by Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs
WANTED: Flexible self-starter to wear many hats. Must thrive on uncertainty. Low pay, no benefits, and may work nights and weekends. Exciting learning experience and huge growth potential (if the company succeeds).
Working for a start-up company takes a certain intestinal fortitude. You could end up being employee No. 2 of the next hot tech company, or you could end up job-hunting again in a few months. Fulfillment depends on how comfortable you are with risk and uncertainty, according to Penny Morey, founder and CEO of RemarkAbleHR.
Possible Rewards
Morey, who has consulted with many start-up companies, told Yahoo! HotJobs that job seekers should consider a small start-up if they want:
* To see business ideas develop.
* To contribute to those ideas and chart a course of action.
* Collaboration with creative, enthusiastic professionals.
* Changing demands and a flexible, changing, schedule.
* Greater autonomy and authority.
* A quick education in how a business works.
* The potential for large financial rewards.
Don't Forget Downsides
Downsides, she said, involve frequent confusion about who is in charge of what, how to solve problems without precedents, and the possibility of working with founders "in over their heads" who may act unprofessionally. "Employees also can be overwhelmed by how much needs to be accomplished in the time available and may not know exactly where boundaries are on a daily basis," she said.
Plus, while you could get rich if the company takes off, one financial mistake can doom the company. "If you want to work for a start-up, you must be courageous and very, very flexible. Otherwise, stay in corporate America and be happy," she said.
Of Benefits and Boundaries
Suzanne, a corporate communications producer in Chicago, jumped at the chance to work for a seasoned husband-and-wife team when they started a company. At first she enjoyed the lack of corporate protocol and structure, but soon began to long for professional detachment.
"I ended up being part of their marriage," she said. "I worked out of their house, and when they fought with each other, I got sent to my room -- literally -- and there was no HR department to intervene."
Shawn Linnell, a Wisconsin distributor of tooling components, says his two employees benefit from scheduling flexibility and instant feedback in seeing the fruits of their efforts.
"The biggest downside is I can't offer benefits," he said. "Most small businesses can't, because they don't have economy of scale that comes from a large pool of employees."
What You Should Know
For a job seeker looking at a small start-up company, Morey suggests finding out:
WANTED: Flexible self-starter to wear many hats. Must thrive on uncertainty. Low pay, no benefits, and may work nights and weekends. Exciting learning experience and huge growth potential (if the company succeeds).
Working for a start-up company takes a certain intestinal fortitude. You could end up being employee No. 2 of the next hot tech company, or you could end up job-hunting again in a few months. Fulfillment depends on how comfortable you are with risk and uncertainty, according to Penny Morey, founder and CEO of RemarkAbleHR.
Possible Rewards
Morey, who has consulted with many start-up companies, told Yahoo! HotJobs that job seekers should consider a small start-up if they want:
* To see business ideas develop.
* To contribute to those ideas and chart a course of action.
* Collaboration with creative, enthusiastic professionals.
* Changing demands and a flexible, changing, schedule.
* Greater autonomy and authority.
* A quick education in how a business works.
* The potential for large financial rewards.
Don't Forget Downsides
Downsides, she said, involve frequent confusion about who is in charge of what, how to solve problems without precedents, and the possibility of working with founders "in over their heads" who may act unprofessionally. "Employees also can be overwhelmed by how much needs to be accomplished in the time available and may not know exactly where boundaries are on a daily basis," she said.
Plus, while you could get rich if the company takes off, one financial mistake can doom the company. "If you want to work for a start-up, you must be courageous and very, very flexible. Otherwise, stay in corporate America and be happy," she said.
Of Benefits and Boundaries
Suzanne, a corporate communications producer in Chicago, jumped at the chance to work for a seasoned husband-and-wife team when they started a company. At first she enjoyed the lack of corporate protocol and structure, but soon began to long for professional detachment.
"I ended up being part of their marriage," she said. "I worked out of their house, and when they fought with each other, I got sent to my room -- literally -- and there was no HR department to intervene."
Shawn Linnell, a Wisconsin distributor of tooling components, says his two employees benefit from scheduling flexibility and instant feedback in seeing the fruits of their efforts.
"The biggest downside is I can't offer benefits," he said. "Most small businesses can't, because they don't have economy of scale that comes from a large pool of employees."
What You Should Know
For a job seeker looking at a small start-up company, Morey suggests finding out:
- How long the top management team been in charge and how well they get along.
- The source of the company's funding and the projected growth.
- What a typical day is like.
- The plan to improve the benefits program.
- How employees progress in pay increases and whether there is a bonus or incentive pay program.
Some of those issues should be clarified even with a well-established employer, Morey added. "But with a start-up, often there is less in writing. Some may not even have a well-designed offer letter. So, if you don't ask for specifics, you may find yourself unpleasantly surprised once you are on board."
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