The Age Old Debate: Startup vs. Big Company
As a recruiter and mentor with both big company and startup experience, I’m often asked whether it’s better to start your career at a startup or a big company.
Before today, I would typically reference these people to other medium posts that would outline the pros and cons of each option. Not anymore.
The pressure to choose the right job straight out of college is overhyped and overwhelming. Narratives of startups going broke and big companies mistreating their employees pressure us into thinking that:
- Failed startups are bad
- Your first job will define your professional career for life
- You have no power to make change within your company of choice
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is no such thing as the “perfect job”.
When you’re choosing where to work after graduation, don’t base your decision on fear. Every type of company has their issues, so try to tune out the people online complaining about how their startup went broke or how their big company didn’t offer them mentorship and start asking yourself, the simple question —
Why?
Every day ask yourself, why do I want to work at this company. If you can’t answer why or if you struggle with your answer (and you aren’t in desperate need of money) then consider not taking the job.
No company is perfect, no job is perfect, and when times get tough there is only going to be one question you ask yourself — why am I doing this? In the end, if your answer to that question isn’t powerful enough for you to get your ass out of bed, that’s when you know whether that company, not the type of company, is right for you.
