Is Startup For Me?
Tags: beginners, career, startup
Published: 2019-12-01 12:23:24

# Introduction
![undraw stand out 1oag][1]

If you are just starting out I'm pretty sure, you have tons of questions in some form or another when you are thinking of being in a startup.

The questions could be in the lines of: 
* "What will my friends or family think about me?"
* "Does it make sense for me to join one?"
* "Will I be paid well?"
* "Will I be able to fit into the company's culture?"
* "What is it in for me to join a startup?"
* "Will there be work-life balance "

Fortunately,  for me, my focus was on choosing a path of being either a **technology sales professional** or **software engineer** after graduating from university.

I personally believe that it will eventually lead me to become a **tech entrepreneur**.

For you, the first question might be a **deal-breaker** for people. 

Who are from an Asian background where **prestige**, **education** and **job security** are intertwined to form our identity.

Therefore thinking about it hard is one of the top priority for yourself, 

As it is not a [common career choice][2] among your peers if you are in Singapore.

# Dealing with Ambiguity & Wearing Multiple Hats
![undraw home settings 8rlf][3]

Daily in a startup, you have a high chance to deal with different situations that will challenge you. 

To become **resourceful** to get things done, to be **adaptable** to "
seemly **impossible** situations that may be **uncomfortable**, or partake in one or two **death marches**. 

Which requires you to be at work for a longer duration. This is especially the case for early-stage startups.
 
The good part is that you **learn** and **grow** at a much **faster** pace. 

Without being **pidgeon hole** to do only a **single** thing in an MNC or another larger company. 

Due to this mindset, you may pick up **bad habits** along the way. 

In favour of just getting the **result** without **thinking through** in the **impacts** of what you had done.

# What is Your Purpose for Joining a Startup?
![undraw thought process 67my][4]


If your purpose for joining a startup is to be on the next Uber, WeWork or Airbnb. 

So you could make lot's of money and retire on the tropical beach sipping your mojitos in just a few years. 

I'm afraid that I have to burst your bubble. That you might have to prepare for the long haul of **5** to **10** years. 

Since that is the usual timeline, which a startup might be brought by another company or might be able to be listed in the public stock exchange.

But if your purpose is something else, like say working in a startup as a [tours of duty][5].

To gain **Insight** into how to run a **future startup** for yourself or a **well-round** education as a developer. 

Which allows you to take on more senior-level positions that might require more years of experience than your peers.
 
# What Type of Startup Fits Me?
![undraw right places h9n3][6]

Here are some of the questions that I would ask myself when selecting a startup.

## Is the startup funded by VC or are They a Bootstrapped startup? 
This is important as it is a good gauge for the startup if they can stay alive after a few years.  

Search for startups that are **bootstrapped** or is **self-sustaining** themselves or had recently closed their "funding" round to sustain themselves for a few years.
 
## What is Stage of the Startup In Now?
**Later-stage** startups might be able to provide a **structured environment** and **better** salary & benefits above the market rate.

It usually requires a **specialist** with experience in what they do.

For an early-stage startup, they do not offer a better **salary**. 

Instead, they might provide **employee stock options**, a **lesser structure**, **health insurances** and other benefits. 

With room for **leadership** positions as you perform and duration of stay increases in the startup. 

Do note that regardless of the stage of the startup. You should always look for **market-level** salary in your area & **negotiate** on it based upon your **comfort** level and **geographic** location. 

[Employee stock options][7] sound good on paper but do note that it's just a **paper**. 

Unless the startup is **brought** by another company or has been **listed** in a public stock exchange which could take 5 - 10 years to realise it. 

Take "employee stocks option" as a pinch of salt of just an add on benefit to the startup you are working in.

# Conclusion
![undraw destinations fpv7][8]

I hope that the questions and some of my answers are helpful for you to gauge yourself and allow you to make a choice to be part of a startup.

Please do not be attracted to **fluff** in the technology used. 

Instead, focus on the **problem** the startup is trying to solve, the **management team** and hopefully their **business model** to help them survive as a startup.

Lastly, please do at the **minimum** read and adopt the principles of [The Richest Man in Babylon][9] to deal with the **instability** of startup life.

If you like my article, please **sign up** for Max [Adventurer's Newsletter](http://eepurl.com/dOUoUb) for awesome content I stumble across weekly in **Python**, **Startup** and **Web Development**.

You can also **follow** me to get the **latest** update of my article on **Dev**

This post was originally posted on Max's blog at [Is Startup For Me? - Reading Time: 4 Mins](https://www.maxongzb.com/is-startup-for-me-reading-time-4-mins/) and [Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/wD1LRb9OeEo)

# References
* [Fresh Graduates in SG Want to Work In Tech, but Not At Startups][2]
* [Think like an Investor When Deciding Which Startup to Join][10]
* [Tours of Duty][5]
* [How Employee Stock Options Work in Startup Compaines][7]
* [Startup Just Aren't for You][11]
* [Pros and Cons of Working for a Startup Company][12]
* [Illustrations - unDraw][13]


[1]: //images.ctfassets.net/ly2f59p4unnn/Sf4RQQ3CrxLDzoAStS4vt/f4bccd815c2f4b53ff5be79d6d003c2e/undraw_stand_out_1oag.png
[2]: https://www.techinasia.com/fresh-graduates-singapore-work-tech-not-startups
[3]: //images.ctfassets.net/ly2f59p4unnn/Up9MCT8ThMZjrp9sAS64g/e43ed09a958a5e58f1b1d873c9718b10/undraw_home_settings_8rlf.png
[4]: //images.ctfassets.net/ly2f59p4unnn/677VcDhUI9hPVcOVTtIhB5/42c7e8415ec68db54f7dd7251a069a4e/undraw_thought_process_67my.png
[5]: https://hbr.org/2013/06/tours-of-duty-the-new-employer-employee-compact
[6]: //images.ctfassets.net/ly2f59p4unnn/6uKdxJYgsnVhW9VHWrqNoy/e3f31fc18192b35642dcee5a556336b5/undraw_right_places_h9n3.png
[7]: https://www.forbes.com/sites/allbusiness/2016/02/27/how-employee-stock-options-work-in-startup-companies/#643863a36633
[8]: //images.ctfassets.net/ly2f59p4unnn/4bJ742ZzVdKRwhaTr9t6JR/cf2d0dfe2cb0d8bae558b97e0f6d2fa9/undraw_destinations_fpv7.png
[9]: https://www.amazon.com/Richest-Man-Babylon-George-Clason/dp/1505339111
[10]: https://www.connectone.com.sg/insights/2019/4/29/think-like-an-investor-when-deciding-which-startup-to-join
[11]: https://www.inc.com/anne-gherini/startups-just-arent-for-you.html
[12]: https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/pros-and-cons-of-working-for-a-startup-company
[13]: https://undraw.co/illustrations?source=post_page---------------------------