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Q: If I join a smaller firm with a much smaller pay package, will this reduce my job worth, and will the big firms not consider me at all? I am not applying to small companies assuming that I won't be able to reach my earlier pay level.

A: Don't assume that gaining work experience at a small firm will have a negative impact on your value to large firms. If anything, it could be viewed as a positive, say the experts.

"Given the realities of the market these last two years, hiring managers understand that employee movement between small and large firms has been more common," says Brett Good, a district president for Robert Half International Inc., a staffing firm based in Menlo Park, Calif.

"Don't rule out working for a small company," he says. "The experience you gain will be valuable and the skills and expertise you hone are transferable if you later decide to move to a larger organization."

Rather than focusing on the size of the firm, you'll want to focus on whether it is the right position for you, says Dick Bolles, author of "What Color Is Your Parachute?"

"Take each next step in your life's work based solely on the merits of that particular position," he says. The same rules apply whether it is a small firm or a larger one.

You should ask yourself the following questions:

• Does the work use skills you love to use?

• Are you working in a field that you love?

• Do you like the people with whom you'd be working?

• Does the position pay you a living wage?

If the answers to these questions are yes, then it is the right move, regardless of the firm's size, says Mr. Bolles.

There are a number of opportunities you can get at a small firm that are rare or nonexistent at some of the larger firms, according to Paula Caligiuri, author of "Get a Life, Not a Job."

"Small firms with fewer resources often provide rich opportunities to gain broader skills and develop yourself across functional areas," she says.

Examples of these include being able to manage and supervise while also having direct hands-on contact with customers and products, says Atlanta-based career coach Carol Kem. "Working at a smaller firm could provide you broader experience to develop valuable skills," she says. "That experience and those skills could enhance your marketability with a larger firm."

For entry-level workers, smaller firms can be a great place to gain experience, says Mr. Good. In a recent Accountemps survey, 72% of more than 1,400 chief financial officers surveyed said that they would advise entry-level accounting professionals to begin their careers at small to midsize businesses, for example.

While your salary might be lower at a smaller firm, there are also some unwritten benefits to consider, says Mr. Good. "At small and midsize firms, work/life balance often is more achievable. These organizations also may offer more flexible schedules or telecommuting opportunities."