Here are some hidden perks of working for an SME

Company prestige is not the only thing that matters.

Working at a multinational corporation (MNC) might be high on the wish list of most jobhunters in Singapore, but a new report by job listing site JobStreet reveals that there are some understated perks for employees at small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The survey showed that SMEs provide greater work-life balance for its employees, and their relatively leaner corporate structure provide workers with a wider exposure to various roles and functions.

Workers at SMEs were also pleased by their higher level of familiarity with colleagues, as well as the fewer number of rules when it came to accomplishing corporate tasks.

The survey also found that despite the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s definition of an SME being an enterprise with less than S$100 million annuals sales turnover or employing less than 200 workers, only 16% of total respondents had the correct grasp of the technical definition. A majority (48%) believe that an SME employs less than 50 workers or with an annual sales turnover of $10 million.

“Although the common perceptions among candidates working for MNCs are prestigious and glamorous, SMEs play a vital role in providing fundamental training in diversifying candidates’ skill-set. SMEs increasingly provide candidates with more career opportunities to explore as shown in the eight percent growth (+8%) of jobs posted in 2015 compared to the previous year. This provides exposure for candidates to explore various functions and prepare them for other potential career tracks,” said Chook Yuh Yng, Country Manager of JobStreet Singapore & Malaysia.