Why working at a startup can be a launchpad for your career

What you will learn on the job

The word ‘startup’ can mean a lot of different things to different people. To some, startups are the realm of reclusive hackers who have perhaps skipped one too many showers, clad in hoodies and jeans covered in Cheeto-dust. To others, it’’s the open office full of beanbags and ping pong tables, where employees go from one floor to the next on slides rather than stairs.

But too often, working at a startup is seen as something just beyond the reach of university students. To some, the reputation isn’t there, the risks are too prevalent or the pay simply isn’t high enough. And undeniably, for some, there is the pressure of pursuing a lucrative (and safer) job in industries like consulting or investment banking.

While there is a kernel of truth to these fears, a startup offers an environment for innovation, freedom and learning that pushes you beyond your boundaries and equips you with the skills and mindset to tackle any problem in a professional setting.

So, here are 5 reasons why working at a startup while you’re in university could be one of the best decisions you will ever make.

1. You will learn how to prioritise and decide on which problems to tackle

The most important skill that you will learn when working at a startup is figuring out what problems to work on yourself. Generally, there is no middle manager watching you like a hawk and assigning a laundry lists of tasks to do. Most likely, you will be given an overarching goal such as ‘increase revenue’ or ‘find new customers’. Of course, you will be given guidance and support. But it’s your job to work out the strategies that will improve outcomes by 10x not 10%.

At Google X, the ‘moonshot factory’ of the tech giant, the guiding mantra is #MonkeyFirst. The idea is that if you want to train a monkey to stand on top of a pedestal and recite Shakespeare, you start by training the monkey, not by building the pedestal. Anyone can build a pedestal, but very few can figure out how to teach a monkey the nuances of English literature.

The same sort of philosophy applies to any startup that you will work at, because startups are by definition resource poor and need to deploy what little they have in a scrappy and efficient manner. You won’t impress your colleagues by wasting time building an intricate pedestal out of the finest marble, while the monkey flings its faeces around the lab. Knowing what to prioritise is more than half the battle, because if you’re pointed in the wrong direction you’re not making progress, no matter how much you ‘accomplish’.

You’ll have to learn how to apply the Pareto Principle- that 20% of the work leads to 80% of the outcomes. For example, if you are working in a research capacity, you will quickly realise that the majority of quality information comes from a handful of reputable resources.

Learning how to prioritise, set goals and track your own progress is a skill that will serve you well beyond any startup role. Once you’ve learned the ropes, no one’s constantly holding your hand. By taking the training wheels off, you figure out that the only way you can keep moving forward is by pedalling furiously. Applying this mindset of ruthless prioritisation and execution will put you miles ahead of the competition in any professional industry.

2. You will wear multiple hats and learn by doing

The only constant in the startup industry is change.

Startups are constantly looking for ways to innovate and improve, whether that be improving the business model, optimising user acquisition or automating processes. This means that you will have to be constantly updating your skills and be comfortable being uncomfortable. You almost have to treat your role as a video game, being at peace with the concept of failing and dying over and over again until you figure out the best way forward.

During my time as an intern at Contactout, I have had to learn a variety of new skills on the fly to successfully complete projects, ranging from video editing to website wireframing. This provided me the opportunity to expand my professional skillset while building on my passion for self-directed learning. I was also thrust into the deep end, interviewing freelancers for editorial and marketing positions. As someone who had only ever been on the other side of the interview table, it was undoubtedly a steep (but ultimately rewarding) learning curve.

3. Your actions will make a tangible impact

There’s something hugely fulfilling about knowing that you’re not just a cog in the corporate machine and that the work you do will have a material impact on the success of the company. Being responsible for the end-to-end execution of a project can be a huge responsibility

For example at Contactout, I deep dove into the company’s requirements under the GDPR and wrote up the privacy guidelines. Seeing that work go live on the company website was deeply rewarding. Similarly, knowing that the pitch deck I helped create is being used by the sales team is hugely satisfying.

This can be doubly rewarding at a social enterprise or mission-driven startup. Ultimately, your work will be directly improving lives, chipping away at complex social problems or empowering minorities. To the more socially-minded folks out there, working at such a startup can be a hugely fulfilling role and the reason to get out of bed in the morning. As Hemingway said:

Today is only one day in all the days that will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that ever come can depend on what you do today.

4. An entrepreneurial mindset is a valuable asset inside a corporation

Even if you end up not choosing the startup path as a long-term career option, having experience inside a highly innovative company can do wonders for your job prospects down the line. More and more companies are searching for ‘intrapreneurs’- those who aren’t afraid to solve problems creatively and cement a culture of innovation within their organisations. Having experience scaling up a user base from zero or building a beautifully designed landing page is demonstrable proof of the skills you have and the value you can add to an organisation.

Intrapreneurs are precious assets because they don’t need to be told what to do or how to do it in order to add value to the company. Active leaders are inherently more employable than passive participants because they are not afraid of taking risks and their motivation never runs low.

At its core, working at a startup is proof that you are good at either making things or selling things (or both). For this reason, intrapreneurs are in high demand, helping to foster a company growth culture that is data and results driven.

5. You will meet the most interesting people

Those deeply involved in the startup ecosystem have unique visions and are generally very smart and driven. This gives you the opportunity to learn from some of the brightest people around and make connections that will serve you well down the track. In a rocketship startup, you have to be comfortable with being the worst person in the room, because when you adopt this mindset, you start competing in a higher league. There is only one direction you can go- up- and that means everybody around you is someone you can learn from. Be ready to have your views challenged and your understanding improved. You will form some long-lasting relationships in the process.

I’ve learned so much from my boss at Contactout, Rob, particularly on the importance of reading, rigorously scheduling your days to make them as productive as possible, always keeping communication channels open and using tools like Trello to organise you work.

I’ve also recently had the privilege of joining the team at Textbook Ventures and getting caught up in the undying enthusiasm they all have for empowering the next generation of Australian entrepreneurs.

Take the plunge

So if you’ve been tossing up the idea of joining a startup, my only piece of advice is: do it. Even if you realise it’s not for you, at least you will know that it is not for you.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Sydney startup ecosystem and how you can land a startup job, apply now to attend Textbook Ventures and Startup Link’s inaugural Startup Careers Fair on the 14th of March.

Apply here: https://goo.gl/forms/uFK2865uW5NhT6Uj1

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/297094964495743/