If the shoe fits: 3 ways to tell if you’ll thrive in a startup

In an earlier article, Why Startups are Poised to Win the Competition for Tech Talent , we’ve made our opinion pretty clear: Startups offer a unique opportunity for purpose-driven tech talent to roll up their sleeves, build potentially game-changing solutions, and really make a visible impact on the world.

The caveat? It’s not for everyone.

At Olofsson & Company, because we work closely with many startups on their talent needs, we are afforded a privileged, inside look into how they operate. We use this knowledge to consult with candidates, especially those who have never worked in a startup environment, so they can make a more informed career choice.

?We usually start by asking candidates to give some thought to these three questions:

?1. Do you value opportunity or certainty?

Startups, especially early-stage ones, are lean. Roles and responsibilities are fluid, change is the norm and there’s a lot of room — and need — for employees to pitch in in many ways.

“In larger organisations, you may have to fight for the chance to be part of an exciting new project; in startups, however, you’ll probably get roped in before you can say a word because they always need all hands, and more hands, on deck,” observed Roger Olofsson , Managing Director of Olofsson & Company.?

And when you get into the work, chances are, there aren’t many systems and structures in place. You’re likely to be given the freedom and flexibility to get the work done because startups tend to be more results-oriented than process-driven — the latter will come into play down the road as the business scales.

Some personalities will relish this as an endless parade of opportunities; others may frown at the ambiguity. How you perceive this can be a good signal as to whether the startup environment is the right fit for you.?

2. Are you slow and steady, or fast and furious?

Speed and agility are table stakes in almost every startup environment. Unlike large organisations which have an existing suite of solutions to sell while new product development happens behind the scenes, startups don’t have that luxury. The time it takes to build a commercially viable product stands between the company and the growth, revenue and funding it needs to stay afloat, so, yes, speed does matter.

Within startups, there’s an implicit expectation for new hires to scale the learning curve as quickly as possible. Onboarding will naturally be less structured than in a large organisation, where learning paths are neatly laid out based on your job scope.

Instead, we find that the people who thrive in startups are those who are innately curious. They tend to be self-motivated learners who enjoy learning on the go and are resourceful enough to acquire new skills as and when the situation calls for it. The ‘fast and furious’ personality, as we like to call it, is also less fearful of failure and more willing to experiment — which is exactly what a startup environment is all about.

3. Do you believe in the startup’s purpose?

Life in a startup is not a bed of roses. There’ll be long hours and tremendous pressure to perform. What keeps people going is a sense of purpose.

When we ran a snap poll on LinkedIn , an overwhelming 42% of participants told us that their top consideration for joining a startup is the company’s purpose and values. A new March 2022 report by McKinsey & Company also validates our findings — the lack of meaningful work was the fourth reason globally?why employees resigned without a job in hand1.

So, the question that needs to be answered is how strongly you believe in the startup’s vision.

Essentially, every startup was established in the same way: its founder saw a problem, came up with a solution, and acted on it. Does that problem and the startup’s solution resonate with you? Does the change that the startup wants to make in the world excite you?

We also encourage candidates to learn more about the founder for two reasons. Firstly, a startup’s culture tends to mirror its founder’s personality so understanding who they are, as people, can provide clues into the workplace culture. Secondly, and this is especially true in early-stage startups, you are likely to be working shoulder-to-shoulder with them.

“Startup founders are a unique breed. It takes a certain personality to not only see a problem but have the creativity and determination to solve it. I work with startup founders all the time and I always walk away feeling inspired. I tell candidates that if they can handle that level of energy and intensity on a daily basis, they’ll have a blast working in a startup,” shared Mr Olofsson.

Remember, every startup is different

While we believe that these three questions will give you a good inkling about whether you’ll feel right at home in a startup, the fact is, every startup is different. If you’re keen on a more in-depth conversation about your career direction in the fast-moving tech startup world, leave us a comment and we’ll be in touch.

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1 Gone for now, or gone for good? How to play the new talent game and win back workers, McKinsey & Company, March 2022

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