What To Expect from Working for a Startup

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Every job has its upsides and downsides, but in a startup role these pros and cons can be highly polarised. In an environment where businesses can sink or swim in a matter of months, the highs can be incredibly high, and the lows – well – they can be soul-crushing. You can’t beat the excitement and the feeling of achievement, but when the chips are down, the struggle is real.

Thinking about making the leap? Here’s what you can expect from working at a startup…

You won’t be a small cog

Working for an established business, particularly a larger enterprise, can be a strangely insulated and comfortable situation. You’ve been hired into a role which has been clearly defined for years, your duties are clear, your goals are set, there’s little need to step outside your comfort zone. Entering a role at a startup after this cosseted experience can feel like having the rug pulled out from under your feet. You’re no longer a little fish in a big pond – or a small cog in a giant machine…Instead you’re out there on the front lines on your own, developing and defining your role as you go and making a really tangible impact on the success of the business. If you love to get your hands dirty and see your decisions have consequences, you’ll love the thrill of seeing your ideas make a difference. If you prefer the stability and security of understanding your responsibilities, the jump may not be for you.

You’ll grow professionally

Whatever training programmes and opportunities an established employer offers, there’s nothing like being thrown in the deep end to trigger a steep learning curve. At a startup you’ll need to wear multiple hats, picking up fresh knowledge and new skills quickly through hands-on experience. There’s plenty of room for error, and it will be hectic, but you’ll emerge with a whole new skill set. Be prepared to make (and learn from) mistakes though…

Creativity is genuinely welcome

Many established businesses claim to crave creativity, yet time and time again fail to embrace ideas which fall too far out of their comfort zone. At startups, this comfort zone has not had time to develop, which means there’s far more opportunity to have your more “out there” ideas heard and implemented.

You’ll take your work home with you

All jobs have their intense weeks, but every week with a startup is going to be hardcore. You’ll work incredibly hard, your hours will extend far beyond the 9-to-5 and you’ll find yourself waking up in the middle of the night to research a new bright idea. Your free time is going to take a nose dive, but if you’re ready to throw yourself passionately into a project and see it thrive, you’ll find the status quo both rewarding and exhausting.Make the valuable visible. REQUEST A DEMO today to learn how to showcase amazing content which presents your brand at its best.

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