Startup vs Established Company Career Choices

If you’re confused about whether to join a startup or work at a large company, read this until the end. I have worked at 3 startups and 3 large companies in the last 20 years of my career. The decision ultimately comes down to your personal choices and other factors. At startups, you’ll get: -a lot of flexibility on tools, languages and technologies -a lot of exciting learning opportunities -more autonomy on decision making -your work impact will be far greater -equity as part of the package But, at the same time, you’ll have greater risk. Your job security will be less certain, and the company may even run into trouble with funding and stability. On the other hand, with a big company, you’ll get: -more structured environment and defined expectations -better job security and stability to experience -more resources to learn and upskill yourself -established benefits packages and perks -good opportunities to build your network But, at the same time, there’s bureaucracy, and there will be multiple decision-makers. So, you may not be able to move fast and do things at the speed you want to. So how do you choose? Start from here: 1/ Career Goals: If you want a fast-paced and moving environment with a chance to make a good impact, go for a startup. Otherwise, the more stable route is with a big company. 2/ Risk Tolerance Startups can be unpredictable, don’t join them for money, do it for learning.  Because the chance of failure is high. Big companies are more stable, but your progression might be slower. 3/ Company Culture: Each company has its own values and atmosphere. Go with the one that speaks the best to your values. It’s not just about a paycheck. No answer fits everyone. The best choice depends on you. One more way to decide is to talk to the people working at your potential company and learn from their experience. Wherever you go, remember, the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle

Big Company vs. Startup - What's Better For Your Marketing Career? Well, it depends. My bias is to the startup - move fast, learn on the job, take risks, figure things out, do more than your job description. But, I think there's big time value in working for a big company too. At a big company - especially early in your career - you will learn how to work. There's process, systems, routines. Sometimes there's too much, but I think earlier in your career you can benefit greatly from "learning how to work." You need to learn what a good meeting looks like, what good people (and bad people) are like to work with, how to set goals, how to make mistakes, how to communicate, how to work across teams. Often times a big company will mean successful company (that's how they got big) and there's big time ROI in learning how a successful company operates, and being around a bunch of interesting people across different job functions. I worked at two big(ger) companies in my early - mid 20s and those experiences taught me how to work before going into a startup. Now, if you've been at a big company and are ready to make the 10x jump in your career, a startup could be the play. For me: I was at a big company (HubSpot) where my job was specialized (manage the podcast). Then I jumped to a startup (Drift) where my job was - just about everything in marketing: website, messaging, email, social, content, sales enablement, strategy. I had 2 years where I got to do all the things in marketing, and that experience helped me grow 10x faster. *** What's your POV? Big company vs. startup? What's better for your career path in marketing?

Should you work at a startup or a large enterprise business? Here are some observations I’ve made, to help you decide: 1. Workflows - Startups are chaotic, but support true ownership of work once you can make sense of the chaos. - Enterprise business workflows are more structured, but structure often becomes rigidity. True ownership of work is hard to achieve. 2. Work dynamics - Startups allow for more close-knit work relationships. This can either support flexibility and work-life balance, or cripple it with unrealistic work expectations. - Enterprise business relations are more distant. This can be great if you don’t care for work relations, and poor if company culture is important to you. 3. Corporate fluff - Corporate fluff is alive and well in startups. However, pushing back on it is reasonable. - Corporate fluff is magnified in enterprise business, and pushing back is often met with resistance. 4. Data Science - Startups sell lofty goals without the science to back it up. Once you peel the curtains back, many solutions are held together by tape. - Enterprise business does a better job at masking their scientific lack, but the absence of actual science is still a challenge. Contrasting startups vs. enterprise business has helped me identify where I thrive. Not-so-coincidentally, my ideal space is a combination of the two. Disclaimer: This is not an exhaustive list, and there are exceptions to all of these observations, but these opinions are entirely my own and *somewhat* generalizable. Feel free to present new perspectives in the comments. _______ #work #careers #datascience

In your 20s and torn between Startups vs. Big Tech? 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 👇 Startups are exciting—and for good reason. They offer: 1. Competitive salaries 💵 2. Young, energetic teams ⏰ 3. Fast-paced, dynamic environments 🏃♂️ But after interning at LinkedIn and speaking with experienced peers, I’ve realized Big Tech's benefits often get overlooked, such as: 1. Emphasis on craftsmanship (clean, scalable code) ✍ 2. Structured mentorship and support 🗣️ 3. Clear paths for vertical movement ⬆️ At many startups, you’re expected to ship fast—sometimes at the cost of learning best practices. Without seasoned engineers around, developing long-term engineering habits can be challenging. And if you eventually transition back to Big Tech, it's common to drop 1–2 levels compared to your startup title—something that’s not always obvious early on. This isn't to say Big Tech is better—it’s just that the startup narrative often dominates when both paths have merit. Ultimately, it comes down to your priorities of where you want your career in the next few years which comes to an understanding of your own sense of self. I’d love to hear your thoughts of where you stand in this debate! Drop your reflections below 👇 #Startups #BigTech #CareerGrowth #EarlyCareer #TechCareers

What are the unique benefits of working at a startup versus a large company? In one of my first days founding MyWellbeing, I was told that running a startup is like a 50 year career condensed into 5 years. Over 6 years later, that absolutely aligns with my experience. Below are the top 5 advantages I've observed in choosing a startup over a larger, more established org: 🔥 EVERY MOMENT COUNTS You won't be bored at an early stage startup and you are unlikely to have idle time during the day to twiddle your thumbs. Instead, you have an opportunity to fuel the company's mission and play a significant role in how the company grows, which is an extremely rewarding daily sense of professional purpose. 👯♀️ PEOPLE Most early stage startups have extremely lean teams. If you're 1 of 10 (or fewer), you are going to be extremely hands on with a small handful of lucky teammates. The unique highs and lows of the startup roller coaster often breed a depth of connection with your teammates that is unparalleled elsewhere and lays the foundation for career-long relationships. 👑 LEADERSHIP Not only will you have an opportunity to share your perspective, you will be expected to lead the function you're hired to own, which includes both strategy and execution. You likely will not be handed a crystal clear to-do list. Instead, you will be given a core metric or business lever to own and you will be in charge of ideating and executing. This builds an inclusive, end-to-end skill set that will support you throughout your career (and your life outside of work). 💸 FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY The earliest employees at a startup often have equity baked into their compensation packages. If the company does well, the financial reward of these options is often significantly higher then the cash compensation you'd be paid elsewhere. This can sometimes come with a lower cash base than traditional market rate at the earliest stages, so it's important to recognize that this is a high-risk-high-reward benefit. 🧠 GRIT Startups are not for the faint of heart. As you persevere through the highs and lows, you will learn to celebrate the highs and move on from the lows. This growth mindset, agility, and resilience will provide you the building blocks to handle a taller and taller order in your personal and professional life. What are your top 5 reasons for startup > larger org? Let me know in the comments 💬👇 #LinkedInTopStartups #TopVoices #startupadvice

Startups: The unexpected career gym. 🏋🏽 And why they're your next move: The job market of tomorrow will focus on one thing: Skills. Big names like Google are already ditching BA requirements for prized data roles. Can you get the job done? End of discussion. Startups are one of the only places where you’ll build skills in sales, product, and finance — without needing prior experience to do so. I saw it firsthand in my own startup career. I was often given assignments that required eight distinct skills…of which I had two. The difference between bosses at bigger companies vs. my startup? My bosses knew I didn’t have all the skills, but they expected me to learn and get it done. Stressful? Yes. EVERYTHING IS FINE. Conducive to skills gains? Yes. 💪🏾 The best part? Even if you choose to leave startups, your in-demand skill set will make any recruiter do a double-take. ~~ Looking to break into startups? SparkGen helps first gens and professionals of color land their dream startup job → https://lnkd.in/dwgPaDJq

Startup or big company? The right choice for you depends on your career goals. As a CEO of a software development company, I've seen firsthand the pros and cons of both working at a startup and a big company. Startups: ✔Offer the opportunity to be part of something new and exciting. ✔Can be a great way to learn and grow your skills. ✔Can be more flexible and less bureaucratic than big companies. ✔Can be more risky, and there's no guarantee of success. Big companies: ✔Offer more stability and security. ✔Can provide access to resources and training. ✔Can be a great place to learn and grow your career. ✔Can be slow-moving and bureaucratic. ✔Can be difficult to stand out and make a difference. Ultimately, the best way to decide where to work is to think about your individual goals and preferences. Consider these questions when making your decision: What are your career goals? How much risk are you willing to take? What kind of work environment do you prefer? What are your salary and benefits expectations? Once you've considered all of these factors, you'll be in a better position to decide where you want to work. The more information you have, the better equipped you'll be to make a decision that's right for you. #softcircles #startup #bigcompany #careerpath #careergrowth #goals #leadership #personalgrowth

Big vs. Bold: What size company is best for your career? Established Company vs. a Startup I have worked for a variety of big and small companies throughout my career. Understanding what type of company you want to work for is important. You'll be spending a large part of your time there, so it's important to find an environment that fits. Some + in working for an Established Company: Stability and Security: Large companies - steady paycheck, comprehensive benefits package, and clear path for advancement. Structure and Specialization: Established companies have defined roles, processes, and procedures Work-Life Balance: Larger companies often allow for a healthier work-life balance. However, established companies can also come with 🧳 👉Slower Pace 👉Limited impact 👉Less Autonomy Some + in working for a Startup: Fast-Paced and Dynamic: Startups are all about agility and innovation. High Growth Potential: You'll have a front-row seat to the company's growth and your work can have a significant impact. Ownership and Equity: Startups often offer equity to motivate and encourage buy in However, startups also have some drawbacks, including 👉Uncertainty and Risk 👉Limited Resources 👉Less structure Which one is right for you? Think about your career goals: Do you want to specialize in a specific area, or gain broad experience across different functions? Evaluate your risk tolerance: Are you comfortable with some uncertainty in exchange for high potential rewards? If you are making a career move make sure you score the company’s, environment, culture, and health in context of the company size. It can help save you time, money, resources, and your mental health. #startup #culture #career