After graduating from college, you have a lot of questions in front of you. Where will you work? Where will you live? What are you doing with your life? If you choose a company with a household name over an unknown company, people will be more impressed. This being said, you can benefit in many ways if you begin your career at a startup.
While a big corporation has name recognition and a level of prestige, that doesn’t mean your startup job is worthless. Here are eight benefits of choosing a startup company over a major corporation:
1. More responsibility
Startups are naturally smaller than large corporations (duh). You will have more responsibility from the beginning. Most startups can’t afford to have a full-time designated coffee runner, so you can do more meaningful work in your field and your work will have a direct impact on the company. While this can be scary, it’s a chance for you to show them your capabilities.
2. Diversified skillset
When working in a startup, you will most likely not just get one account to work on or one specific job that you routinely do every single day. It’s more likely that you’ll have to learn a bit of everything, which will prepare you for any position in the future. This does create a very steep learning curve in the beginning, but if you can get over that, you can prepare yourself for anything.
3. Direct recognition for your successes
A smaller company means more visibility. You can get the recognition for your hard work (maybe even from the CEO). It is more likely that your boss will recognize your positive moves. Your case will be stronger when you ask for a raise. This being said, your mistakes will also be more visible, but as long as your successes outweigh your mistakes, you will be an asset to the company.
4. Opportunity for growth
There is a lot of opportunity to move up in the company more quickly than at a larger company. If your boss sees that you are working hard and adding value to the company, it is likely that they will reward you.
5. Flexibility
Startups are, by nature, smaller than big corporations, giving you more flexibility with your schedule and your work. Since you have a more personal relationship with the people on your team and your supervisors, if you need to take a day off or have a family emergency, the rules are likely to be more flexible than at a more structured, cut and dry business.
6. Collaborative culture
Startups tend to have a more collaborative, team-focused environment, which allows you to become closer to your coworkers and gives you an environment where creativity can thrive.
7. Unique opportunities
Startups are growing and changing every single day, so you have the unique opportunity to be on the forefront of this change. This opportunity will allow you to participate in the changes in the company. In exchange, you grow as a worker and as a human.
8. Getting to share your voice
The smaller the environment, the more likely it is that your ideas will be heard. Startups thrive on new, fresh ideas. Your fresh input will help the company and will help you grow in your industry. Startups are where you have a valuable voice.
Don’t let little to no name recognition deter you from accepting a position at a company. Sure, there are benefits to working for a major corporation. There’s more security and more name recognition, but taking a chance and choosing a startup could provide you with benefits that far outweigh the negatives. Wherever you end up working, make the most of it and learn to enjoy the ride.
