Startups and Stereotypes
I’m passionate about the startup community and the talent it unveils to the technology industry, but some people have a different perspective. Some believe that startup jobs are less stable than jobs in established businesses and that their employees have little-to-nothing on the line. I hate that.
As an unmarried, young techie with no kids, I fit the startup cliche pretty well. Throw in a hipster attitude and a handwritten bio, and my candidacy is undeniable. The corporate workers with families say that because I’m young and have no family, it makes more sense that I would take the ‘risk’.
First of all, I should have more to risk than guys who have had years of above-average salaries and plenty of time to secure their futures. My entire future and reputation are on the line. These guys have already made money and reputations. What it boils down to is that I have a higher tolerance for risk, and that the world hasn’t beaten me into a number-fearing coward just yet.
As for the stability of jobs in the startup realm, I’m interested in data that proves the point that a job within a technology startup is less stable than a job in any other business classification. From my point of view, startups are often more aware of the importance of human capital than they’re corporate counterparts. They realize that success cannot be maintained until it is achieved, and success is not achieved without talented employees. Furthermore, individuals who have held positions in startups seem to be more appealing to employers because of their identifiable ability to work in environments that encounter change and inconsistency.