If you are a fresh graduate or looking to change career paths, securing a job can be a very stressful experience. Especially within today’s erratic job market, one can be unsure of where to even begin searching. A corporate job, if you are offered one, may appear to be the most suitable option, offering you a generous pay-check and attractive benefits. On the other hand, a position at an up-and-coming startup may be daunting and seem to lack security. Nevertheless, while a job at a young startup may not be the most economically secured option, there are many reasons why it may be one of the most invaluable and fruitful of opportunities.
Here are 3 reasons why you might want to choose a job at a startup over that coveted corporate position:
1. The Learning Opportunities 👨💻💡📈
Working at a young startup is a special experience. It may not be as glamorous as you might expect, but one thing is certain - there will be countless opportunities for you to learn and grow. Working at a startup means that you will be operating in smaller teams and be given more responsibilities. You may be asked to perform roles that are beyond your job scope and to chip in on the unglamorous tasks like washing the dishes or clearing the trash. For instance, as an intern at a Singapore-based, social media marketing startup Partipost, I was tasked to deal with the company’s accounting and aid both in the tech and marketing team, all within the span of two months!
Experiences like such allow you to pick up more hard skills and be familiar with the various departments in a company. Moreover, you will learn to be independent and in the process discover what your strengths and weaknesses are. The variety of responsibilities expected of you at a startup ensures that you will receive many opportunities to develop and upgrade yourself. If you are seeking job experience that enables you to become a self-starter and hone vital workplace skills, then you should consider working at a startup!
2. A Vibrant Culture 😎🏖🆒
The atmosphere at a startup is full of energy and positivity as everyone is striving hard towards a common goal. You will find yourself working with a tight-knit group of people that share the same mindset and motivations as you. Jokes and laughter keep your sanity intact while having beers together at the end of a week will truly capture the TGIF spirit in everyone. The collaborative environment at a startup also provides you with the opportunity to work with entrepreneurial role models who know what it takes to start something from scratch.
The innovative drive and broader mindset that you will hone as you work together with such leaders will certainly come in handy when you decide to branch out on your own. Working at a startup is undoubtedly a risky and trying endeavor. Fortunately, the vibrant and challenging culture within the workplace motivates everyone to work hard and excel towards expanding the company and succeeding together.
3. Perks! Perks! Perks! 🍕🍺🎮
Your idea of a startup may be of the fancy, snack-filled, foosball table-equipped Hooli office from the hit HBO series, *Silicon Valley*. While that may not be the case for most young startups, there are still many other valuable perks that make startups truly enjoyable workplaces! Most of these benefits revolve around the flexible nature of the office. Employees have the liberty of fluid working hours and the freedom to work remotely so that they can cater to their personal matters outside of the workplace if the need arises. Additionally, you can say goodbye to rigid and uncomfortable office wear! During my 2 month stint at Partipost, I wore jeans and a t-shirt to work the majority of the days, and I blended right into the casual environment of the workplace. Lastly, one thing that all startups never lack is the yummy snacks and beverages in their pantries to keep employees going throughout the day. You may even find yourself enjoying a beer at the closing of a sales pitch or just at the end of a workweek.
For many individuals in the current workforce, having a warm and welcoming working environment as well as the proper work-life balance is crucial when they consider taking on a new job. These are just some of the many perks that are available in a startup to ensure employees’ job satisfaction. If flexibility is something you require from your work, then a startup might be the type of workplace just for you!
