According to the Federation of Small Businesses, at the start of 2018 small firms accounted for 99.3% of all private sector businesses. There are startups for all sorts of products and services across almost all industries. And a great deal of these growing businesses are in need of technical talent to join their teams and help them to reach the dizzy heights of success.
Working for a startup business has many benefits including; autonomy, variation and job satisfaction. However, as with any job, there are challenges of being a part of a growing business.
We’ve compiled a list of all the benefits and challenges that come with working for a startup. So, if you’re thinking about joining a growing business read on…
Benefits
Opportunities for learning and growth
Working within a small team means that you have the opportunity to learn from colleagues working in various departments. The varied experience that you gain working for a startup is so valuable. It will help to expand your knowledge outside of your original remit, opportunities for learning and growth abound. Founders and employees work together, so you learn from the best.
Make a difference
Startups need to grow fast. If they can’t differentiate themselves from their competition, they’ll fade out. So, as an employee within a startup you have the license to show off your brilliance and see your ideas being implemented. Dynamic energy drives progress at startups. You’ll be encouraged to share your ideas as this demonstrates pride in growing the company.
Autonomy and freedom
Generally the mentality of startups is highly entrepreneurial and you’ll be encouraged to take initiative with your work. You’ll be given the trust and freedom to carry out tasks and projects how you see fit, but at the same time will have guidance from the founders.Job satisfaction
As an employee at a startup, you’ll share in the birth, growth and success of the company. This makes taking on a role at a startup such an attractive career path. You’ll belong to something special and genuinely see the impact your work is making. When the company does well, you will be incredibly satisfied and proud of the contribution you have made.
Challenges
Workload
Expect to work long hours and take on tasks that might fall outside your original remit. Startups must capitalise on trends quickly, and early growth is vital. Successful employees work vigilantly to make this happen. Taking on projects or tasks that you might not originally have been brought in to do is part and parcel of it all.
Steep learning curve
As part of our #TalentQA series we spoke with Amy Doyle, Technical Recruiter at WeTransfer about some of the benefits and challenges of working for startup businesses. One of the challenges that Amy highlights in the Q&A is the fact that the learning curve in a startup is a lot steeper than in larger businesses. This is mainly due to the fact that it’s generally a small team or sometimes just one person.
Job security
You’ll love your job, but startups aren’t so easy to research into. It’s impossible to know whether or not you are taking a job with the next Facebook. However, if you are offered a job with a startup in something you are passionate about, even if it fails, it will be a great way to craft your CV with skills for future job opportunities.
Working for a startup can be an incredibly rewarding career move. However competition is fierce, and small missteps can have big repercussions. So, before heading into a new role with what appears to be the next big thing, weigh up whether it’s right for you and your career goals.
If you’re a tech professional looking for your next dream role, get in touch with us today.
