THE perception that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are second-choice employers is not entirely fair.
'Big or small, there are good employers and there are bad employers,' says Mr Png Cheong Boon, deputy chief executive of Spring Singapore.
It is simply not realistic to assume that all 148,000 of Singapore's SMEs have the same characteristics.
Mr Png says that there is a perception among some people that SMEs, being small, offer little career progression.
On the contrary, the fact that SMEs are small often means that one's efforts are recognised more quickly and that one is given more responsibility and more opportunities for development.
Mr Png explains: 'When an SME ventures overseas, you are quite likely to be asked to lead the charge.
'If a multinational corporation (MNC) wants to set up something in Batam, your chances of being appointed are relatively low compared to if you were working in an SME, where there are not that many people to send.
'In a smaller outfit, you are one employee within a smaller group. Let's say you are in an engineering firm. You will have a higher chance of overseeing a whole project. If the company needs to bid, you go in and negotiate. You also oversee the technical aspects and the project management.
'Some say that it is a bit like being a jack-of-all-trades. But the exposure is tremendous. You grow up faster, whereas your peer in the MNC might only be learning one part of the whole process.'
And in an SME, the employees' interaction with the boss is also quite direct because there are 'few layers' of management.
On the other hand, in an MNC, it is possible that not many people at the decision-making level know that you exist. This could make a difference when it comes to recognition and reward.
'SME wages are among the most flexible. The towkay decides how much bonus to pay and whether or not to offer you stock options. So it is not necessarily true that SMEs are behind in terms of money,' says Mr Png.
The only thing that SMEs tend to lose out on is probably the lack of a strong brand name.
'Apart from a few exceptions, like Hyflux, Osim and BreadTalk, the company name might be recognised in Singapore but not overseas. So your CV may not look as good,' he says.
'Job-seekers just have to ask themselves exactly what it is they are looking for.'
