Business Education

Pros and Cons of Working for a Startup

There are pros and cons of working for a startup — everyone knows this. But, it’s the actual realities versus the imaginary which cause a lot of undue anxiety and stress. Of course, it’s only natural to feel a bit uneasy about joining a fledgling organization. Even if it’s a great idea and a wonderful team of individuals, there are still up and downsides of working for a startup.

Cons of Working for a Startup

Let’s begin with the downsides first. It’s certainly no secret that salary is a huge concern. Often, what you’re paid is either low or in some circumstances, it’s “sweat equity.” Even if there’s an acceptable salary, there’s the real possibility your job description will contain a whole host of duties. In such an environment, it’s quite common for specialists to become jacks of all trades.

Working for a startup can involve a lot of risk, that’s no secret; according to the Wall Street Journal, three out of every four startups fail. In fact, there are startups funerals in Silicon Valley where CEOs can highlight the demise of their defunct companies and ruminate on any mistakes made. But that doesn’t mean taking a job with a startup – even one that ultimately fails – won’t allow you to gain valuable experience and skills to add to your resume. —Monster.com

Then, there’s the real possibility of working with less. It isn’t unheard of to have little to practically no resources at your disposal. Of course, one of the most common downsides of joining a startup is those long, irregular hours. Finally, there’s the real risk of untimely failure or an inescapable decline toward failure.

Pros of Working for a Startup

Obviously, it’s not all bad news. (If it was, no one would ever even consider working for startups. In fact, startups might not exist.) So, here are the upsides for working for a startup:

A potential huge ROI. We’ll begin with the ultimate enticement — a gigantic payout. After all, isn’t this why startups get going in the first place? And, there’s certainly no shortage of examples out there to showcase big-time successes.
Big gain in experience. Okay, let’s suppose you just earn a good salary and don’t hit the entrepreneurial lottery. You’ll gain a whole lot of experience during your journey that’s probably not available anywhere else.
Making new connections. Another advantage of joining a startup is your ability to make new connections. You’ll meet a host of people in different roles which can really expand your professional network.
The intangible excitement factor. It’s not just all about money and experience. There’s also the excitement of an unknown journey. It’s all wrapped up in a whirlwind of circumstances and emotions.

What other factors would you say play into joining a startup? Please let others know about your thoughts and experiences by commenting!

Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Like this article?

My Employees are Making Excuses about Coming Back to the Office — What Can I Do?

March 31, 2021 No Comments

Although many parts of the country are reopening, some people might not be ready (or comfortable) with returning to the workplace. Of course, if this is happening to your business, it can not only be frustrating, but quite harmful to your company’s overall health. And, it’s certainly more preferable to bring back known quantities, rather than to try and replace trusted staff. But, you’ll have to convince those reluctant individuals first. Common Coronavirus-Related Excuses Employees might say they get the same amount from unemployment as they earned prior. Some will say their child’s school is closed or they take care of an elderly parent. Others might cite ongoing health conditions and any exposure to COVID is a severe risk. Unfortunately, these reasons are difficult to argue against. While a one-time incident may be overlooked, small-business owners cannot afford to accept excuses for ongoing performance problems. In a small organization, other employees quickly notice when excuses are allowed. By tolerating excuses, you create a culture of avoidance rather than responsibility. —Houston Chronicle Small Business However, employees who believe the workplace is unsafe is another matter. It’s much easier to convince them about proactive and other protective measures. But, that certainly doesn’t mean it’s a cinch to change their minds, either. How to Deal with Employees Who are Stalling Coming Back to Work Obviously, if someone is obstinate enough, it might not be worth the time and energy. But, if there are a few minimal concerns, it’s entirely possible to convince them to return to the workplace. Here are some helpful suggestions: Emphasize safety. If they are concerned about being around a large group of people again, you can always reduce the number of people in the office, and/or space them apart. Having the office sanitized from top to bottom by a professional cleaning service will also go a long way in reducing worry and anxiety. Give them more flexibility. Consider changing your sick policy in order to accommodate people who might be out for an extended period of time. You can also look into different health insurance plans to see if there’s something better available. Offer incentives. If someone is truly fearful about returning to the workplace, this probably won’t work. However, people that would rather continue to work from home will most definitely want to take advantage. The type and amount of incentives are up to you, but they could go a long way in changing minds. Use your influence. While you might prefer not to result to ultimatums, sometimes these are the only way to really get through to the most stubborn people. Obviously, you can’t do anything illegal, but you can change your businesses policies in regard to working remotely versus remotely working on-site. What other suggestions do you have to deal with employee excuses about returning to the workplace? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts and experiences. Perhaps others can benefit from your unique perspective. Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

This Secret Lets Small Businesses Tap into the Talent Pipeline for Great New Hires

October 16, 2025 No Comments

The Talent Pipeline: One of the biggest challenges small businesses face is finding (and retaining) new employees. And when it comes to the trades, this is especially true, for a variety of reasons.

How to Deal with Employee Ghosting

July 15, 2018 No Comments

Employee ghosting is a scary situation. It’s spooky because it’s so awkward and strange. If you haven’t heard about employee ghosting, you’re certainly not alone. Although, it’s a trend which appears like it’s on the rise. Basically, this is a workplace phenomenon born from personal relationships in this day and age or IRL. (That’s In Real Life — BTW or By the Way.) And, it’s possible you might just face this particular scenario. So, it’s best to err on the side of caution and take proactive measures to limit the fallout. Employee Ghosting Explained Before we get to how to deal with it, let’s first explain employee ghosting. It’s simply when an established team member, a new employee, or a fresh hire doesn’t show up, without notice or any forewarning. It’s actually a practice that’s been present in the dating world for quite some time. One person simply up and disappears, without any indication. Poof. All communications are cut off, all of a sudden. In fields ranging from food service to finance, recruiters and hiring managers say a tightening job market and a sustained labor shortage have contributed to a surge in professionals abruptly cutting off contact and turning silent–the type of behavior more often associated with online dating than office life. —Inc.com This has found its way into the professional workplace. And, it raises a number of concerns. Of course, the first is being a person short. Then, there’s the matter of reconciling or trying to make sense of a nonsensical move. Moreover, it makes your team members wonder just what the ghost knows they don’t yet know themselves. In other words, just what reason could cause a person to up and disappear? How to Deal with Employee Ghosting Now, let’s get to dealing with employee ghosting. After all, if it does happen, you certainly don’t want to be caught totally off guard. Here are some helpful suggestions for how to deal with employee ghosting: Create a backup plan. At some point, you’re going to deal with a sudden change that comes out of nowhere. So, it’s best to have a plan in-place. Get with one or more team members and create a backup plan that’s reasonable and actionable so it can be implemented, if necessary. Be prepared to reward. Of course, if someone doesn’t show up, someone else will have to shoulder the load. Which means they’ll have to work more. Make it worthwhile by rewarding them appropriately. A gift card, an extra paid day off, or a bigger bonus. Create a high trust culture. When employees call in sick or they are late, handle this professionally and according to your policy with consistency, but don’t make a mountain out of a mole hill. The same is true with employee mistakes. Be careful to react negatively or to belittle an employee who has made an honest mistake because these negative acts cause employees to not disclose the truth and hide their mistakes … even not showing up for work for fear of retribution. A safe and healthy work environment with open communication helps to foster high trust in the work place. Formulate a way forward. You can’t just rely on a temporary stop-gap solution because it isn’t tenable. You’ll need to formulate a plan for how to transition and proceed in a way that isn’t too interruptive. Stay calm and breathe deep. It’s an unfortunate situation and an uncomfortable one, just like when you have to tell your employees you’ve fired someone. But, you can make it past the setback. Start by remaining calm. Take a deep breath and handle it coolly. Have you experienced this strange trend? How do you deal with it? Or, what other suggestions do you have? Please share your thoughts by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.