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I’ve worked as a recruiter in the unmanned and robotics industry for many years now—enough years to see a few patterns in the way people think as they enter this industry. You see, most job seekers are fully aware of the  pioneering nature of what we do. They understand that very little is set in stone when it comes to the potential for growth within this industry, and they know there is good and bad to come from that.

On the good side, no one really knows where the technology will take us over the next few years; and that alone is incredibly exciting. It’s invigorating to be a part of an industry that is quite literally on the cusp of changing the world as we know it. Everyone wants to be a part of that.

But the bad side of that uncertainty is that we also don’t know how the laws and regulations are going to change over the next few years, and how those shifts might potentially inhibit the growth that could otherwise be possible.
We don’t know which unmanned companies will have the technology to lead them to the top of the pack, or which ones might be left in the dust by ever-evolving rules and regulations that not all will be able to keep up with.

And that can be scary. Because when a job seeker bites that bullet and accepts an offer within this industry, they are taking a leap of faith that the company they are signing on with will be one of those to rise to the top.
Because of this dynamic, a lot of job seekers come to me wanting interviews at the biggest and best names within the unmanned and robotics industry. They already have their eyes set on the big dogs—assuming that the brightest within the industry today will still be at the head of the race tomorrow; a year from now; ten years from now.

The reality of how things pan out isn’t always as easy to predict.
I understand that drive; the desire to be with a company that is already established within this field. But I can tell you from experience, I’ve also seen the huge benefits that await job seekers willing to take a risk on lesser-known corporations within this industry.
The smaller startup may not be able to boast the same prestige as the bigger names in this field, but they can offer employees something those bigger names can’t; room to grow within the corporation, and to contribute to where that corporation goes.

Employees at smaller firms often have more flexibility in their work schedules, and even in their day-to-day tasks, than they would ever be granted at a bigger organization. They are given ownership over their work, and provided with opportunities for innovation that are harder to come by at more established firms.
Perhaps most importantly, they’re granted the opportunity to get their foot in the door at the ground level, potentially being a part of something that could become huge in the years to come. And being a part of growing that can be a risk with ample rewards for those wiling to give a smaller startup a chance.

The truth is, even if you take a job on with a company that doesn’t go where you had hoped it might, the extra freedom and flexibility afforded to you by working for a smaller startup provides you with room to grow your experience and expertise in a way you might not have been able to at a larger firm. In the end, working for a smaller organization can provide more meat to your resume than a position somewhere more established ever could.
Obviously, taking on a role at a smaller organization isn’t for everyone, and you have to be willing to evaluate what it is you really want and need out of a job and your career. But for some, smaller startups can absolutely provide a more fulfilling work life than any position at a larger organization.

It’s all about knowing what you want, but you might come to find that smaller is exactly what you’re looking for.