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Working at a startup provides an opportunity to step up, in terms of responsibility, leadership, and more

In the tech world, startup life can be tough. It’s similar to the way baby turtles struggle to make it to the ocean after they hatch on shore. The hatchlings are exposed to land and air predators such as seagulls and crabs. Sometimes, they don’t have enough strength to reach the water.

It’s easy to see why many career starters would rather begin elsewhere. But when those baby turtles eventually make it to sea, it’s smooth sailing … or should I say, swimming? A startup may have its challenges, but it’s not all as crazy as it’s purported to be. In fact, it is also a lot of fun.

Brendan Wilde, the Marketing Manager of successful New Zealand-based tech company Umbrellar, says a good number of startups scale successfully after the initial turbulent period. “On our hosting platform we have seen companies take off from small blogs with a few visitors per day, to become massive sites with tens of thousands of unique visits per day. Many seem to be overnight successes, but it rarely happens that way.”

To be an all-around professional, you are expected to experience everything in the business world. This includes challenges that build patience, skill, and versatility. Here are some good reasons why everybody needs to work at a startup at some point:

1. Build up responsibility

Startups are small companies, no doubt. At corporate behemoths, it’s easy to get lost in your role, being that small cog that functions as part of the whole machine. Sometimes, you may not feel you are making the impact you want. Smaller companies tend to work in agile teams. Each person has a responsibility that makes a direct contribution to the overall goal.

As a member of an agile team, you can see yourself having an everyday impact on the growth of the company. A sense of responsibility builds fulfilment and gives an individual self-worth. You may even find your purpose in a small team; you never know.

2. Enjoy more opportunities

Smaller companies have a hands-on system of accomplishing tasks. True, they may not pay as much as your typical Cisco or Salesforce. However, they offer a different type of reward; an incentivised system that doesn’t pay in cash, but skills attained and opportunities won. The advantage of this is the experience you acquire along the journey.

You may not realise it immediately, but later in your profession, it will become evident that most of the skills you’ve learned are a product of your previous individual efforts. They will come from the chances you got to do something on your own, regardless of how well (or not), you were rewarded.

3. Take a leadership role

We previously said that startups consist of agile teams; a cross-functional group of people working together to create a functional, tested increment of a product. Unlike, most large corporations which tend to be bureaucratic in their approach, agile teams employ a fast-paced system that tackles issues as they come. Every individual has a chance to take up a leadership role sooner than they think.

Also read: You do not need to choose a methodology to innovate

A leadership role may not necessarily translate to a promotion or higher pay, but the benefits can’t be quantified in money either. Even if you are joining the company mid-way into your career, you will get the opportunity to mentor greenhorns in your profession – which is a good thing.

4. An environment of innovation

One of the interesting things about startups is the enthusiastic, passionate environment. If you find yourself in a dreary 9-5 role, it’s probably because you are surrounded by colleagues who are not as motivated as you are. This is different with most startups; the fervent atmosphere can spark inspiration in every level, resulting in real innovative ideas and growth.

Being part of an entrepreneurial is an excellent way to become creative. Entrepreneurs are awesome people to learn from — they quickly recognise problems and come up with solutions that will take the business further.

5. Enjoy a bit of freedom

Maybe not all startups are modelled this way, but most of them have a freer approach to traditional work culture. For example, if you like, you could wear jeans to work. Some even allow employees to wear shorts and sandals in the summer. You can share a loud joke with your team. This doesn’t mean it’s a play place. In fact, it has been proven that happier workplaces, foster more productive staff.

Everybody tends to know each other by name and not cubicle position. The open floor plan of most startups encourages interaction among employees. It is through real relationships that companies form a tightly-knit bond of successful teams.

6. Team building occurs regularly

If you work somewhere you have to wait until the next corporate conference for team-building exercises, you’ll find it more rewarding at a startup. Every day is a team-building lesson at startups; from brainstorming sessions to sharing a pizza and conducting in-house clean-ups, everybody is participating.

Team building isn’t just about the camping excursions you take or the corporate trips you make. It is in the activities you perform together. Rearranging the office space, group cleaning and helping each other’s kids are a few examples. What better way to solidify your bonds beyond the work environment.

7. Understand the value of self-sustainability

Unless they are sustainable, working at a large corporation tends to make you take things for granted. The excessive use of resources such as lighting and power is evident for most businesses that can afford to pay for it. Smaller companies, live within their means and are more frugal so to speak.

Also read: [Discussions] Are VCs funding the entrepreneur lifestyle or a sustainable business ?

This can seep into your everyday lifestyle, and before you know it, you are opting for cheaper, more sustainable alternatives in your home. Using energy-efficient appliances and checking your expenses are a few examples of self-sustainability.

Finally, a startup culture imbibes an ownership attitude into its employees. Everyone treats the business as theirs and contributes collectively to its success. This ownership culture builds the entrepreneurial spirit you could use to start up your own business someday.

If you remember that all successful corporations were once startups. Everybody ought to have the experience of working in this dynamic, exciting environment at some point in their career; with the caveat that they must choose an appropriate fit.

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The views expressed here are of the author’s, and e27 may not necessarily subscribe to them. e27 invites members from Asia’s tech industry and startup community to share their honest opinions and expert knowledge with our readers. If you are interested in sharing your point of view, submit your post here.

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