On Friday, Jan. 29, photocopier company Xerox announced that they would be splitting into two companies -- one that sells copiers, printers, and scanners (the usual), and one that manages call centers, collects tolls, and performs other services for government agencies. The first one, based on Xerox’s original brand, will be worth $11 billion, while the second one will be worth $7 billion. But which is better -- working for a large company, or a small one?

There’s one obvious benefit of working for a big company -- the big name you get to put on your resume. A name like Disney or Apple on your resume could be your ticket to your next job. Any future employer would be impressed to see that. Unless you’re applying for an experienced, senior executive-level job, it’ll only take one big name to propel you forward and launch your career. Plus, there are some bragging rights.

The downside is, major company means major competition. Sure, the company may have more jobs available, but there will still be thousands of people applying for them. You could always start by interning at the company (and an internship is always a good thing to do), but even those are equally competitive. Yet, you apply for them anyway, which is fine. You just may need to be patient when it comes to getting an interview.

While they may not have as recognizable a name, a smaller company would be more welcoming to new college graduates, and may even help ease them into the real world better. Not saying the job would be easier, but the staff (and if you’re lucky, the boss) would be much friendlier and more relaxed than those at a major company. A small company could also have more room for career advancement. With fewer employees, it would be easier to be noticed and promoted into a higher ranking position at a faster rate. From there you could build up enough experience before moving on to the bigger company.

There is one concern about working for a small company, however -- job security. What if the company goes under one day? You could be blindsided and out of work, so be prepared with a backup plan because anything could happen in today’s economy.

So, which one is better? The answer is different for everyone. It depends on your talents and goals, but take preference and availability into account as well. For me honestly, I would be happy with a job at either one when I graduate; it’ll probably come down to whoever hires me first. What matters is that you’re doing what you love while gaining experience that can carry over to the next job as you start to move up.

Where are you looking to work when you graduate? What is your ideal workplace? Dream job? Tell us about it in the comments!