Is Working at a Startup Company Right for You?By Casey Kurlander

Company cruises. Free lunches. Office birthday parties. Huge financial returns. Invaluable experience. Working with incredibly smart people.All of this sounds awesome, right?Working for a startup company definitely has its perks, but we work hard to play hard. Some people thrive, and some crack under the pressure.If you’re wondering whether you’d fit in at a startup company, here are a few things to consider.

Are you good at multi-tasking under lots of pressure?• You will most likely be expected to wear many hats. For example, my official job title is a search marketing account coordinator but I’ve also served as the office decorator, copywriter, public relations contact, executive assistant, receptionist, blogger, events coordinator, t-shirt designer and more.• Startups usually only have between 10 to 100 employees. That being said, everyone must carry their own weight in their respective positions and then some.• “That’s not my job…” Don’t ever say those words in a startup.

Do you adapt easily to change?I hope so, because plans change rapidly at startup companies. If routines bore you and you like the excitement that comes with change, you may really enjoy working for a startup. If you prefer predictability, working at a startup will likely just increase your stress to new levels.

Are you okay with working crazy hours?Regular hours- what’s that? If you like showing up to work at 9 a.m. and leaving right at 5 p.m. every day, a startup is not the place for you.In order to accomplish everything that we need to do, many of us often come in early, work through lunch or happy hour, and sometimes show up to the office on weekends.  I think this crazy schedule has a lot to do with why most of our employees are young, unmarried and have no kids.

Do you believe in the company?It’s really hard to put up with the multi-tasking, long hours and pressure of working at a startup if you don’t believe in the company and its product(s)!

Before joining a startup…Do your research! Get a clear idea of the company’s products, values, goals and long-term vision. What do they do to stand out among their competition? Remember that startups surface and die every day, so use your best judgment when trying to guess if your position could be long-term.