It is increasingly becoming the norm for young professionals to seek employment opportunities in startups, and the reason behind this decision is very much obvious. When you consider the myriad of benefits you stand to enjoy when you choose to work for a startup: such as the flexible work schedules, the opportunity to study the ins and outs of a fresh and growing business – then, you may as well conclude that employment at a growing company may just be the right path for you.
In this article, we shall be discussing the meaning of a startup and the top benefits of working for a startup.
What exactly is a startup?
A startup is simply a new business or organization that is established by one or more entrepreneurs. The primary objective of most startup businesses is to launch a unique product or service in the market and in the process, provide solutions to a particular challenge faced by consumers. In most cases, startups are often shoestring operations; meaning that they usually have a limited amount of funds for their operations. As a result, the initial funding capital is supplied by the founders themselves or their friends and families. Once the startup has gained more solid ground, then more funding can come from lenders, investors, etc.
Top 7 Benefits of Working for a Startup
There are a plethora of reasons why you should consider working for a startup company, especially if you are a newbie in the professional world, for instance, a young professional or a fresh graduate. Deciding to take up employment at a startup can offer you so many exciting benefits, some of which are:
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The opportunity to learn more
A lot of startups will delegate a lot more duty and responsibility to their employees. This is because most startups just can’t afford the cost of hiring several employees to handle different tasks within a department. Usually, startups would hire their employees according to a specific skill set that each employee has, but usually end up delegating a larger responsibility to each employee within the company as compensation for the shortage of employees in general.
While this may sound like a lot of workloads for you, it can however be of great benefit to you, particularly if you are a new professional. This is because you are exposed to things that you may most likely not get the valuable opportunity to learn about if you were to be in a more established or corporate organization. Moreover, since the founders and employees of a startup tend to work together, you have a direct connection to the brains behind the startup and you will be able to pick valuable lessons from them every step of the journey.
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Flexible working hours
A lot of startups give their employees the latitude to work flexible hours, and in fact, several startups would even allow employees to work remotely if they please. This is an ample prerequisite for professionals who have an active home life or manage regular obligations outside of work.
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Work incentives
Startup companies usually offer their employees a lot of benefits so that their employees remain satisfied and for work satisfaction and efficiency to be at its climax. Working at a startup is almost like working at any other type of organization. Hence, employees of startups usually enjoy a special experience that isn’t available somewhere else. For instance, some startups provide a nap room or nap pods where employees can take a quick nap during work hours. Some other startups even offer free daily lunches to employees.
The following are some of the common perks enjoyed by employees of startups:
- The work environment is casual, and the atmosphere is relaxed
- Employees enjoy discounts on goods or services offered by the startup
- Free gym subscriptions
- Free food and drinks at work
- Flexible working hours and the option to work from home
- Shorter work weeks
- Workplaces are often pet-friendly
- Unlimited paid-time-off (PTO)
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Higher job satisfaction
Most people who work at startups usually derive better job satisfaction as they are often more involved in the progress and evolution of the business. Knowing that you contribute actively to the growth of an organization gives you this amazing feeling and can greatly impact your overall satisfaction with your work.
In addition, since startups typically have a significantly lesser number of employees compared to other organizations, the leaders and founders of the startup company tend to put in additional effort to ensure the employees are happy and satisfied at work.
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Little or no supervision
Another amazing benefit of working for a startup is the often little supervision that you get to work under. Since there are usually few employees working at the startup, it becomes more difficult to spread supervision across each department. Consequently, employees will most often be allowed to make their own calls within their professional jurisdiction and thus be able to contribute significantly to the success of the startup.
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There is much room for innovation
Employees who take up employment at startups are usually given the ample freedom to display their skills and knowledge in such a manner that adds to the success and development of the startup. Unlike more established and corporate companies where there’s often a hierarchy of command through which ideas must pass through, employees of startups can however present their ideas directly to the head of a startup. This is particularly more beneficial for individuals who usually come up with brilliant innovations they want to share with the management every now and then.
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Access to more entrepreneurship insights
As mentioned earlier, working for a startup will most likely give you direct access to the leaders and founders, and this positions you to get unparalleled insights into the intricacies of entrepreneurship.
By working closely with the top management, you’ll experience how a business evolves over time, thereby gaining a crucial understanding of what is required to build an organization – from staff recruitment to building a brand identity.
In all, you will be able to reason more like an entrepreneur or business owner and constantly bring up ideas and solutions that don’t just benefit you and your department, but the entirety of the startup.
Final Thoughts
Accepting employment at a startup will enable you to discover your niche, handle great responsibilities, and eventually have a real and lasting impact on the growth of the organization.
The ability to shape not only your own role but also the larger company will offer you a steeper learning opportunity than you could get by working in a typical corporate organization. You see now that it’s indeed very beneficial for young graduates and fresh professionals to work in a startup during the early stages of their careers. Cheers to finding your perfect startup job!
