Startups can have a reputation of being filled with young, hip employees, ping pong tables, and office pets. This could just the image portrayed by modern entertainment. There are many perks to working for a startup company, but there are also some negatives in comparison to a big company.

Deciding if working at a startup or big company is better depends on your goals. For experience in smaller teams and fast-paced roles, a startup is better. But big companies have established roots with greater job security. They can often offer superior salaries and benefits when compared to startups.

Should I Join a Startup or an Established Company?

There are conflicting benefits to working at startups or an established company. First, large companies can offer a lot more financial security to their employees. This includes better pay, bonuses, and pension schemes as well as greater job security. This is because such companies are reputable and are generating huge profits.

In contrast, 3 out of every 4 startups go bust. So, if you prefer more safety within your role, a startup may not be the place for you. But, if you’re more of a risk-taker and want to help build a company from the ground up, a startup will be up your alley.

Startup companies also have the benefit of having a tight-knit team. This means startups are all about collaboration and each employee genuinely has an important role within the company. If you want a lot of responsibility and to feel that your job is making a large impact on the company you work for, then an established firm may not be the way to go.

Do Startups Look Good on Resumes?

Startups can look good on your resume depending on what jobs you’re trying to apply for. In some cases, it’s the same concept of if your degree determines your career: it all depends on the future job you want. It can be a good point on your resume if you’re planning on entering the entrepreneurial field and gaining funding to create a company. Working at a startup would definitely impress potential investors or clients.

Startups are often used as steppingstones for those who have the desire to build their own companies down the line. It is the job that leads to their career. So, in these cases, startups do look very good on your resume.

For those wanting to work in a more traditional business environment, previous startup positions aren’t as impressive to employers. This is because roles in startups and roles in ‘normal’ businesses are quite different. This means employers often prefer to hire someone with experience working in a similar business to their own.

But startups do give employees a lot of responsibility and can often be very high-pressured. So, there are certainly a great number of transferable skills from working at a startup that could benefit you in another company. Just make sure to tailor the skills you learned in the startup to the job you are applying for on your resume!

 Is a Startup a Good First Job?

There are definite pros and cons to having a startup role as your first-ever job. Primarily, startups are good first jobs because they allow you to gain heaps of experience in a variety of roles. Many of which you may never have even considered as a career path.

From coding and creating programming languages to marketing or sales, startups allow you to try different roles to find ones that appeal to you most. This could help you decide on which area you want your future career to be in.

In contrast, larger companies usually require workers to specialise in one field and stick with it indefinitely. So, working at a startup can be a very useful first job in this sense.

On the flip side, working at a startup as your first job can be overwhelming. This can be due to the sheer number of roles you are asked to undertake. The fast-paced nature of startup work may mean that you struggle to balance all of these tasks. So, you could become burnt out quickly, especially if this is your first ever role with big responsibilities.

Also, some employers may be looking for expert workers with years of experience in just one role. So, you could be at a disadvantage when applying to specialised roles. Try not to spread yourself too thin as you may need more comprehensive experience in the future.

 How Hard Is It to Work for a Startup?

Working for a startup undeniably requires a lot of effort and dedication. Due to the small nature of startup companies, employees are often required to take on more work than they initially thought they would be given.

This does allow you to gain more experience and also toughens you up, making you adaptable and highly functioning under pressure. But it can also lead to a pretty quick burnout. This means that working for a startup won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. If you prefer more structure and less stress, then working at a larger company would be more suitable for you.

There is also significantly less mentoring available when working at a startup company. In larger businesses, there are employees who have worked there for 10 plus years that will help you with everything you need to know. They will also guide you throughout your time at the company. This will make your job a whole lot easier.

At a startup, there is a lower chance that you will have a career mentor to guide you. This is because generally, people working at startups are young and don’t have decades of experience like older employees do.

So, working at a startup can be more difficult than working at a ‘normal’ company. But, if you are willing to put in the hard work, you could get some truly rewarding experiences at a startup.

At the end of the day, working at a startup may be suitable for one person and completely unsuitable for another. It’s all about personal preference and you’ll never know which you prefer until you try them. You should do as much research on the company that you are planning to work for as possible. That way you can see whether the job and company suit your career goals.

When you’re seeking a good job, have you considered approaching a recruitment company? Rednax Recruitment prides itself on sourcing reliable skilled and general labour employees to connect with employers. The latest labour jobs hiring can be found on our website. Don’t forget to check out our resources for advice such as the 5 ways to improve communication skills.