Should You Join an MNC Or a Startup? 6 Questions to Ask to Find The Right Fit

Should You Join an MNC Or a Startup? 6 Questions to Ask to Find The Right Fit
Jobstreet content teamupdated on 29 November, 2021
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For a lot of fresh graduates about to join the workforce, the question “Am I better suited for a startup or an MNC?” is an important aspect to contemplate. It’s also a difficult question, seeing as they probably don’t have enough work experience to adequately answer it.

However, even for experienced jobseekers, this is a question worth exploring. Though you’ve now acquired years of work experience under your belt, perhaps you are looking for a fresh challenge or a new opportunity in a senior management role.

If you’ve spent the bulk of your career working for MNCs, you might be considering whether this is the right time to dip your toes into the world of startups. Or it could be the other way around.

Before you make any decisions, you should ask yourself these six key questions to figure out which type of company would be the best environment to grow your career as a senior manager and beyond.

1. What motivates you?

It is said that some people work to live and others live to work, which is to say, do you simply work to make a living or does your work fulfill you in other ways besides monetary reasons?

More often than not, MNCs can afford to pay a heftier salary compared to startups. On top of that, they are also more likely to offer comprehensive benefits, such as medical and dental. However, many startups have come up with creative perks to entice prospective employees, such as catered lunches and game rooms.

2. What kind of working environment do you flourish in?

Since you’ll be spending over 40 hours a week working, it’s important to find a workplace where you can be productive. There are those who will prefer the more corporate, structured work environment offered by MNCs, which have a clear organisational structure and set job scopes. MNCs also usually provide facilities such as nursery rooms for working mothers.

However, if you would rather work someplace more fun and casual, then you may want to look into startups, which are famous for having vibrant and hip offices – colourful murals and unconventional design elements, like slides and ball pits.

3. Do you prefer set or flexible working hours?

MNCs are more likely to implement standard 9-to-5 working hours, meaning that all employees are expected to clock in and clock out at a certain time each day, while startups are known for their more flexible hours. You can find out whether a prospective company offers flexible working hours by checking out the company profile.

However, nowadays even MNCs are adopting flexible working arrangements, such as working from home and flexible starting hours to accommodate those with children or elderly parents. It should be noted, though, that with “flexible” hours, this may result in work following you wherever you go.

4. What are you looking to achieve?

At a startup, you’ll be expected to “wear several hats”, meaning that you’ll probably play more than one role in the company. This will enable you to pick up a variety of skills on the job and learn various aspects of keeping the company running. But you may also essentially become a “jack of all trades, master of none” because you won’t have the time to hone any specific skill set.

At an MNC, you are more likely to get the chance to specialise in certain skills due to an established job scope and extensive training, which will help you progress along a set career path. But this also makes it difficult to experiment and try new things beyond what you’re already doing.

hang out after work

5. How involved do you want to be in the company?

Thanks to the casual working culture, small workforce and flat organisational structure at most startups, employees are often very involved in the company. They will usually know each other fairly well and may even consider their teams to be family. You may also get the chance to contribute to the company outside of your current job scope and voice out new ideas.

For those who prefer to keep their work life and personal life separate, it might be easier to do so at an MNC. MNCs are generally larger in scale, so it can be challenging to get to know everyone – though not impossible. And due to its traditional nature, with fixed levels of seniority and roles, the staff at MNCs are more focused on getting the job done. While this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t share your ideas, you should understand that there is a systematic process to it.

6. Are you more “high risks, high rewards” or “tried-and-true”?

Ultimately, the choice between startups and MNCs boils down to your personality. Is the fast-paced, ever-changing scene at a startup something that excites you? Or would you prefer something more stable and secure, like an MNC? The better you know yourself, the clearer the answer should be.

Need more help in navigating the world of senior management? Be sure to check out our Career Resources, featuring articles and tips to keep you up-to-date and a selection of management jobs from a wide range of industries.

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