Working for a startup

A startup is a small business venture that has been newly created. In India, many startup companies have set shops in recent times. Although it is well known that startups pay very lucrative salaries and incentives in the form of profit sharing and stock options to the employees yet, before joining a startup there are lot of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ going on in the minds of the candidates.

An executive working in a startup says, “The transition from working with an IT giant to this startup company was not easy for me. I always wanted to put into practice my innovative ideas for which I knew this would be the ideal destination. But I could not ignore the job security aspect as well.” However, it has been a year now that he is working here and he happily admits that he is extremely satisfied.

Indeed if you are one of those creative ones who love playing with new ideas then this is the right place for you. “You will get a lot of recognition and if you can prove yourself then there is no looking back. Since, only a handful of employees work for a startup even the CEO will know you by name most of the times. The environment will be like a closely knit family much different from that of big corporates. You will also be exposed to a variety of tasks here. For example, from presales and sales activities you may be involved in programming as well. You will get the opportunity to voice your opinion and participate in decision making as well. You will have a sense of belongingness and immense potential for a great career growth”, says an employee working in an IT startup in Bangalore. So if you are one of the star performers only the sky is the limit for you.

However, working in a startup is full of risks. “If the company is facing a cash crunch it may abruptly shut down the entire unit”, warns an employee who worked in a startup sometime back. “It is important that you conduct some preliminary research before taking the plunge. Try to gain information about the company’s financial condition and their product or service. Consult with seniors to find out about its chances of success in the market,” he adds.

If you are one of those who loves taking up exciting challenges then just go ahead and join a startup. Even if it is not as successful as you hope for you will have few months of solid experience to boast of.

- Ranjita Chattopadhyay (views expressed in the article are that of the author)