Working for a startup: What to expect

As the tech industry continues to grow, many professionals are considering the unique challenges and rewards of working for a startup. The dynamic nature of these companies can be a refreshing change from the corporate environment of larger organizations. 

This article will provide insights into what you should know about working for a startup, skills that will help you succeed, and tips for evaluating potential startup opportunities.

6 factors to remember when joining your first startup

Working for a startup is very different from working for a big company. But what exactly does that mean for you, if you’re preparing to work in your first one? Below are the biggest differences and how you can use this knowledge to understand whether a startup is right for you. 

1. Prepare for rapid change and ups and downs

An effective startup adapts to change and is able to pivot as needed. Because of this, the wins can feel euphoric; but there can be difficult times, too.

For technical job-seekers, this means being open to learning new technologies and methodologies, as well as working on multiple projects simultaneously. As a software engineer, you might work with new programming languages, frameworks, or tools that you haven't used before. Or as a data scientist, you might need to pivot between different data sources and analytics approaches to address shifting business needs. 

Embrace this dynamic environment and be prepared to adapt your skills to help the company succeed. While there may be periods of difficulty, such as debugging complex code or addressing scaling issues, the wins, like successful product launches or innovative solutions, will feel much bigger.

2. Expect a faster-paced environment

In a startup, technical professionals often need to work at a faster pace to develop and deploy solutions. This could involve more frequent code releases, tighter deadlines for feature development, or quicker turnaround times for bug fixes. 

As a developer or engineer, you might work on cross-functional teams to quickly iterate on products. Be prepared for this pace and the limited runway startups have, as projects need to move fast to keep up with the competition and meet business goals.

3. Your impact will be more tangible

Startups - especially earlier ones - have limited human capital and resources. That means the impact of your technical contributions will be felt more immediately. 

For instance, a software engineer's code can directly lead to new features or improvements that drive user engagement. However, this doesn’t just mean wins, such as solving a critical performance bottleneck, will immediately benefit the team and your users. Missteps will be felt, too, like a system outage or misinformed decision based on inaccurate data analysis.

4. Faster professional growth

Working at a startup offers technical job-seekers unique opportunities for career advancement. You may find yourself collaborating directly with executives and C-suite members on key projects, gaining visibility and influence within the company. This can lead to faster advancement, as you may be promoted to technical lead or engineering manager roles more quickly than in a larger organization. 

Additionally, you'll have the chance to expand your skillset by working on diverse projects and technologies, further enhancing your professional growth.

5. Opportunity to set the tone for culture

As an early technical employee, you can have a significant influence on the company's engineering culture and best practices. This might involve championing specific development methodologies (e.g., Agile or DevOps), setting coding standards, or advocating for work-life balance and mental health within the team.

By shaping the culture and practices within the organization, you can help create a supportive and productive environment for future team members.

6. Not all startups are the same

While startups will generally exhibit the traits listed above, it's important to recognize that not all startups are the same. While the startup world is often romanticized as an exciting and innovative space full of potential, the reality is that each startup operates within its own unique context, with its own set of challenges and opportunities. Some startups may have well-established funding and a clear product roadmap, while others may be struggling to secure investment or define their target audience. 

And this applies to big tech companies, too. Not all tech giants are stable and have a strong structure. While some well-established tech giants may appear to offer a sense of stability and job security, this isn't always the case. Even large companies can experience significant shifts in strategy or leadership, leading to changes in company culture or priorities. 

Ultimately, what matters most is your trust in the people you work with. Whether you're considering a startup or an established company, it's important to evaluate the team, their values, and their vision for the future. By doing so, you can ensure that you're joining an organization that aligns with your own goals and values, and that will provide you with meaningful opportunities to learn and grow as a software developer.

Skills that help you succeed in a startup

Given the unique challenges, opportunities, and expectations in a startup, what skills are important to develop? These are the top five soft skills to develop if you’re starting work in a startup.

1. Adaptability

For technical job-seekers, adaptability means being open to learning new programming languages, tools, or platforms, as well as working on diverse projects across departments. For instance, you might be a front-end developer who needs to dive into back-end tasks or a data analyst who needs to collaborate with marketing or product teams. Embrace the dynamic nature of startups and be prepared to expand your skillset as needed.

2. Be a team player

As a technical professional in a startup, it's crucial to offer your support in different areas, even if it's not directly related to your role. For example, you might assist with code reviews, help troubleshoot issues faced by other team members, or contribute to brainstorming sessions to improve product features. Being a team player is especially valuable when other initiatives are more urgent or important, such as addressing critical bugs or meeting tight deadlines for product launches.

3. Ownership and proactivity

Technical job-seekers in startups should take charge of their responsibilities without waiting for instruction. For instance, you could proactively identify and fix performance bottlenecks, suggest improvements to existing systems, or create internal tools to streamline team workflows. This proactive approach will help you grow and learn new skills quickly, making you a valuable asset to your team and the startup as a whole.

4. Prioritization

Because of the rapid changes in a startup, being able to rapidly prioritize and reprioritize based on shifting demands is key. This means continuously reassessing your priorities to ensure you're working on the most high-impact tasks and projects. This might involve focusing on critical bug fixes, optimizing system performance, or implementing features that provide the most value to users.

If you aren’t sure what to prioritize, the best thing to do is ask. Talk to your manager and ask them for their top priorities. You can even ask them what they think you should focus on. They’ll appreciate your commitment to being as productive and on-task as possible. By honing your prioritization skills, you'll maximize your contributions to the company's success and demonstrate your ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.

5. Organizational skills 

If your experience is largely from corporate or bigger organizations, you might be used to an environment where systems and processes are already in place. For many startups, this isn’t the case. But organization is key to efficiency. When the relevant team members and stakeholders don’t have access to the things they need, or are waiting on other team members for important documents or clarification, it slows down your entire team. 

Technical job-seekers should maintain order in their work and evaluate systems and processes for scalability. This could involve documenting code, creating efficient workflows, or implementing version control systems. Regularly assess the tools and processes you use to ensure they can accommodate future growth and make improvements where necessary. By staying organized and future-proofing your work, you'll help ensure the long-term success of the startup and foster a culture of efficiency and effectiveness within the technical team.

How to assess a startup you want to work for

By this point, you should have a good idea of what to expect when working for a startup, how to prepare, and whether a startup would be an exciting and fun venture for you. Now, it’s important to evaluate the startup critically: will this particular startup be a good fit for you, and a good career move?

Below are five areas to evaluate a startup on, either by doing your own research, asking members of the company directly, or both. 

1. Evaluate the industry

To start off, you should begin with a high-level evaluation of the industry. Consider the stability and growth potential of the field in which the startup operates. Is it an industry that embraces technological innovation, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, or renewable energy? Assess the long-term prospects for technical roles in the industry and whether it aligns with your career goals.

But where can you find this data? An easy place to start is Google Trends, which can show you the public interest in certain search terms related to a specific industry. For more in-depth reviews, you can try MarketWatch or McKinsey to drill down on related companies or industries on the whole. Each offer free and paid options you can use.

2. Evaluate leadership

The success of a startup often depends on its leadership, particularly their technical acumen. Assess the founders' expertise, skill set, and previous experience in the technology sector. Do they have a background in software development, data science, or a related field? 

But it’s not just the technical component; it’s the business side, too. When evaluating a company based on their potential in this light, look at the sales, marketing, and executive members. Have they had successful startups in the past? Do they have expertise in the particular industry you’re exploring? 

Strong business and technical leadership can be an indicator of a startup's potential for success.

3. Look at the current team

Examine the team structure, considering whether it makes sense for the product and whether the balance of junior and senior hires is appropriate. For instance, does the startup have enough senior engineers or architects to guide and mentor junior team members? A well-balanced team can provide a more conducive environment for learning and professional growth. It also is an indicator of the team’s ability to execute.

4. Look at product-market fit

Analyze the product and the competitive landscape from a technical perspective. Does the product leverage cutting-edge technology, or is it built on outdated platforms? Assess the product's technical architecture and consider whether it's scalable and maintainable. A strong product-market fit and a sound technical foundation can signal a higher likelihood of success.

4. Test out the product

When possible, try the product yourself, especially if it's a software or mobile app. Assess its user experience, performance, and security. As a technical professional, your insights into the product's quality and potential areas for improvement can help you gauge the company's commitment to technical excellence. 

If you aren’t able to test the product, because it requires a paid subscription, look at customer or user reviews. For apps, this can be done using Google Play or the App Store. For software companies, look at TrustPilot, G2, or other online review platforms. 

5. Ask about company finances

If you're interviewing for a senior role, or you feel comfortable asking, inquire about the startup's fundraising, revenue, and burn rate to better understand its financial health. You might also ask about the company's investment in research and development, as this can indicate their commitment to technical innovation and staying ahead of the competition.

Conclusion

In conclusion, working for a startup can be a rewarding and challenging experience for technical professionals. By understanding the unique aspects of startup culture, developing the necessary skills, and evaluating potential opportunities, you can thrive in this exciting environment and make a significant impact on the company's success.