Bigger isn't always better. When it comes to working for a smaller employer they have their own unique pluses and minuses.

When it comes down to finding and securing the right employment opportunity, candidates usually set their sights on large well-known employers that can offer great perks like a competitive salary and room for growth. However, what they often overlook is that working for a smaller organization can have its own set of rewards.

In fact, according to a Harris Interactive poll 64 percent of respondents working in small organizations said they are satisfied with their job, compared with only 54 percent who work for large companies. In addition, 38 percent of those working for large employers feel they are at a dead-end in their current job, compared with 24 percent of those working for small employers.

According to a 2006 study from the U.S. Small Business Administration, of the nearly 26 million companies in the United States in 2005 97.5 percent had fewer than 20 employees (though the SBA Office of Advocacy defines small business as less than 500 employees making this figure jump to 99.9 percent) and these organizations have generated between 60 and 80 percent of the net new jobs in the United States over the past ten years.

Considering that many of today’s larger organizations began as small start ups, it seems odd that sometimes job seekers appear to overlook what these small firms have to offer. Here then are the pros and cons of working for a smaller employer.

Growth Opportunities

While many candidates seek out larger organizations with the belief that lots of employees equals lots of jobs equals lots of growth opportunities, these candidates sometimes forget that many small business owners want to grow their businesses, too. In fact, a 2005 National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) poll found that 51 percent of small employers want to grow their firms.

Since many times job roles at smaller firms are less specialized, employees may have the chance to wear many hats and get a better view of the entire operation. What this can mean is that if small business owners are able to find the right combination of motivation and talent in a job seeker, the opportunity to grow as a smaller organization grows is very much a reality.

Of course, anyone looking to be President or CEO of an organization is not likely to find it in a small company as the owner usually reserves the right to run the business herself.

Visibility and Skill Development

Just like living in a small town, working for a small organization provides employees with a chance to get to know and interact with all their coworkers -- the old “big fish in a small pond” scenario. Because of this their work results are more visible bringing recognition and reward.

In addition, workers need to be more versatile (wearing all those hats) as job descriptions tend to be less strictly defined providing employees with the flexibility to learn a broader range of skills and expand areas of expertise.

On the downside, there may not be as much money in the budget for outside training. However, savvy employees learn on the job or foot their own bill for training courses and college-level classes.

Compensation and Benefits

While working for a smaller organization may mean some compromise on salary (smaller companies may have smaller budgets), this is not always the case. And when it comes to salary increases or handing out incentives larger organizations might have more hoops to jump through and red tape to cut to get things done, while smaller companies may have more flexibility.

Though traditional benefit packages – insurance, vacation time off – are not always as generous with smaller employers, this same group may have more flexibility when it comes to other perks such as flexible work schedules or working at home.

So for anyone seeking a new employment opportunity, it is no longer enough to only consider working for the Fortune 500. By looking at the pros and cons of working for a smaller employer, job seekers may see that good things really do come in small packages.