If I want to build a startup in future then should I take job in another startup or settled company?

AKSHAY DUDANI Full Stack Web Developer

March 11th, 2016

I want to take 2 year of experience before I go for my startup. So should I go for job in startup or in company coming to placements in college?

And I don't like java development and I want job of Web development.

My query is, since companies will be coming in 5 months and I don't want to apply there. But family wants me to secure job at startup before they come. How will I get jobs being in college. I'm ready to work part-time until my college gets over. Please suggest me a way out. I'm stuck at this.

Please tell me in detail.

Also, if someone has web development jobs for freshers please connect. I'm passionate about web development and learning various technologies like MEAN stack.

Glenn Donovan Vice President of Sales (fractional)

March 11th, 2016

Please read your question again and understand how confusing it is. You ask about how to best prepare to join a startup. Then mention that your family wants you to have a startup job. Then mention your family is putting pressure on you to get a job so they can "come". And then ask about jobs for "freshers" - 4 different points. So, first things first, given your inability to communicate coherently, I wouldn't hire you for any job - startup or other.

I'll just deal with what to do to get a job in a startup:

I am a 25 yr veteran of the tech startup world and now consult to startups. One of the recent trends seems to be recent grads doing startups with little to no work experience. I find this laughable. Startup is a much more challenging work environment than a job you will find in an established company. You will have much less structure, fewer resources, poorer leadership and management, and also will face huge goals and challenges.

Question: Why on earth does someone with no work experience - no less, successful work experience where they were promoted, got raises etc. - think they can jump into a startup and be effective and successful?

Startup failure rates are higher than ever, and i think in part its due to lack of actual work experience and skills on many startup teams (also due to bubble economics driving imbecilic investment strategies by VC/Angels). But even in the best of circumstances, with experienced, talented people (and I'm sorry I can't tell if you are a talented worker by your college transcript, i want to see real work experience), the failure rate is very high. Startup is hard, you should know what your doing, not just have ambition and a desire to 'do a startup'.

My advice? Get a job with a great company that will help you develop your skills and work habits and business knowledge. Gain practical knowledge and also focus on excelling at your work. Get promoted, get raises - these are confirmations that you actually are a good worker. Get a supervisory/management job and be good at it.

Then join a startup that has a good idea, is well capitalized and is run by adults who have a clue as to how to run a business.

As for what to do as a "fresher", which I guess means you are a freshman, well, I suggest you bear down on your studies and master the subjects you are studying.

John Seiffer Business Advisor to growing companies

March 11th, 2016

I hate it when people bring up Zuckerberg, Gates, Steve Jobs as role models for aspiring entrepreneurs. Those people are freaks of nature. It's like saying, "You like basketball? Great. Just do what Michael Jordan did." Well all the players in the NBA can't do what Michael Jordan did and they are the top 1%. So no most people who drop out of college won't create facebook.

And a lot of those "best tech entrepreneurs" who dropped out were pulled out. They had started a business while in college and it grew so well it sucked them away. I don't see Akshay doing that so my advice to him is stay in school, get a job and build your company on the side till it grows so well it sucks you away from your day job.

John Seiffer Business Advisor to growing companies

March 11th, 2016

If you have the chops to get a good job out of college I would do it - make as much money as you can and sock it away. A cushion of money will be one of the best things you can do for starting your business.

Also you don't have to quit your job to start a company. Many are started nights and weekends. That way you get to experiment and pivot and learn without going broke.

PS I say this as someone who has always been an entrepreneur but when I graduated college (1976) the world was very different.

Alvaro Maya Founder Utopia

March 17th, 2016

Hi AKSHAY DUDANI

I have an startUp and we are looking for people like you. If you are interested contact me.

AKSHAY DUDANI Full Stack Web Developer

March 11th, 2016

@John Seiffer Problem with jobs at college is they as per to my knowledge don't provide web development jobs. I want to work at startup or web development.

That's why I'm in dilemma. What to do. I'm facing problem of how to get jobs at startup while studying in college

AKSHAY DUDANI Full Stack Web Developer

March 11th, 2016

@Glenn Donovan Sorry for that confusion. What I meant was,

I want to do startup in future after taking some work experience. I want to work in a startup company so that I can understand it's world in a better way. Secondly, in 5 months, companies will be coming for job placements. Placements activities like aptitude test, interviews, etc will be starting soon. But I don't want job in these companies. I want to take job in startup. But I don't know whether they'll give me job considering the fact that I'll work full time after my college ends.

So, I'm confused whether or not to sit for job placements

Samie Syed

March 11th, 2016

@Glenn Donovanwhat if you are in a situation where you have an idea that hasn't been done at that particular time? For example, Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook whilst at College - if he had spent time building a career, he may have missed the boat - somebody else may have done it...opportunity lost.

Some of the best tech entrepreneurs are college drop outs. Although I do understand why you recommend that approach, since it serves as a safety net if the start up gig does not work out. In an ideal world, I would recommend that approach too.

Samie Syed

March 11th, 2016

@John seiffer absolutely agree with you, and I think that not plunging into the deep end is a good approach if you are working on a product that does not require to go all out - apps etc. At the same time, it does depend on what the product is, if it is a b2b solution it would be very hard not to work full time on it since it will be dependent on generating sales which is a full time job in itself.

Hamid Saify

March 11th, 2016

I'd say, find a startup. A startup with good early investment and some traction. In my 20s, I chose the route of making money via e-commerce startups of my own, and definitely lost out on opportunities with startups with huge growth potential. I'd say join one, you'll learn a ton, and see how you spin off something to your own.

Or, you never know, you might be able to get in early enough, where you feel like the startup you joined is actually YOURS.

David Austin Relentless problem solver and innovator.

March 11th, 2016

The startup era is a misconception. There is no such thing. This is not a passing fad. There have always been startups, there will always be startups. Ignore fear-mongering of having "lost out on opportunities of startups with huge growth potential". If you have what it takes, great startup opportunities will always be there for you. There should never be a urgency to get into startups for the sake of getting into a startup.

The questions wanteprenuers should be asking is not "what startup can I get into" nor "how do I get into them?", but instead ask yourself: "What do I need to be a valued asset in a startup?"

Experience is *not* the answer to that question. Skills, demeanor, passion for the specific startup, and a like-mindedness with the others in your startup, high tolerance for stress, a solid understanding your risk, and the ability to take on significant risk (including making no money and working like a dog ultimately to fail most of the time, for the chance of 1 success) - those are what you need.