Considering Working for A Startup Ask These 6 Questions First

Considering Working for A Startup Ask These 6 Questions First Source â€" Pexels.comJoining a startup can be a remarkably rewarding career experience, but it is also a very risky job move because a lot of startups wind up failing. The SBA It continues to amaze me how often people don’t ask these essential questions before joining a new startup company.Usually, job candidates remember to ask about the job fundamentals evalI believe it’s critically important to understand the background and history of the founders. How did they meet? Have they worked together before? What brought them together with this particular opportunity?Too many startups fail not due to market forces, but since the founders just couldn’t agree on important issues. You need to ask questions to understand how well the founders get along.2. Can you get along with the team?Startup teams are often a very close-knit group. There is nowhere to hide. If you do not get along with just about everybody there, life will be hard.Most recruits will decide whether they respect the cr eators along with other team members If you can not see working next to them for 60+ hours a week, then think twice about working at this firm.3. What is the history of this basic idea?What were the other business ideas tested and then rejected? I get worried if the thought being chased is too green and fresh. Often the entrepreneurs haven’t yet had a chance to think through the business model entirely in early-stage startups.Frequently, it takes a reasonable amount of “refinement” for many people to settle-in on an idea that they will pursue seriously.I am leery of startup teams that develop an idea in week 1 and begin “recruitment” in week two since they are so enamored of the thought and can not wait to get started. This is almost always bad news.If I were joining a startup, I’d love to understand how the founding team came upon the idea they are pursuing today If a startup is venture capital backed, it should not be too hard to learn about the investors and the amoun t of money raised. Typically, this information is publicly accessible, often in an online press release, and if not, it’s not inappropriate to ask.After all these entrepreneurs are asking you to take a risk joining their fledgling firm.For bootstrap and self-funded startups, this line of questioning can be somewhat uncomfortable.If you are squeamish about it, then it is possible to revert to the: “Which are the capital-raising strategies for the business? Can you expect to bring in outside investors? If so, when? These inquiries will give you a feeling for where the company stands.One thing to consider: There isn’t any real substitute for money in the bank. Although the fact that “we have many investors who have expressed interest” is excellent, but it won’t pay the bills, nor your paycheck.evalPhoto Credit â€" Pexels.com5. Which are the founders hoping to receive from the effort?evalTry and move beyond the platitudes and clichés. Seriously, what do they need to get fro m the startup? Build a world-famous item? Make a tremendous amount of money? Have a business go public? Raise funds from top-tier VCs? Get an opportunity to work with their friends?At a certain level, they have to have similar objectives with as each other, or there’ll probably be a fair amount of conflict.6. What will the startup do for you?Joining a startup is a reasonably significant risk which requires a lot of hard work. For it to be meaningful, you will need to be sure that along with bringing a lot to the startup you will be joining â€" it gives a lot to you.Do you want to wear several hats? Do you want to have a reasonable amount of control and discretion? Are you expecting to work with a particular founder? Whatever you attribute value to, be sure that you have a good chance of actually getting this worth.One-way connections in startup-land rarely actually work. You must both have the ability to gain a lot from the startup â€" along with contributing a ton to it.I’m a h uge fan of the growth opportunities in a startup â€" especially for younger people earlier in their careers. I credit my successful career and entrepreneurial spirit to my early jobs in startup firms.Nowhere else will you receive the varied set of experiences and visibility which you could get within an early-stage startup (whether you start your own business or work in somebody else’s).If you are not going to benefit from this (or aren’t enthusiastic about it), you are missing out on one of the highest components of value.Overall, it appears that the degree of startup activity (especially in the key markets) is beginning to pick up.People are starting businesses at a fairly reasonable rate and those injured directly or indirectly from the previous technology bubble have started to emerge from under their desks and research new startup opportunities.I, for one, think it is always an excellent time to check out startup career opportunities. However, it’s essential to walk in wi th your eyes wide open, especially if you have never worked for a startup firm before.Good luck.