8 Things to Know Before Working for a Startup
20 May 2015
Read by 3088 persons
Dismissal after 5 years. That’s the risk you run if you decide to work for a startup: the vast majority of them do not pass this milestone. Here are 8 other things to expect to make an informed decision.
1. Embrace daily change
What you are told in the interview is very likely to be no longer quite accurate a few months later. A young company must test its work methods and adapt them over time. Routine is rarely on the menu... and you could be playing musical chairs.
You have a comfortable spot near the window? You could find yourself in a closed room if they decide to rearrange the offices to make room for new employees. The opposite is also true! Even the company's mission can evolve. For example, Trans-IT went from a translation firm to a firm offering complete language services in less than four years.
2. Don't count on benefits
Larger companies can offer attractive benefits due to the higher number of employees. In a growing company, you can say goodbye to the retirement plan or group insurance that proves to be far too costly in the short term. You must therefore manage your own retirement strategy and obtain private insurance if needed.
3. Know that your position can change
Upon his hiring at Trans-IT, Benoît Gariépy was to hold the position of reviewer. "A little over a year later, I was offered a partnership and became CEO," he explains. His initial tasks were therefore added to the management of daily operations, namely the evaluation of contracts, billing, etc.
The downside of the "moving" position is that you could also be promised to be in charge of a team of 10 and see it reduced to 3 employees in case of a shortage of contracts.
4. Fully grasp the expression "... and other related tasks"
It is rare that you can take it easy by strictly performing your tasks, day after day. When a company starts up, everyone has to lend a hand. Printing, mail management, organizing meetings, participating in networking events... Be assured that every asset of your personality can be put to use.
5. Accept that big names will join the team
When a company starts to grow and experience more success, it can afford to hire experienced people who enjoy recognized expertise in their field. They may question your work method a bit, but at the same time, it's a golden opportunity for you to have access to a mentor "up close," while they are often less accessible in a larger company.
6. Expect to work longer hours
The 9-to-5 is very rare in a startup. Either "other related tasks" delay the execution of our main tasks, or we must help the team when a major contract mobilizes everyone. Since your position is flexible, it may well be that the work follows you a bit after office hours. This is what Benoît Gariépy experienced, whose versatility also makes him more likely to be called outside of office hours.
7. The atmosphere can change with the pace of growth
The advantage of startups often lies in the family atmosphere that reigns there. The manager sometimes makes up for the lack of benefits by offering you free drinks at 5-to-7s or team lunches. The larger the team grows, the more impossible it may become for him to pay everyone’s tab.
8. Be ready to train yourself
The leaders of start-up companies don't always have much experience in hiring. Upon your arrival, you may have to learn how to use a software... and even debug it yourself!
Catherine Martellini
Workopolis.com
Published May 19, 2015.
Posted online May 20, 2015.
1. Embrace daily change
What you are told in the interview is very likely to be no longer quite accurate a few months later. A young company must test its work methods and adapt them over time. Routine is rarely on the menu... and you could be playing musical chairs.
You have a comfortable spot near the window? You could find yourself in a closed room if they decide to rearrange the offices to make room for new employees. The opposite is also true! Even the company's mission can evolve. For example, Trans-IT went from a translation firm to a firm offering complete language services in less than four years.
2. Don't count on benefits
Larger companies can offer attractive benefits due to the higher number of employees. In a growing company, you can say goodbye to the retirement plan or group insurance that proves to be far too costly in the short term. You must therefore manage your own retirement strategy and obtain private insurance if needed.
3. Know that your position can change
Upon his hiring at Trans-IT, Benoît Gariépy was to hold the position of reviewer. "A little over a year later, I was offered a partnership and became CEO," he explains. His initial tasks were therefore added to the management of daily operations, namely the evaluation of contracts, billing, etc.
The downside of the "moving" position is that you could also be promised to be in charge of a team of 10 and see it reduced to 3 employees in case of a shortage of contracts.
4. Fully grasp the expression "... and other related tasks"
It is rare that you can take it easy by strictly performing your tasks, day after day. When a company starts up, everyone has to lend a hand. Printing, mail management, organizing meetings, participating in networking events... Be assured that every asset of your personality can be put to use.
5. Accept that big names will join the team
When a company starts to grow and experience more success, it can afford to hire experienced people who enjoy recognized expertise in their field. They may question your work method a bit, but at the same time, it's a golden opportunity for you to have access to a mentor "up close," while they are often less accessible in a larger company.
6. Expect to work longer hours
The 9-to-5 is very rare in a startup. Either "other related tasks" delay the execution of our main tasks, or we must help the team when a major contract mobilizes everyone. Since your position is flexible, it may well be that the work follows you a bit after office hours. This is what Benoît Gariépy experienced, whose versatility also makes him more likely to be called outside of office hours.
7. The atmosphere can change with the pace of growth
The advantage of startups often lies in the family atmosphere that reigns there. The manager sometimes makes up for the lack of benefits by offering you free drinks at 5-to-7s or team lunches. The larger the team grows, the more impossible it may become for him to pay everyone’s tab.
8. Be ready to train yourself
The leaders of start-up companies don't always have much experience in hiring. Upon your arrival, you may have to learn how to use a software... and even debug it yourself!
Catherine Martellini
Workopolis.com
Published May 19, 2015.
Posted online May 20, 2015.
