Considering Important Factors carefully before joining a startup.

Beginnings are challenging. It's equal parts addictive, fulfilling, puzzling, and infuriating to work for a startup. I should know; during the course of my professional career, I worked in senior roles at different startups, so I have some expertise that should help you along the path, whether you're searching for a change or have been laid off

1. Early participants ARE the corporate culture

Assume there are ten to twenty individuals at the startup you are thinking about joining. A select group of people handpick the entire team. Whether a company has been in operation for two years or six months, the "culture" of the organization is only as strong as the few individuals who have made it. Working directly with a small group of individuals who make up the entire company is not the same as working for a department inside a large organization.

With these people, you will have a lot of time to spend. Are you able to handle people with varying personalities with enough patience? Do they leave their inflated egos outside? Even better, can you control your ego?

An early-stage startup's company culture is mostly shaped by its founders. The personal qualities of the founders will reveal something about the team dynamic.

Thus, if these individuals are the founders...You are essentially aware of what you are going into.

Additionally, there will probably be a small group of individuals who were acquainted before the new endeavor began. If you don't know them, it can be like reliving elementary or secondary school and figuring out which lunch table to eat at.

Once more, even though we're talking about doing it remotely, the capacity to be proactive in developing relationships important in this situation.

2. Level of knowledge about the CEO or founders?

Finish your assignments. In the early stages of a startup, believing in the founders or CEO is just as critical, if not more so, than believing in the product, brand, or other goal the company is pursuing.

For instance, if the company hasn't launched yet or is only a few years old, and this is the CEO's first experience with startups, be aware that they will experience growing pains and a learning curve. In this situation, you should find out if they have previously acted as a change agent and forward-thinker in other roles. Do they have the support of past direct reports as well as their peers? Do they spend more time promoting themselves and giving speeches at conferences than they do really leading and organizing teams?

It is imperative that a startup's CEO has prior experience creating and leading teams. If they lack this experience, they must be astute enough to either have a co-founder who possesses such skills or hire others who do (and have complete faith in them). You have to make a decision, and asking the founder or CEO politely about their "past successes" will assist you do so. Some CEOs receive funding to initiate a project, but since they have never completed one before, they have no idea how to proceed.

If you are unable to speak with the CEO directly, then make some inquiries and look into the person as well as the business.

Do you think the CEO or founder can effectively represent the company to investors, clients, prospective clients, the media, and other stakeholders in your industry? in particular when there is little stability and economies are erratic due to a worldwide pandemic? The CEO and founder is the person you should pitch. They are the ones who go out and get the money needed for the business to start, grow, and continue. A few CEOs are more adept in this area than others.

3. Ensure the startup has the appropriate investors

Alternatively, they are not pursuing or targeting "random" money, but rather the appropriate investors. When thinking about the sustainability of the business and the support it will receive, it is crucial to understand the investors' backgrounds and identities. Even with a strong brand and product, a business faces significant challenges in the future when it comes to achieving investor expectations if the CEO and product are not in line with those objectives.

Furthermore, be cautious if an early-stage company you're speaking with seems hazy about who their investors are and what their expectations might be.

4. Before you enter, be aware of the benefits

Be ready to ride out pandemics on a secluded luxury island without making those millions of dollars, since most entrepreneurs won't.

If you never get that money in the end, what do you hope to gain from the experience? This one is simple.

Startups offer great chances for professional development and experience acquisition that are harder to come by in larger companies. This remains true even if you only reach a single short term. It can still be used to your advantage.

There are several ways to get your hands filthy. Accept that you will be doing more than what is listed in the job description if you are appointed head of marketing. If you are recruited for an entry-level role, put in as much effort as you can and help out where you can. If you perform well, you'll get promoted.

Before you begin, list the talents you hope to acquire. Will the startup give you the opportunity to experiment? Are you ready to accept that there will be occasions when you have to make decisions on the fly? But be aware that you will develop if you're willing to study. Thus, even in the unlikely event that the startup fails, you don't succeed there, or a better opportunity arises, you'll have broadened your skill set and increased your employability, which is particularly crucial in the fiercely competitive global job market of today.

4. Make a decision about your desire to lead

Do you want to be a leader if you aren't one already? Your capacity to develop as a leader will be a major asset to your growth in a startup. When I've hired employees at startups, I've always tried to assess the candidate's capacity to take on more responsibility over time, to accept and apply feedback, to accept failure and move on, and to assess whether or not they have the ability to give others practical guidance in the future. The people who don't actively participate in the startup environment and who sit on their hands will benefit the least from working there.

Are you uncomfortable leading others? Expect to receive less from a startup. A startup is a great place to start if you want to manage people but don't have any experience. It will provide you the chance to build and lead a team, which is really beneficial for your career development.

5. Get ready to put in long hours at work

Working into the night to complete a project or realize a common vision is exhilarating. You get a huge sense of satisfaction and addiction from it when you succeed. However, too is the potential sense of fulfillment that comes from seeing your daughter off to school or spending quality time with your family or significant other.

Working strategically exists, as opposed to merely putting in long hours because that's what everyone else does. It is feasible to work at a startup and have a life at the same time, but it takes a different kind of planning and time management than your standard nine to five job.

If you're considering entry-level positions with startups, ask your prospective boss for flexibility regarding working from home opportunities. Although your new employer may expect you to work long, strange hours, do you think they'll also make accommodations for you when you need them? This is a crucial matter.

Be as understanding and flexible as you can to all the managers and leaders of startups out there because burnout is a genuine problem. It's important to remember that just because a startup or employees have stock does not mean that everyone can or will put in a lot of overtime to achieve a common goal. This is made even more difficult when you take into account the different challenges that come with leading distant teams that are already worried about their own and their families' health during a pandemic.

That is a lot to consider, then

Those that truly get into startups often work at several of them or even establish their own for a reason. They are the ones who have lofty dreams and are never satisfied. They have their eyes on the future. They get a taste of what "this is what a company should be like" and are eager to give it more and more shots. And they will succeed in the end. You're going to succeed.

When considering joining a startup, take into account everything mentioned above, but pay particular attention to two things:

• Does the startup provide you with the chance to pursue your passion?
• Will working at the startup have helped you further your career and experience even if things don't work out?

You've already made progress halfway through if you can respond positively to the questions above.

Thanks for reading !!

Good Luck !!