What are you like? Do you enjoy digging really really deep into a problem? Perhaps a big company that provides the stability to work on a problem for years is the right place? Do you like doing lots of different things, none of them deeply, but all of them well, with never enough information to make a solid decision with? Go find a startup. How are you at interacting with people? Extremely outgoing, always meeting new people? Startup all the way. Introverted and terrified of sales? (well, work on that, but a safe place to get better at it is a big company.) No kids, no spouse, no debt? Totally going to help at a startup. There's no right answer to the question, it depends on what's best for you. I've done big company and startup and independent contracting and I don't regret any of them, but I'm also having a fantastic time at my current company. It turns out that for me, at this time, the best answer is a small profitable company with wonderful people where I can make things better with computers. And don't underestimate how important people are. Your coworkers make a huge difference.