Choosing where to work is challenging and complex: you’ll be spending the majority of your day there, so it’s crucial to make the right choice. But how can you be ascertained you’re applying or working for the right place? One key distinguisher is whether you’ll be working for an established company or a startup? In both cases, there are advantages and disadvantages, and both the models suit different kinds of people.

Generalist or Specialist

A big factor that differentiates a startup and a global company is that the latter typically get you in a defined job specification. They are mostly looking for specialists who are exceptionally professional and knowledge in their chosen area of function. On the other hand, startups offer more opportunities. For instance, if you like the field of advertising and are interested in working on websites, mobile application development, or data infrastructure, startups should be more ideal for you. Though startups require specialists, they prefer having employees with an entrepreneurial spirit who want to get involved in all the facets of the business.

Leadership or Perks

Would you want to make a huge impact in the company or rather have a paid time off and free healthcare? What is sure is that startups demand a lot of accountability and responsibility. The compensation is usually lesser as compared to what is offered at an established company, but the ownership and equity in the business are much bigger. On the other side, it may take a few years or even a decade to get a higher position in a company or see an increase in salary, but the advantage is that you are likely to have access to an array of resources, from corporate trips to training courses, child-care to an on-site gym, company-sponsored meals to educational workshops. So, if this does not interest you, go for a startup where you can take risks, explore, and learn. If you want to be exposed to an already-available vault of knowledge and advance to the position of your dreams, you might find a corporate job more lucrative.

Structured or Laid-Back

We have all probably heard about the startup culture already, something on the lines of “fun, casual environment with a lot of personal freedom”! Typically, startups do have a vibrant, high-energy vibe, where employees are easygoing and hours are flexible. Wherein, established companies have well-defined processes and set schedules. The structure does offer perks, in which, it offers more stability and work-life balance. On the contrary, things change quickly in startups, including desk assignments, designations, reporting structures, and project plans. Unlike big companies that have formal lines of communication, startups have closely-knit teams and consistent collaboration opportunities.

So, if you are pursuing PGDM and look forward to attaining your career goals, identify where you are going to be most motivated and driven to work. The ultimate objective is to determine which environment best suits you!