Choosing Between a Software and Service Company: Which Path Offers Better Growth for Me?

I have 3 years of experience in a Generalist role, and now I have two offers: one from a software company and another from a service company (dealing with loyalty vouchers, e.g., Sodexo). There is almost a 30k difference in the packages. The infrastructure of the service company is limited, there are no post-graduates working there, and it involves a lot of back-end operations. The headquarters of this service company is in Bombay. Can you please guide me on choosing the best option for my growth?

In the service company, there is a lot of paperwork, while in the software company, everything is well-organized. However, the service company mentioned that they will be moving towards ERP in the next 6 months.

Can you please help me decide between these two companies?

Thanks & Regards,
Priya

You should work with a software (S/W) company, as this type of company is already well-organized, and the learning curve is always very high in software companies. Who knows how much time it will take for this service company to implement the ERP module.

Please let me know if you need any further assistance.

You can choose to be in the service industry, as you have ample scope to set up a new HR department with new ideas. Probably, you may get a chance to explore new areas in HR.

Hi Priya,

You not only need to analyze the salary package, but also consider your responsibilities, growth opportunities, competition, and more.

As Leena Khanolkar rightly said, aim for a challenging job rather than a routine one. You will be recognized once you bring about a meaningful change in the company, even without ERP experience. Having ERP experience can lead to better pay in the long term.

Regards,
C Sujay
+91-9008911322

Make a decision on where you want to be. Proceed with a long-term goal instead of focusing on short-term objectives.

Big fishes always dominate in small ponds (provided enough space to flirt).

I think even at the back of your mind, you also feel you should go with the S/W company because you yourself have identified the drawbacks in the service industry, mentioning it will involve back-end work, etc. The only positive side is the 30K you will get, etc., but you should not get lured by it. As said by others, think about the long-term growth and exposure if you join the S/W company. As for the other company implementing ERP, I am not sure if you would be involved in the implementation of the same or just be an end-user for the implementation. Hope this helps you make up your mind.

Thanks

There are 3 things to consider when deciding on which job.

1) Leadership of the organization. The leadership will guide the rest of the company, including growth, direction, culture (e.g. how they implement programs like the ERP, success of implementation), how other leaders behave and perform. The best organizations to work for have the best leadership.

2) The role. Look at the role and what will be required of you. Is this something that interests you? Is there scope for growth? What can you learn and develop while you are there? Will the role open you up to other roles that you see your own career going towards?

3) The people you will be working with and for. This includes the greater HR team, your immediate team, and the managers/employees you are supporting. What is the culture of the teams and how supportive are they of each other? Will you have a mentor or people you can learn from, something very important this early in your career. Who will you be reporting to?

All these questions can only be answered by your meetings with the company and discussions with the teams. If you are unsure, let them know and ask for a meeting with the team you are working with and then ask them the questions about the organization. Their experiences, frustrations, and knowledge will be telling of the organization.

Hope this helps.

JB

Priya,

As I am less experienced than you, but since I am working with ERP (SAP-HR), I can say it would be a good option for you.