Working in a Start-up is an attractive idea, sometimes we could say that it is even a magnetic thought. Job descriptions for these startup companies typically include phrases like “a fun, informal office environment” or “a space to advance your career.” And as you respond to their original job applications, it’s normal to imagine a balanced future balancing on a stability ball in yoga pants and a t-shirt, collaborating with like-minded colleagues while sipping a chai latte.
It is true that undertaking in a Start-up can be fun, and even a smart decision that will change your life. And while not all start-ups have the vibe (or budget) of attractive multi-million dollar multinationals, and not all are run by a visionary leader who will put you up to speed on Facebook’s stock and options, many companies Emerging companies offer a unique opportunity to learn the ins and outs of building an organization from the ground up.
But of course it’s not all fun and ping pong games with the company next door to the HUB , there are some key differences between the world of a Startup and any other type of company you have previously worked for. Try to memorize these five tips before signing the dotted line on an employment contract.
- You will need to feel comfortable and be adaptable to change (very, very adaptable):
Unlike seasoned companies that have well-defined processes and procedures and hundreds of employees conditioned to repeat the same behaviors day after day, startups are able to make changes quickly. Things like job titles, desk duties, information structures, and project planning are changed more frequently than the filter on your office coffeemaker. It is normal that when you work a Startup you have to move from office three times in less than six months, and have a grand total of six different tables during the process.
Constant change can be frustrating, especially when you are just about to get used to the place or if you have come from an established and stable company. But to be successful in a startup, you need to embrace chaos. Startups have the brilliant characteristic that they are made up of highly motivated young professionals, and they are certainly not afraid of staff swings. Proving that shock and disappointment can be easily dealt with and that failure is also a way to guarantee success.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people and makes them think that they will never fail.
– Bill Gates
- You must all put your hands on the table
You have to be a team player, capable of rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty, there are endless clichés to explain that when working for a Start-up you should be open to doing a little bit of everything. Although you will technically have a title and a description of the job to be performed, your day-to-day activities will likely vary depending on the day’s project.
You might imagine that the day would never come when you would fill out envelopes, pick up the pizzas for lunch, answer the phone, and present a proposal to the Board of Directors, all in a matter of hours, but the phrase “This is not on my contract “You should never cross your lips. Keep in mind that you will be carrying out a variety of tasks, both mundane and challenging, and you must be ready and willing to do them.
Many start-ups make the rookie mistake of focusing on how the start-up will help them (and their resumes) instead of focusing on how they themselves can contribute to the start-up and society. A company with anxious employees, unwilling to be flexible or prioritize business, will quickly fail.
If you are not making a difference and impacting the lives of other people, you should not work at the company. It’s that easy.
– Mike Schiemer
- Veterans are mentors, not enemies
Most startups start with a few brilliant individuals and an idea. Soon, but with difficulties, they find some investors and surround themselves with intelligent and motivated people (often young people) who burn their eyelashes to turn their idea into reality. So when the company starts to get a whiff of success, it’s time to bring in some experts – experienced and permanent professionals to help take the company to the next level.
Once veterans get on board, existing employees can get nervous, and even resentful. It is normal, they have spent 16 hours a day working for six months with you, and suddenly they find some grandparents telling them how to do their work just because they have an MBA, an outstanding career and an endless network of contacts in the industry.
Although you may feel threatened yourself, it is important to remember that these experts are your potential mentors and it is crucial to bring this fact to the original team as well. In large companies, these people would be totally inaccessible, barricaded in an office blocked by a receptionist and a coffee machine. But in a Start-up, you can interact and learn from them on a daily basis.
- What the company gives you it also takes away
New companies are hell-bent on encouraging workers to abandon office formalities like lunchtime and personal space. When the company is relatively small, executives engineer all kinds of benefits for workers such as happy hours, catering for lunch or tickets to local events. But as the company grows, management may find that they can no longer afford these kinds of luxuries.
A free drink may once have been the only respite from your hectic day so when giveaways and promotions disappear, it can be daunting. But fear not, the demise of these privileges usually means the arrival of more practical bonuses, like private health insurance.
- It is your responsibility to assess the risk
Small businesses can disappear very quickly. It is one of the inherent risks of the job. And while it can be assumed that, as a member of a small team, you will be the first to receive the consequences, this is not always the case.
If you are an intern or financial analyst, it is your responsibility to learn as much as you can about the company’s performance and track record early on. Read what the press is saying about the business and its investors (a Google alert is ideal for this) and stay in touch with management to find out how they are measuring its success. If things start to go downhill, you’ll want to be the first to know.
It is possible that by now you have glimpsed a general theme: To work in a Start-up it will be necessary to adjust your conception of the working day. The days will be longer and the nights shorter, your responsibilities will be varied and you should keep in mind that it is possible that the company you have dedicated most of your life to see it flourish can disappear overnight. But if you accept your job for what it is (a promising opportunity to learn) and what it is not (a safe business), working for a Start-up can be a great way to jump-start your career and future work, already decide to start on your own or work for a large multinational a few years later.
If I have done everything I can and still have failed. Well, I’ve tried everything I can.
-Steve Jobs