What’s life at a start-up really like?
So the casual clothes and relaxed office environment make you want to work for a start-up? Before you book your flights to Silicon Valley, swat up on life at a start-up.
No one is going to hold your hand.
Those involved in running the company will be very much focused on doing just that, so beginning a job at a start-up can be a bit of a baptism of fire. There will not be anyone there to set you tasks and micromanage every part of your day. You’ll need to be driven, motivated, and independent in order to thrive in a start-up environment. Be confident in your own ability and learn to make decisions on your own.
Learn from your elders.
With start-ups tending to be relatively small, you will likely brush shoulders with (literally sit next to in some cases) the people running the company. This provides a unique opportunity to experience what goes into the management of a successful company and discover what it takes to have entrepreneurial success. Be attentive and take note of how the founders have made it to where they are.
Get stuck in.
You are likely to have a specific area of focus within the business e.g. sales, marketing etc, however depending on what’s on the agenda that day, you may find yourself completing tasks well outside of your job description. You are likely to be part of discussions on marketing or design decisions, despite having little if any experience in such areas. You’re a member of a team and if you’re needed for a particular project, be ready to jump well outside of your comfort zone.
Are you my boss or my friend?
Unlike in more corporate jobs where you might see the Senior Management bi-annually at formal events, you will have a lot of contact with the senior members of the company. Start-ups can have little or no middle management in certain areas, which can sometimes lead to a blurring of the lines between the employee and employer relationship. You don’t want to be dancing naked on the bar at your first company social event. The key is to remain professional while in a work environment and let them set out what is and is not acceptable.
You’re not going to be earning six figures.
As it will be a fledgling company there won’t be endless profits with which to pay staff. You will need to get used to working hard and not seeing much deniro in return. But before you give up on the idea completely, know that there are many positives. What you may not gain in cash, you will gain in experience. Being part of a small team, you’ll be given greater responsibility than you would in a typical job, allowing you to develop professionally at an incredible rate. A further positive is the potential that the company could take off and become a household name. You could end up being one of the pioneers involved in the next Facebook or Uber (or FIXR).
Your job will become an obsession.
As you will be invested in the success of the company, you will find yourself working harder, and for longer, to ensure the company continues to grow. The potential of holding a senior position within one of the big companies of the future will mean you put lots of your time and energy into your work. You’ll also become very attached to the business itself and if the idea behind it is a good one, you’ll want the rest of the world to find out about it as well.
While the publicised image of start-ups is one of indoor basketball hoops and skate-boarding down corridors (which is true to an extent), the reality is hard work and having to stand on your own two feet. But what you get in return is personal growth and a wealth of experience that you couldn’t get anywhere else. You’ll meet incredible people from whom you can learn a great amount and you could end up being part of something very special.
