This checklist will serve you well if you are seeking employment at a start up

The idea of working at a start-up may sound promising and exciting, but it’s important to keep this checklist in mind before signing on the dotted line.

Seek clarity in your role: Often in start-ups, your role is not clearly defined. Seek clarity from your employers and define your role, and what is expected of you. There is a good chance that you will have to deviate from your initial set of responsibilities and contribute elsewhere because of limited resources. This holds true when the company is just setting up and starting out. 

Remuneration:Always negotiate for a proper pay packet. Often start-ups give its employees several perks like stock options to lure future employees. While it may look glossy on the outside, do realise that stock options only work if the company takes off. Otherwise, it’s a no-win situation.

Who exactly are you working for: Working for a start-up is a two-way street; just as employers do a background check on potential employees, so should you. Then you can decide if it’s worth the jump from a corporate to a start-up.

Deep pockets: Start-ups and funding go hand-in-hand. See to it that the start-up has reliable investors backing the product or service.

Who stays, who goes: Attrition rates are what makes or breaks the company.  When a slew of top management leave in droves, it sends a bad signal to the rest of the employees. So, as a potential employee, you might want to check and see how far you can grow in the company.

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