Classic Dilemma

I haven’t written for this blog for a while. I was busy with other things in my life, such as green card application, house hunting, reading tones of books, and job hunting. Yes, I have been looking a new position inactively for the last two months. Even though my job is stable at this moment, I learn early on that the best time to look a job is when you still have a job. For me, I always believe that you should never stop looking for next step in your career, or things to do to improve yourself.

Both opportunities came in the same week, and interviews were scheduled fairly quickly. I just finished all the interviews with both companies, and now in the waiting mode. While I was telling those two opportunities to my friend yesterday over coffee, I realized it is the classic dilemma many people will face in their careers: Big corporate vs. Small company. Therefore, I decide to share my own experiences and thoughts with you.

Company A: it is the leader in the industry, a major competitor of my current company.

Company B: a small company in a nicer geographic location.

While they both offer a similar position, they have different pros & cons:

Big corporate:

Pros:

· Golden name: it will look better in the resume. It is always easier to move from a big company to a small one, but verse vise could be difficult. This is even important when you want to move back to China eventually, a big name is certainly very marketable.

· More resources and budget: It means less stress work and more work-life balance.

· Better benefit

Cons:

· Hard to get promotion or pay increase: big corporate is not very flexible in terms of pay due to the detail compensation policy. It is hard to get promotion or pay raise, usually it will takes years.

· Not many challenges: there are not many other things you can do outside of your job scope and tasks. Based on my personal experience, big corporate job can be boring.

· Lack of recognitions: it is hard to navigate through a big company with tens thousands of employers. A lot of times you don’t know many people outside of your team. Therefore, hardly anyone knows what you do and how good you are.

Small Company:

Pros:

· Recognitions and engagements: in a small company, it is not uncommon that a lot people within the organization know you. You get more respects and recognitions for your accomplishments.

· Easier Promotion and Pay Raise: small company often is flexible in the salary. If you are a top performer and bring value to your company, it is easier to negotiate a pay raise or promotion than in big corporate.

· Challenges: employees in a small company are expected to work very hard, and play multiple roles. Therefore, you often end up with a lot of work in different areas. It will keep you busy and challenge you. You will certainly learn a lot in a short period of time.

Cons:

· No name: less recognizable name adds much less value in your resume

· Less resources and more stress

· Less job security (of course, nowadays there is no more stable or job security. Both small and big companies’ employees are facing mass layoff possibility.)

I think what you choose it really a personal choice, and can be vary in different career or life stages. Ultimately, it is all about what do you really want from your career. Just remember, life is not perfect and you cannot get all: money, work-life balance, respect, or sense of accomplishment. You have to follow your mind and heart, and make hard choices.

Dear readers, what will you choose?

Interview Shopping List

People asked me what they should wear to an interview. Therefore, I am going to create a shopping list for the stuff you need for job hunting/interviews.

For man:  

• Dark suite: high quality and fit, either black or navy blue, solid color preferred 
  
• Two collar shirts: light color, white or baby blue is good choice, solid color or strips
• Black dress shoes
• Dark color socks
• A couple of ties: solid or stripes
• Leather interview portfolio 

For woman: 

• Dark suit: skirt (don't be too short) or pant, well fit
• Two collar shirts: light color, white or baby blue is good choice
• Black dress shoes: some kind of heels (low or medium height)
• Medium size should bag: professional look, don't be too flashy 
• Hosiery
• Leather interview portfolio 

Look sharp, professional, dress to impress, and you will get the job!!!

Onsite Interview

Onsite是每个人都梦寐以求的机会，也是让大家很头痛的事情。由于语言，文化等的根

本差异，相对美国人来说，我们有着很明显的劣势。但是我们必须对自己

充满信心，如果说整个找工作的过程是一场持续很久的战争，那么onsite interview就是就有决定性的一战。如果你被邀请去onsite，那就意味着公司对你很满意，不然不会愿意花这么多钱来安排。

Onsite的主要目的是为了公司对你进行面对面的更深入的了解，但是作为我们来说，这也是一个非常好的机会了解未来公司的文化，工作环境等等。对你在最后做决定的时候，这些都是非常宝贵的信息，千万不可以忽视。记得这也是一个双向考察的过程。

概括起来，Onsite interview 有以下几个很关键的组成部分：

1.  最初的安排：由于每个公司的报销和旅行安排policy不一样，你要跟公司协商好旅程的安排。记得要留给自己充足的时间，以免由于意外而耽误时间。 我个人的建议是如果允许的话安排在星期五面试。星期五一般公司都没有太忙碌，大家也会相对心情比较轻松。这样能够对谈话的时间和氛围有所帮助。记得你要带好公司的地址和联系方法,

还要保存好所有的收据。如果对所在城市不是很了解，记得做一些research.

2.  面试着装：很多人问我，面试要穿什么，我的建议是business suit. 投资买一套合身的深色西服，浅色的衬衣，深色的皮鞋深色的袜子。女生如果穿skirt,记得穿长袜。总的原则是不要太花俏，要professional. 

记得头发，指甲都要整齐干净。

3.  对公司的研究：去onsite前，一定要对公司做好很深的了解，如果你在申请这个职位，或者phone interview之前没有做好充分的了解，那么这次一定要对他们的产品和服务很熟悉。同时要对在面试的时候将要遇到的人都做一个了解，记得要问hr要一份interview schedule, 那么你就会知道对方的名字，职位和面试时间。我一般都会google

将要面试我的人， 对于他们的背景，毕业的学校有个了解。这样便于我到时候跟他们的沟通，也为small talk积累话题。还有一个很好的工具就是linkedin.com，上面一般都能找到别人的professional background. 如果你认识onsite公司里的人，请务必向他们打听一些跟你职位相关的信息.

4.  随身带的东西：带一个interview portfolio,里面放几份resume,interview script,reference list和 list of questions. 关于interview script我在phone interview的文章里已经介绍过了，其中包括一些对常见问题的答案，你的自我介绍等等。这个你一定要已经很熟练的记住了。你还好准备a list of questions you want to ask during the onsite. 根据你对面试人的研究，你可能会问不同的问题。

5.  Small talk: 大家都知道onsite的时候面试包括formal和informal.很多人对如何make small talk感到很困惑。我知道这个很大时候取决于一个人的性格和对美国文化的理解程度。但是为了应付onsite,我在这里可以给大家介绍一些话题：你可以聊聊当地的天气和住宿情况，如果你有足够的知识可以聊聊ncaa的比赛，比如篮球，橄榄球等，如果你跟面试人是校友，记得聊聊学校。如果你知道面试人得过什么奖，不妨聊聊。还有industry的新闻什么的。员工福利，企业活动等都是比较常见的话题。

6.  Things to do before you leave: 在面试的过程中可以做些notes，这样不光给人虚心好学的印象，也会给你之后写thank you letter的时候积累话题。在每一个面试结束后，要问面试人要名片，如果他没有名片，至少要问他的email address. 在结束面试后记得一定要去见你的面试接待人，一般都是hr.要问hr什么时候会知道决定，any feedbacks等。如果需要报销，记得问hr所需要的手续。

7.  Follow ups: 面试后记得要给所有给你面试过的人写一封thank you letter. 感谢信要简短，但最好提到一两个你们面试中提到的话题（这时候note就起到作用了）。

8.  Salary:面试过程中最好不要直接进行salary negotiation.如果被问到这个问题，要表现的比较flexible, 可以给出一个range,尽量不要说死一个数字。

总的来说，做好充分的准备，然后relax，be yourself是onsite成功的关键。如果你对onsite是很害怕的人，那么一定要多下点功夫在interview script上。可以找别人做role play的练习，所谓熟能生巧，只要你反复练习，很快你就会说的很顺口和熟练了。加油哦！