5 ThingsTo Know Before Working at a Startup

The startup scene is booming. Following the international success of companies like Uber, Airbnb, and Dropbox, the entrepreneurial spirit is stronger than ever before. In 2014, over 581,000 companies were launched in Britain – and this record is on track to being broken before the end of this year, with even more people keen to get in on the action. But what does it really mean to work at a startup?

Jobbio’s Frankie talks about three start-up challenges: tech, team, and time

Jobbio recently had the opportunity to speak at the first ever Product Hunt and Adpreneurs Meet Up in London to discuss the ~~blood, sweat, and tears~~ challenges that the company faced in its early stages and what kind of work ethic was required to grow from a small team in Dublin two years ago to now having international offices in London and New York.

Here are five things to take into consideration about working at a startup:

Be prepared for changes. In the very early stages of a company, things will constantly be in flux. Organisational changes might range from adapting your responsibilities to moving to a new city (as Frankie experienced): be ready for anything and everything! If you excel in a flexible work environment, this could be the right avenue for you.
Time flies. There never feels like enough time between funding rounds, so you need to be the kind of person who can prioritise, manage projects well, and stay on track.
Don’t rely on “ego-metrics”. Everyone aspires to be the next “unicorn” (in the startup world, this refers to a company whose valuation exceeds over $1 billion). But, such startups are almost as elusive as their mythical namesake. So keep your ego in check and focus on doing what you do well instead of dreaming to be the next Uber or Airbnb.
There’s no ‘I’ in team. When just starting out you’re going to be working very closely with a small group, so being a team player is crucial. This can be hugely beneficial as collaborating on multiple tasks allows you to diversify and try new things that you might enjoy. Some startups also avoid an overt hierarchy, so if you’re a proactive and self-starting person you could be well-suited to this type of environment.
Be receptive to feedback. Being in a startup can sometimes feel like being in a bubble. You might be too close to your product to see its flaws, so make sure to take feedback on board – especially from your customers. Remember, it’s all a learning process!

Working at a startup can be incredibly rewarding, but like any job also has its fair share of challenges. Not quite ready to jump into the deep end? There are plenty of startup events in London where you can gauge a better understanding or you might consider reading up on the subject (try The Lean Startup). Ultimately, it’s up to you to consider whether the reward outweighs the risk!

If you are ready, here are four awesome startups who are hiring right now.

Thank you to Product Hunt (@ProductHunt) and Adpreneurs (@Adpreneurs) for organising this Meetup.