You’ve graduated from college, diploma in hand, and you have a couple of job offers on the table. Other than being one of the lucky graduates in a booming economy, you have a choice to make. On one hand is a high-paying entry level position at a reputable brand in your field. On the other hand is a job offer from a small startup that is just kicking off. You’ve seen their product, believe in their mission, and like their approach, but aren’t sure you want to take on the risk of working at a startup. You’re leaning towards that corporate job. The smart choice, of course!
Or is it?
Here are 5 reasons why you should take the jump and enter the startup world instead.
Working at a startup probably means you’re part of a small team, most likely in the single digits. Because of the nature of having such a small team, there is probably nobody else in the company who has the same skillset as you, approaches problems in the same way you do, or even thinks the same way you do. At a bigger company, you may not have been given the same opportunity or had an entire company rely on the work that you did.
Holding responsibilities and being accountable, makes your job profile and resume more credible. Apart from gaining valuable experience and insights into various aspects, responsibility can also teach you how to manage time and personal life better!
We probably don’t need to tell you that most startup jobs won’t pay as well as some of the bigger corporate and business jobs. You may be worth more than a startup is able to pay. But working at a startup offers a different type of reward: an incentive-based system that isn’t based on dollars, but rather in skills attained and opportunities seized. The experience will outweigh the pay cut. Nothing can beat the perks and packages of being an experienced professional who has seen it all and done it all under stress.
One of the biggest complaints I hear from peers who have entered into a more structured, corporate position is that they are generally stuck with their main task and don’t get to branch out into other areas. Whether it’s writing, designing, filling out spreadsheets, or any other task, it’s usually a one-person-fits-one-task kind of position. If that sounds like your startup job, then, I hate to tell you, but you’re doing something wrong. Working at a startup will allow you to try on a lot of different hats, even that weird one that you didn’t think you would ever like, but find out that you did.
People who start their own business have a different mental and professional makeup than those who have never gone off to create something of their own. Entrepreneurs are defined by seeing a problem and thinking of an innovative and original way of addressing it. Because of this innovative nature, entrepreneurs are some of the best people to learn from. They approach problems differently, are constantly finding solutions, and are driven to make the most out of their time and work. Innovation is more than creativity. It’s action and reaction, solving problems in a new, enlightening way. Every successful startup has true innovators, and if you find the right ones, you’ll learn plenty.
If you’ve learned anything from watching TV shows and movies, it’s that if you work at a big company, chances are that all of your hard work is going to be ignored by the boss or someone else is going to snag the credit. But at a startup, it’s nearly impossible not to notice a job well done or to give credit where credit is due. If you succeed, the small team will recognize it instantly, and the praise and glory are yours to bask in. Spread your arms in glory, my friend, your work has been recognized. On the flip side of that coin is that it’s also really easy to see when you’ve messed up. For two reasons, this is a good thing. The first is that it’s nearly impossible to while away your time. Within a few days, your coasting and slacking will be noticed and the rest of the team will wonder why they are working harder than they have to. That keeps you focused and on your game. The second reason is that because failure is easier to notice, you’ll make sure to eliminate mistakes in order to avoid disappointing your colleagues. And when the rest of the team says “We couldn’t have done it without you,” you can be confident that they mean it.
A startup is always a better career path!
It gives you freedom to explore yourself!
