The Cost of Starting Something New
If you’ve ever been a part of a large outfit, Fortune 500, massive corporate structure, or mega brand, you’re familiar with having things done for you.
Not in a bad way. There are serious perks that come to working with a structured company that you typically don’t see if you’re on your own or in a startup environment — benefits, structured and thorough processes, stability here and there, and so on.
At Spire, we’ve worked with many candidates who are at a crossroads in their careers - Do they jump from the startup culture and wade into the world of a large corporate outfit? Tired of the big business and looking to explore the world of something new?
This is becoming a more regular topic in conversation with the millennial generation. From a recruiter’s perspective, it’s important to pick up on these types of conversations with candidates. Having knowledge of where a candidate is a truly “good fit” can really help you narrow down the search — and help them get to where they’ll perform best and feel the most at home.
So, here are a few comparing and contrasting thoughts when it comes to stepping away from big business that we try to keep in mind for those searching:
Roles & Responsibilities
Big Business: When it comes to working on a multi-functional team you typically have “swim lanes” or your own specific role within a larger team to perform in. You tend to focus and become proficient in a handful of things.
Specialized role in the business with limited function in other departments
Clear definition of roles and reporting
Structured environments
Ladders of leadership
Slow change
Startup: Starting something on your own requires you to wear every hat. You won’t necessarily have the time to specialize, but rather your approach is now going to turn you into a multi-disciplinary professional.
Exposure to multiple/all avenues of business
Access to leadership in (typically) direct or 1:1
Opportunity to wear many hats
Fast growth into a leadership position
These are probably the biggest things you’ll have to navigate when you’re going from big business to a startup or the other way around.
Asking these types of questions about current situations is imperative from our side as recruiters.