Joining A Startup v/s An Established Company After Graduation

We live in a generation where startups are all the rage to begin your careers with. But many make it their life’s mission to score big, right from the get go. However, choosing which route to take is still a dilemma for some. Both come with their own set of pros and cons, and your takeaway from each will be significant, but your choice depends on your needs and what you’re looking to get out of that particular organisation. To ease your burden, we have come up with a list of the key aspects of a startup and an established organisation, that you must take into consideration –

Responsibilities

At a startup, your job role may mandate a certain number of asks, but you will almost always end up doing much more, if not, something completely different within a matter of months. At a well-established company, your responsibilities are set and you pretty much do the same tasks till you get promoted or someone at that position resigns. Additionally, your work depends on the challenges that come your way, like a company event, product launch or even disappointed clients. This depends on whether you like working at your own pace or enjoy the thrill of a fast-paced environment.

Work Pressure

Startups usually have a relaxed work environment, so you most likely won’t find employees running all over answering calls, rushing for meetings or attending to phone calls. You also won’t have someone at a senior position ‘managing’ you constantly. Corporates always have managers tracking employees every moves, whether you’ve met their deadlines, attended well to clients, etc. If your choice is based on this particular aspect, it really depends on your personality and the kind of environment you prefer.

Growth

As mentioned, your job responsibilities with start-ups and established companies vary, but a full-fledged corporate job can be monotonous. Since your responsibilities change over time in startups, you’ll have a lot to learn, which means your scope for growth in one single company is huge. Additionally, you can also learn from your colleagues. If you want to expand your knowledge to graphic design, you can always approach the designer and ask him/her to teach you a few tricks of the trade or some important basics, and you won’t be fired for it!

Income

It is a given that startups take a while to generate capital, so the salaries they offer may disappoint you. Established companies have the resources to spend on employees, in addition to other perks and long-term benefits, financially. Startups are also notorious for delayed salaries, and if this is something you’re particular about you might want to vary before joining one.

Work Environment

Startups are known for their vibrantly designed office space and casual, comfortable aesthetic, whereas established companies don’t go beyond the usual desk and chair. At startups, you will most probably work on laptops, which means that you can shift your workspace according to your needs, on a beanbag, on the sofa, in the conference room, etc. At bigger corporates, the only break you get from your workspace will be the lunch and coffee breaks. But if you’re someone who doesn’t mind that, you’d have no reason to complain

Future Prospects

Startups face a threat of closure, especially if they’re not raking in profits. An established company is the future, they’ve been around for years and will be around for years to come. Not to say that startups won’t make it, but if you’re not looking to change for a couple of years, or if you’re looking for more stability and security, your best bet would be an established corporate. Although, startups are more welcoming towards freshers and a lucky few make it big, seize the opportunity if you get one.