9 Reasons Why You Should Join a Startup

Want to work for a startup, but are concerned about the risks involved? Here are some reasons why startups are a good choice.

After seeing certain jaw-dropping successes of people like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and more with no business background, the startups are getting promoted like crazy these days. People think even the smallest equity offered at a startup can be enough to make one wealthy.

Yet, knowing that most startups fail, the decision may get confusing. If you're feeling the same way, then read on. Here are some great reasons why you should join a startup.

1. Innovative Way of Thinking

It’s often said that the people who believe in building something new from scratch are capable of seeing things differently from the ones who have never developed something of their own. At startups, these people are the founders.

You should know that due to small teams, most founders involve in finishing the task with the team members, and when an issue arrives, either in your job or in the project as a whole, you can expect some unique advice to address that challenge from them. It helps you to learn the different approaches that can be taken to solve a particular problem.

Moreover, these people are often open-minded and hence welcome different perspectives to address different issues and let you explore new ideas. This is something you may not get to experience while working in big teams for corporate firms.

2. More Opportunities to Expand Your Field of Work

It’s no news that the cash flow at startups is limited. You may get paid way less than what you might at a big corporate firm for your degree. However, you get an abundance of opportunities to improve your skills and expand your field of work.

It’s especially good if you’re just beginning to work and want to excel in multiple areas related to your field. For instance, if you’re into writing at a startup, you may also need to use some graphic designing tools for the ebook you wrote and even upload it to the website. Hence, along with writing, you're getting graphic designing experience and learning a bit about uploading downloadable PDFs on websites too.

3. Flexible Way of Working

At startups, working at odd hours is normal. You'll find many people in the office working late at night. However, it's also true that they care more about the quality you can bring to the table than where you work and for how long. For that reason, you need to be more productive. And if you can do better work from home, you can discuss it with your manager. They may allow you to work remotely.

Additionally, if you’re not sure whether this job will be right for you, you can also talk to your recruiter to work the first few weeks just to know if you like working in such an environment and can handle this type of stress. Many startups allow that as well, provided you have the required skills and can deliver results.

4. More New Networks

Startups don’t have thousands of employees and big teams. Mostly, one person has to wear multiple hats. Hence, the chances are that you may get to take several interviews, attend conferences, or meet industry experts. If you’re skilled and know your ways, you can develop good relations with them and expand your network.

Besides that, many startups operate from co-working spaces, that way, you get to meet people from other startups; even the ones who are in the same job role as you are. It’s usually fun, and you get to expand your network here as well.

5. More Responsibilities

When you’re joining a startup, you should already know that you’re signing up to do more work than you agreed upon, in some cases. Unlike big corporate firms, you won’t be able to stick to one monotonous task throughout the year. Let’s take the example of a content writer again. When you join a firm as a content writer, your job is usually to create articles and write ebooks or white papers for the company.

However, in startups, you may also be expected to do the copywriting work, editing and proofing others' work, or even writing video scripts. So, that way, it may be some extra duties to be available for, but they help you to expand your skill set.

If later on in life you ever decide to switch from your full-time day job and start a small writing agency of your own, these things can help.

6. More Recognition

When you work in small teams, everyone knows what you achieve and how you benefit the company. However, the opposite of it is also true. If you make a mistake or screw up, everyone gets to know that as well, which can be embarrassing at times. But when you know about it, you avoid making mistakes that will cost the company.

While working for a big firm, the work of one team member may not have a huge impact on the company, but at startups, your work matter. Everything you do impacts the success of the company directly. In startups, everyone's performance matters.

7. Do More With Less

Even if the startup you decide to work for is fully funded, the money will still remain a problem. Hence, more than often, you’ll need to work things out at a minimum cost. It will force you to take on crazy challenges and use your creativity to make things work—for instance, bringing the same results of a $50K marketing campaign in $5K.

Plus, when you actually accomplish such a thing, it boosts your confidence, and you’re in the making of an expert. Besides professional success, it even leaves an impact on your personal life too. You start to think economically and make ways to plan and organize things without having to spend dollars on everything.

8. Relaxed Atmosphere

At startups, the rules may not be as strict as at large corporations. Depending on where you work, you can wear casual clothes. Plus, people are usually interacting with each other, everyone has the same level of excitement at work as you, and almost everyone is chilled out, unless there’s a serious deadline tomorrow.

9. Equity Is Offered

When you join a startup, you’re offered less pay. But along with that, most startups offer some form of equity, which usually motivates people to work as a co-entrepreneur instead of just an employee, working for their paycheck.

If the company succeeds and make millions, the chances are you may get wealthy as well. Although, you’ll need to wait for several years for it and work day and night to ensure the success of the company.

The value of your equity is usually good if you join a startup in its early stage, let’s say, when it only has 20 employees or so. However, it shouldn’t be the sole motivator for joining a startup, as most startups fail.

If the value of your shares doesn't turn out to be that much, or the startup fails, it'll still give you an understanding of how equity schemes with companies work and may help you alter your approach to your personal finances.

Join a Startup If You Want to Get Ahead in Your Career

Being part of a startup can help you become an expert in the field, as you'll test everything you do in real time and change it as necessary. You'll learn discipline, time management, how to be productive in your lows, deal with difficult challenges, and more. These skills don't only help you in your professional life, but personal life as well.

However, if you’re looking for a job to pay the bills, and you care about your work-life balance, you should consider otherwise.