Recently graduated and want to begin a career in the life sciences industry? Or perhaps you well and truly have your feet under the table in your current role, but you’d like some insight regarding your next move.
Should you choose a start-up or blue chip company? ‘It only takes one ground-breaking MedTech startup to change a product category forever’, says Qualio, who list a host of start-ups to keep an eye on in 2020. Imagine if you could be part of such change. In the first part of a two-part series of blog posts, we take a look at the pros of working for a start-up firm.
Your Role Could Provide More Variety
There can often be lots of hoops to jump through in large, corporate companies, especially when it comes to getting projects approved. Smaller firms, meanwhile, can be more reactive – and sometimes more hands-on.
This could be because there are fewer staff – and, when it comes to making things happen, fewer people ‘at the top’ to convince your idea is a goer.
You may have more freedom, therefore, to get your teeth into a variety of projects and you might also get to work across a host of departments. In doing so, you’re bound to learn more.
“Smaller companies are agile enough to adapt to what’s happening in the market,” says Matthew Wadsworth, Senior Consultant here at Life Science People, adding that covid-19 has meant the health tech industry in particular has come on in leaps and bounds, thanks to a mass switchover to digital tech.
The variety offered in start-ups can and does ‘attract more talent’, continues Matthew. The chance to be more flexible by, for example, working from home, also seems to be more prevalent in start-ups, he says – and this can ensure greater morale amongst staff.
You’ll Probably Be Given More Responsibility
Working in a smaller company generally means more responsibility. The reason? Smaller teams.
But with more responsibility comes the chance to make more impact – and the opportunity to progress within the firm quicker than you might in a large corporate firm.
This could push you to be more productive and more versatile – and you may move up the career ladder faster.
“You can hyper-develop your skills,” says Matthew, who adds that bigger companies may be slower-moving.
Good Work Will Be Recognised
Your hard work within the life sciences industry may go unnoticed in a larger, blue chip firm. Most of the time, though, this is simply not the case in a start-up. It may be to do with the fact that the people you’re trying to impress may drop in and out of the office much more often than they might in a blue-chip firm. Or, like we said earlier, they could be sitting close enough to you that they’re well aware of the good work you’re doing.
Smaller Teams Can Mean a Better Atmosphere
We hate to say it, but when you work for a larger firm, it’s easier to feel somewhat invisible. This isn’t always the case in a smaller company, as your immediate team will be smaller. You’ll probably get to know everyone relatively quickly – and you may find that start-up firms take a much more casual approach to work; there could well be ‘dress down Fridays’ or even post-work beers to look forward to. Looking for a new role in a start-up? Get in touch with our team and discover more about the right role for you.