a company of 110 (although just under half work remotely in Europe satellite offices) and there is a small but established department which is well-respected by senior management (so they tell me).

Which would you advise is the best opportunity for me to grow?

It feels scary to start a department myself - no safety net, perhaps a little lonely in the role, not sure of senior management buy-in and could be loads of autonomy or could be more limited.

But does the larger company give me the benefits of being larger, if many employees are remote rather than in the office? And the department is still quite small.

I don't want a much larger company as I don't want to be pigeon-holed - I like the variety. 

I don't really have time to attend both interviews - which would you say is best?

Thanks

Hannah

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  • Hannah

    I think Elizabeth makes some very valid points you ought to consider.

    My take for what it’s worth is

    A) 45 is small. You are very lucky to have two HR bods in a business that size. Many wouldn’t have any.

    B) you say there is a small HR team in the 100 person business. How small? What would your role be?

    C) what are your long term career aspirations? Are you planning on specialising in SMEs or do you hope to move “on” to bigger organisations? If it’s the later then I share Elizabeth’s concerns.

    D) your chances at interview are at best 50/50 but possibly a lot less depending how many candidates they see. Only going to one interview seems a hopelessly brave / eggs all in one basket move to me.

    E) the most important factor is cultural fit. How are you going to judge this if you don’t govsnd meet both?

    F) I think the sizes of the two organisations aren’t that different. Your choice is really do you want to gain some start up experience ( and if so why) or some international exposure.

    G) the key for me is understanding where you see your career going.

    Good luck.
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  • Hannah

    I think Elizabeth makes some very valid points you ought to consider.

    My take for what it’s worth is

    A) 45 is small. You are very lucky to have two HR bods in a business that size. Many wouldn’t have any.

    B) you say there is a small HR team in the 100 person business. How small? What would your role be?

    C) what are your long term career aspirations? Are you planning on specialising in SMEs or do you hope to move “on” to bigger organisations? If it’s the later then I share Elizabeth’s concerns.

    D) your chances at interview are at best 50/50 but possibly a lot less depending how many candidates they see. Only going to one interview seems a hopelessly brave / eggs all in one basket move to me.

    E) the most important factor is cultural fit. How are you going to judge this if you don’t govsnd meet both?

    F) I think the sizes of the two organisations aren’t that different. Your choice is really do you want to gain some start up experience ( and if so why) or some international exposure.

    G) the key for me is understanding where you see your career going.

    Good luck.
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