If you feel bored with your current job, not because the job isn't paying you enough hard cash, but because it's not giving you enough challenges, scope to prove your potential, and opportunity to learn and fast forward your career growth, this piece of blog might worth your time.
To establish some credibility, first, I need to define myself, I guess. I am a marine officer turned corporate manager who did his MBA from the best school in my country. I took my job in my second career in advertising first, then in a telecommunication company -- again the largest corporate house in the country. In between my 5 years of (second) career I bagged two decent promotions, to join to a IT startup as the Head of Operation and Sales which promised to grow as a CEO. I don't want to sound it like bragging, but so much so for establishing the credibility of the blogger :)
The Downside
1. you would miss many back patting. Especially your friends, your relatives will not look proud to introduce you to others. You will suddenly stop receiving many calls, birthday wishes, new years, and other season greetings.
2. Stratups will offer you fewer fringe benefits. No fancy cars, no escorts -- in anywhere of the country , or world, no health insurance, no children education cost, no unlimited sick leaves etc. Well sometimes you might find many of the benefits are never used, but for some it may be essentials.
3. People with need will stop calling you, rather you may have to start calling to people for your needs. As you know small firms run after the large corporate houses, and its never the opposit, no matter who is vendor here. :)
The Upside
1. You will suddenly start enjoying your work. Ahem! is that not worth facing all the stated downsides? Well, of course, I only guarantee you job satisfaction if, one: you are my type i.e. the the type as stated at the first couple of lines of the blog. Second, the employer should not be bitch type!!
Tips
1. Maintain a mental preparation to move to startups or SMEs. Don't get to too used to flamboyant life of large corporate houses.
2. Be prepared to do-it-yourself when you join a startup. While for large organizations each job is segmented, and there are dedicated persons or vendors assigned for each miniscule piece of work, in startup even being a CEO, you probably have to do it all. It might sound scary for some, but for me it was complete fun.
3. Keep your networks alive. Rekindle your connections. While in giant organizations there were many people, vendors, colleagues used to call you just to keep a warm and fruitful relationship with you, now it is your turn. so, prepared to do that and keep it rolling even before you switch.
