Is it better to work in corporates or start-ups?

Do you like being your own boss or becoming a corporate slave works for you? Do you like the slow and structured predictable schedule or the fast paced environment at work? Do you possess that do-or-die attitude in the workplace or are comfortable in the 9-5 slave system?

If these questions makes you interrogate your own self then maybe it's time for you to rethink your professional choices in life.

To make it easier for you to comprehend here's a list of pros and cons that may help you decide better between a corporate and start-up setup. But regardless of what I say, it's a really tough call. To be honest, what will be favourable in the longer run for a person careerwise may only be determined based on one's own perspective or point of view, their priorities or lifestyle or what one aspires to be in the future.

So let's have a look at the benefits and drawbacks of both the worlds.

1. Organizational environment

On one hand, while the start-ups in the growing phase do not have a defined hierarchical structure and keep you on your toes offering a challenging yet healthy competitive environment, corporate entities on the other hand are structured workplaces with multiple hierarchies, better pay package and job security.

2. Work culture

In start-ups, employees have to wear different hats all the time. They are required to manage the chaos and still function effectively delivering tasks in a limited time frame. On the contrary, high-scale corporations are well established that hire qualified professionals for well-defined roles. 

3. Learning and Productivity

Start-ups help employees become the 'jack of all trades' by offering an environment that gives their career a push to the next level. The professionals working in start-ups are observed as problem solvers, and risk takers. Whereas in a corporate scenario, employees have a laid back attitude which tend to delay their work as they wait for others to assign the work to them. 

4. Job security

While there's no denying the fact that stability in a job can only be offered in big corporations, transparency within the company that impacts the major decisions is definitely higher in a startup.

So after going through these prominent points, one is bound to be more inclined towards joining a startup. But before quitting your current job, you should actually do a self-analysis test in order to find out if you are a suitable bunny for the high paced startup work environment or the slow and steady tortoise who loves his own comfort zone.

If you are still going for a startup do check for a few pointers below moving forward :

* Are you a self starter or are you spoon fed by your managers for every task assigned?

* Are you okay with the pay cut after making the switch or do you love the luxuries the corporate life generally offers?

* Are you good at multi-tasking or do you like the fixed job responsibilities?

* Do you like to be recognized personally at your workplace or do you prefer working in a recognized company rather?

* Do you willingly put in those extra hours at work round the clock or do you like to act on set targets and deadlines?

* Are you a solution finder or do you like to work on repetitive patterns?

* Are you proactive in building connections or do you like to use the authority that the brand name of the company offers for networking?

If all the answers to these questions relate to the former than the latter, you are a perfect fit into the start-up world.

But not to mention the stress and exhaustion that the entrepreneur life has in store for you that comes along with the high career growth. So one needs to think, rationalise and then choose.