When you start a new job, you’re expected to know certain things. You should know what your boss does, who your coworkers are, and where to get free coffee. Shift happens more quickly in a start-up than in a larger organization. You’ll be thrown into the deep end, and nothing will ever be the same again. The company’s mission and culture will change at lightning speed, and the only way to keep up is to embrace uncertainty. And if you can embrace it, the rewards can be great: Start-ups are where people come together over shared passions and forge lasting friendships based on shared values.
But before you excitedly rush for a full and final settlement from your current company to join a company full of start-up vets or move to Silicon Valley for that next big opportunity, here are five words of advice for working for a start-up.
- Work-life balance may get impacted
Unlike larger, more established companies that have the resources to hire people for each separate job, start-ups require a high level of employee versatility. That means you’ll likely be expected to perform well in a variety of roles. At a company, you may start in marketing and social media but eventually be assigned to sales, customer service, and office management. This isn’t uncommon—at most start-ups, everyone starts out wearing many different hats.
This can be a good thing for those who want to learn about the inner workings of a company and gain valuable experience in multiple fields. But it can be taxing on your personal life: The days of clocking in at 9 and out at 5 are long gone. Start-ups require their employees to work long hours; so if you’re not prepared to make sacrifices (including sleeping under your desk), you should probably look elsewhere!
- Change is a constant
Never underestimate how fast things will change—this isn’t just a cliché; it’s life at a start-up. Team members come and go; office locations shift; pink slips fly with alarming regularity; cofounders switch roles or leave altogether.
- Choose impactful projects
If you’re not sure what you should be doing, make sure that you’re working on something someone needs. Don’t get sucked into doing busy work or starting projects that have no real purpose. Your job is to move the company forward and make it successful, not do busywork.
- Seek out feedback
Make sure that you’re getting feedback regularly so you know how well you’re doing. You can organize a daily stand-up meeting where everyone in the company gathers in front of the whiteboard to see who is working on what and how they’re doing. After each meeting, people update their status so they’re held accountable for what they say they will do each day, and if something changes in their schedule, they need to go back and update everyone else on the team so everyone stays informed about what is happening with the project. This helps keep everyone focused on accomplishing their goals and being productive. You can also organize meetings regarding employee benefits like medical allowance exemption. If you want a better understanding of this you can visit Khatabook.
