Pros And Cons Of Working For A Startup

With the economy being what it is, many of us are tempted to apply for a position at a startup. Startups are becoming increasingly popular these days and a lot of them turn out to be a huge success. They usually have a lot of “fun things” to do in order to keep their employees satisfied.  But before you decide to work at a startup, here are a few pros and cons that you need to take into consideration.

Since startups are small and usually have less than 20 employees, you would work in smaller teams and your ideas would actually be heard. You’ll also have more independence and control over your work, and you’ll be able to advance your career much faster than you would in a big company.

The disadvantages of working for a startup is far more than the advantages. A Harvard study shows that 75% of startups fail, so you would have to worry about whether or not you’ll receive your pay check at the end of the month. Startups are usually strapped for cash and can’t afford to pay you as much as a larger company would, and they seldom supply their employees with benefits such as medical aid and pension funds.

When working for a startup, you won’t get the proper mentoring or training that you’ll receive while working in a larger company. In most cases, this is because your managers and “trainers’’ might not know any more than you would about the position you would be working in, or the way the company should be run in general.

Many people who work for a startup usually quit after a few months (or even weeks) of working there. Working for a startup can be really stressful. Working in smaller teams mean that the workload is more, so when you are ill for a few days there won’t be anyone to do your share of the workload, leaving it to pile up into a huge heap of “I hate my life”.

Working for a startup is about taking risks. You’ll never know how successful a company is going to be. Take the risk.  Even though you have no guarantee that it would work out for you, and you might not get a paycheck, it can still be considered as experience at the end of the day. It might be the worst mistake of your life, but it could also be the best decision you’ll ever make. Either way, it could be life changing.

Author Bio:
Shireen Louw is a professional wedding photographer having done more than 300 shoots. Check out her latest Kleinevalleij Wedding Photography on her blog.