Startups vs Corporate: What's the best move for you to start your career? ??

Making the decision of where to start your career journey is a life-altering decision for any student approaching graduation!?

On one hand, there are startups, which offer more growth opportunities, better freedom, and more control over the direction of your career.?

On the other hand, there’s the corporate world, which offers more job security, better resources, and a more established network.

So what should you do?

In this article, we’ll discuss:

? The pros and cons of working in a startup or in MNCs

? What factors should you consider before making your decision?

? Tips for networking with people in both startups and in corporate.

Let’s go! ??

My First Corporate Experience

I don’t know about you, but my first EVER experience of working at a corporate, was an experience that shaped my decision to never work at any corporate again ??

It all started with an internship I had at a bank in Pakistan. It’s quite common to look for internships during your summer break while you’re graduating high school or during your college years. I of course at that time, was in the queue like hundreds of other batch mates to find an internship at a bank or telco or any MNC for that matter.

Honestly, I was just looking to have something on my CV, with the hopes of “this internship will get me a job once I graduate” My internship was unpaid, that’s a separate rant and story of its own which I’ll get to in a separate newsletter. But for now, to serve the purpose of this one, I can share a bit of my corporate world transition to the startup world, clearly because the corporate world is NOT for me.?

What I saw there was an unnecessarily layered hierarchical culture, slow decision making processes, lack of purpose for me in a boring old 9 to 5, where I was honestly just supposed to exist and photocopy a few papers and talk to colleagues about their job dissatisfaction every day, that pretty much sums up my internship experience.

Well that was that, but if you’re someone who’s happy in their corporate life, good for you, this newsletter is in no means a way to diss the corporate b.s. , but continue reading if you like! ??

For me, I enjoy is a fast paced, less hierarchical structure, which allows me to play multiple roles, learn multiple things on the go, work from wherever I want and be flexible with my hours.

But here we’ll cover the basics of working in both, and I’d love to hear your positive and negative experiences of working in startups, MNCs or anywhere else.?Comment below! The more we learn from different perspectives, the more we grow! ??

Pros and Cons of Working in Startups

The culture of a startup is more flexible than an MNC but has some drawbacks as well.?

Pros ??

• Startups generally have a flexible routine & working hours, along with a casual dress code.
• You have the ability to take ownership of your own work.?
• You can have a direct impact on the direction of the company.
• There are a lot of hard skills & soft skills you can learn while working at a startup.
• Depending on the scale of the startup, having a shorter chain of command helps in faster decision making, pivoting etc

Cons ??

• Startups often have limited resources - they can be unstable, which can make it difficult to plan for the future.?
• Startups may not be able to provide you the high salaries you desire, but you’ll learn a lot on the go. Also, startups provide equity packages along with their salaries, which can bring in some good amount of wealth to you, if you stick around for a certain time and give in your best while the value of the startup you work for also grows gradually. (I’ll cover this topic more in detail as I worked for a startup that changed my life with their equity package, which I’m eternally grateful for)?
• Startups are often in an experimental phase and can pivot quickly, which can make it difficult to stay on track and be committed to a long-term plan.
• Because of limited resources, your compensation might be less compared to the effort you’re putting in.

Pros and Cons of Working in MNCs

An MNC might be more well-structured than a startup, but it loses out on a few factors.??

Pros ??

• Can be a great experience for those looking for stability and security.?
• MNCs often have a well-established corporate culture and a clear career progression path.?
• They also have access to more resources, which can help you to grow and develop your skills.

Cons ??

• MNCs can also be quite restrictive and hierarchical.?
• Can be difficult to make an impact in a big organization and it can be hard to get noticed.?
• MNCs often have strict rules and regulations that can make it difficult to be creative and innovative.

What Factors Should You Consider?

Before deciding whether to work with a startup or an MNC, there are a few key factors to consider.?

Personality Type?

If your personality is more flexible, creative, and spontaneous, you would fit better in a startup where the culture is more relaxed, and you have better autonomy on the decisions & projects the business makes.

If you consider yourself more on the structured, organized, and systematic side, you’d fit better in a corporate culture where you have to work in a proper chain-of-command, and where work is well-planned.

What I said is a broad generalization of a personality - try diving deep into your personality type and search how you can make the most out of it professionally!?

Your Desired Type of Work?

Startups are often focused on innovation and are often looking for people who can come up with creative solutions to problems. MNCs, on the other hand, are often focused on maintaining their market position and expanding their reach.

If you want to be directly involved in a potential solution to the market, you should go for a startup. However, if your aim is to improve and diversify an already-built solution to the market, you would work better in an MNC.

Your Career Goals?

Some people want to build a business or a startup for themselves in the future, while others focus on climbing up the corporate ladder. And both of them are okay.

Many people try to talk about the corporate lifestyle in a negative shade while over-glorifying the entrepreneurial lifestyle instead. There’s no right or wrong answer here, it all depends on where you see yourself in the future!

If you like to have your own startup in the future, the best way to do that is to work in a startup from absolute scratch. If you prioritize stability and job security, then your go-to option would be to join an MNC!

Networking tips for both startups and MNCs

Networking and building relationships is an important part of success in both startups and MNCs.?

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

• Reach out to people in the organization. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself and start a conversation.
• Attend industry events and networking events. This is a great way to meet people in the industry and make connections.
• Follow people in the industry on social media and engage with them. This is a great way to build relationships and stay up-to-date with industry news.
• Ask for advice and feedback. People are usually happy to help out, and it’s a great way to build relationships.
• Offer to help out. This is a great way to show your commitment and build long-term relationships.
• Always smile - this is an underrated hack, but psychologically people who smile more tend to be more likable. ??

Summary

Making the decision of where to start your career journey is a life-altering decision.?

Startups and MNCs both offer different benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to consider the factors that are important to you when making the decision!?

Be sure to take ownership of your work, stay organized and focused, and network and build relationships with people in the organization in order to get the most out of the experience.

It’s equally as important to know that everything will work out sooner or later. You might have friends that have landed amazing opportunities, some friends may be laid off, while others might be unemployed.?

It’s okay to be worried, but know that everything settles in. Always remember to play to your strengths and remind yourself where you want to be in the next 5-10 years.?

You got this! ??

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