Nowhere is job satisfaction higher than at a startup company.
Traditional employers might offer benefits that a startup doesn’t have at its disposal – job security, role diversity, and a higher salary – but how much worth does today’s tech professional give to these details when deciding on the trajectory for their career? From one generation to the next, employee priorities have changed, and now the thing that people crave from work above anything else is happiness.
It’s obvious that there’s something setting startups apart; a recipe for creating goodwill amongst employees and envy amongst all onlookers – but what is it? What influences job satisfaction the most, and how is it that startups seem to have it so right?
Culture
At a startup, every aspect of the company’s culture promotes a creative environment, from the organisational structure to the interior design and furnishing of the office. When recruiting, startups give as much weight to personality as they do aptitude, especially since the need for team members to get along is heightened when the numbers are smaller. By encouraging company-wide transparency from the top down, the dedication and loyalty of a startup’s staff comes about naturally – trusting people creates trusting people.
The beauty of startup culture is that the line between work and play is blurred. With work consuming so much of your waking life, it’s important that you enjoy your time in the office – an attitude embraced by startups and appreciated by employees.
Learning
Because startup culture so readily fosters innovation and creativity, a visionary leader is required to drive the company forward and inspire all who come along for the ride. The founder’s personality is often what makes or breaks a startup – and what they lack in business expertise, they more than make up for in raw talent.
Reaching a level of stagnancy at work is a dangerous position to be in, because if you aren’t learning, you aren’t growing. The potential for useful guidance from your boss at a startup is considerably more likely and rewarding than in a large corporation where your proximity to the real decision-makers is far removed. If you want to learn how to cultivate ideas, take risks and make the most of every opportunity, a startup is the place for you to be.
Opportunity
At a corporate, bureaucracy rears its ugly head all too often, denying you the opportunity to add real value to the business. In this type of position you’re expected to follow someone else’s rulebook, whereas working for a startup is an opportunity to write your own.
Again, the tendency for startups to be much smaller, close-knit teams allows you to take on greater responsibilities, progress faster and be involved in more exciting and important work.
Your personal development should be more important to you than a single job, so if you don’t see a clear career path ahead of you, do something about it. Although a startup’s future is often uncertain, an environment in which alternative thinking and ideas are encouraged is likely to experience huge success – success that you could be a part of.
Luckily, there are plenty of startup jobs to go round. The infographic from earlier reports a 22% increase over last year’s jobs market, and as the digital domain continues to expand, so too will the opportunities for working tech professionals.
The next Instagram is out there already, and there’s nothing stopping you from working with them.