Since most start-ups have only a small staff, responsibilities often span an array of tasks, including the mundane and distasteful. Responsibilities aren't always determined by an employee's rank within the company. Even executives can find themselves running out to pick up meals for other employees, he says. While many college grads expect to work long hours, few are prepared for the time commitment many budding businesses require. While many new start-up employees are astonished by their long hours, they're also often shocked to find out how little they're paid for their efforts.
Salaries are likely to be lower than at more established organizations.
Roberta Braum, a 1999 graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says she expected her pay to be comparable to the earnings of fellow classmates. The product manager for RSW Software, a technology-testing company in Waltham, Mass., says she sometimes works 70 hours a week, including nights and weekends. Stock options can increase your overall earnings, but they may not be granted when you're hired. And, if you join a private company, they generally won't be worth much unless the firm issues an initial public offering. Many young professionals also appreciate the relatively flat corporate hierarchy and more open communication than at more mature companies.