Veteran vs Start-up | Making the right choice for you

Are you looking for structure, specialization and financial stability or are you looking for something new and exciting with opportunities for innovation and diversified job roles?

Choosing the right company for your success does not mean setting your sights on the most lucrative position or prestigious title. What is more important is choosing a company where you will thrive, work with supportive people, and enjoy the working environment – all while sustaining a work ethic that will not only get you ahead but also help your company succeed. True success comes from putting yourself in the right position at the right company and in the right industry, where you will be able to work towards your full potential and be as productive as possible.

This short article provides you with information that can help you decide what type of organization you believe would be the best fit for your career path.

 

Start-up Company

 

More Learning Opportunities

Diversified job roles are more prominent in start-ups, rather than specialized ones since start-up companies can often not afford to hire employees to specific departments with specialized positions. They utilize their employees’ skills and knowledge where they can, adapting to the agile nature of their business that is constantly changing. New professionals are offered ample opportunities to learn things due to the diverse work roles they carry out, which employees in a large established corporation would not directly be exposed to because of the specialized roles they would be set to undertake. Moreover, since the founders and employees of start-ups tend to work together, individuals would be able to gain direct access to the knowledge and expertise of the people behind the start-up, enabling greater learning opportunities during their professional journey.

Opportunities for Innovation

Since start-ups consist of smaller teams, employees are often given plenty of opportunities to showcase their knowledge and skills in a way that contributes to the development and success of the firm. Unlike established corporate organizations, start-ups do not tend to follow a chain of command in which ideas must flow through, instead new ideas can be taken directly to the top. The latter is especially advantageous for more creative individuals that have innovative ideas and would like to share them to their team.

In some large companies, unfortunately, “thinking outside the box” has become less favorable. They often develop incumbent behavior, where they follow defined corporate policies and outlined procedures, making them risk averse and hindering their employees’ as well as their company’s growth potential.

Easier to Stand Out

In a start-up firm there is no place to hide! Everyone needs to carry out their job role as efficiently as possible to keep the business moving forward successfully. Therefore, this provides an excellent opportunity for employees to stand out and showcase to the senior team what their skills and talents are and why they are such a valuable member to the team. Moreover, the impact of employees’ work is not overlooked, but rather visible and evident. This is different to large organizations where there is stiff competition, since employees working in start-ups can move up the ladder quicker and receive a promotion sooner.

 

Veteran Company

 

Financial Stability

Small or start-up businesses might depend on investment rounds to keep their payroll going, whereas large companies usually do have enough cash flow to deal with changing market conditions, market fluctuations or temporary drop in sales. As well as this, veteran companies tend to be more profitable and entail a well-established reputation, as well as partnerships, to sustain their financial future. Large corporations are therefore the safer option if you are looking for financial security, since they usually always have access to cash reserves in times of struggle, guaranteeing your paycheck no matter what. On the other hand, if you do end up getting laid off, severance packages are usually provided.

Job Benefits

Some of these benefits are cost-prohibitive for start-ups, whereas large companies can afford to provide these. On-site gyms, childcare, free food and drinks, meditation classes and comfortable break rooms are all amongst the possibilities of job benefit provisions. These benefits do add to the overall comfort and enjoyment of being at the workplace, which also further enhances employee satisfaction and therefore often boosting organizational commitment. Some large organizations try to make employees feel at home to reduce the exhausting feeling of long work hours, aiming to mitigate the likelihood of employees burning out.

Professional Development

Do you want career growth opportunities on a large scale? Veteran companies tend to have better systems in place that help their employees grow on a professional level. Human resources and management collaborate on training programs and schemes to coach employees and help them take the next step in their career advancement within the company. Moreover, many large organizations offer job rotation opportunities, which enables current employees to try out different job roles to expand their talent and discover where they fit best in the corporation. Grasping the latter opportunities as an employee is what will make them a more valuable resource to the company in the long run.

In conclusion, identifying your work ethos and style, how you work most efficiently and what motivates you to work is the first step towards career progression. The second step is understanding what different companies can offer and whether their corporate culture coincides with your personal ambitions and beliefs.

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