Is working for a startup your cup of tea?

Categorized under Startup

Every ambitious professional must have pondered over this question, at least once, during his career. A question of – whether to work for a startup or to follow the traditional preference for a well-established company. And yes, startup jobs are too alluring to just ignore. Like every new thing, they’ve got more energetic and happening environment than somewhat routine life in a stable company. Many pieces of puzzle are yet out of place and so plenty of opportunities to try and learn new things. I often hear people saying, “dude! just 6 months at a startup can teach you more things than spending 2-3 years inside some stagnant pond”. Now that would make learning pace of about 6 times faster! Well, it could be an overstatement but again, considering sort of ubiquitous nature of this advice, it won’t be completely smoke either.

For souls aspiring to prove themselves, there are some more candies in the store! Startup staff is always small in size so you’ve got better chance to stand out of a crowd. Each employee plays an important role in building and shaping company’s future; this fact itself can bring excitement and a sense of accomplishing something big. At the end of a day, if the startup succeeds, everyone involved is entitled to a great fortune through their stocks and shares. Thus, too alluring to just ignore, ain’t it? Well, given all the seducing facts and stories, there are some caveats to this affair too — and that make it a not-everyone’s-business kind of deal.

Startups are just born kids and so essentially have a somewhat chaotic dynamics associated with them. Job description on the offer letter is not what you’re always expected to live up to there. Days can be stressful and frustrating at times. As a startup has yet to prove its potential; it’s vulnerable to a lot of external pressure — mainly that’s coming from its investors — and a part of that pressure ultimately boils down to its small set of employees! Also startup founders often dream big and make even bigger commitments (come on! they’re learning too!). A cumulative consequence is that work hours can stretch well beyond 09AM-to-06PM boundaries. Well, for someone, who’s ready to put even his 25th hour at work, these caveats doesn’t create too much of terror. But wait, there’s something more. A startup can not afford to keep extra resources at any given point of time. Thus chances of stumbling on not-so-fine-day-today are higher — you never know when it’s your last day at work! Now, it’s not that big companies are completely oblivious from lay-offs; just that probability grows bigger at a startup due to its tighter balance sheets. Further, as a matter of fact, you also never know when it’s last of a startup itself!

Now, it’s quite tempting to rush to the conclusion of “high risk, high gain” here. However, the equation is not really that way from an employee’s point of view. It’s not actually about risking your money for some financial gain (a well-versed investment wisdom); it’s rather about a career choice. And keeping career at stake for some short-term financial gain is never wisdom. As far as investments for financial gains go, it’s better to let money work for money. Decision to work for a startup makes more sense when evaluated against individual’s long term career plans. You’re standing at a fork on your career path; which way to take depends on where you ultimately wanna go, ain’t it?

I’d say, for people oriented to climb the corporate ladder, startups don’t make much sense at any point in their careers. Instead of spending time on learning new company affairs – which are hardly to be encountered while working with a stable corporation – they should focus on what it takes to be successful there i.e. better to work with an established giant. If you’re planning to settle on Mars then what possible difference your short living experience on Earth is gonna make? Shouldn’t you just go to Mars? Working for startup is an excellent choice only for people having dreams of launching their own startups someday – and yes, specifically for those only! It gives them a best opportunity to learn, experience and handle situations that they’re mostly gonna face soon. It’s a place where they can get accustomed to stress and intricacies involved in venturing a business. It’s a place where they can see their dream in motion, and what more could they really ask for?

For others, it’ll prove an unnecessarily hot cup of, perhaps say, buttermilk! :)