Corporate vs. Startup vs. Self-employment: Which One Is for You?

Here’s what I learned after 5 years of experimenting

Have you always known which career path to choose?

I definitely haven’t.

When I finished my studies, I was too young to make an informed decision. With an overwhelming variety of options, I played it safe and settled on a corporate job to gain practical experience.

I couldn’t tell if this was the right choice for me. Many peers focused on growing within one career path. Instead, I decided to experiment with my employment to understand what suits me best.

Fast forward to today, I’ve gained five years of corporate, startup, and self-employment experience. It taught me a lot about the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

In this article, I share my experience with the three employment options. After reading this story, you’ll know more about the benefits and risks of each option without years of experimenting yourself.

#1 Corporate job

Having a corporate job means having stability. You know your working life well and can predict with high certainty how your day will go.

My day looked like this: I’d be in the office by 9 am, spend nine hours there, and leave at 6 pm. I didn’t stay late and work overhours — there was no need. Almost anything could wait till the next day.

My responsibilities were well-defined. I knew what I could do and what was out of my control.

The area of my influence was limited because working in a corporate means you are one of many. Every single decision requires many stakeholders and several meeting rounds. Most discussions could have been an email.

A strong hierarchy and bureaucracy killed flexibility. I couldn’t go on vacation when I wanted to. I had to align with my colleagues and find a person to cover my job when I was away. If no one wanted to do it, I couldn’t leave.

It sounds pretty unfair now, but it didn’t feel like that. You get used to the organizational processes of a corporate.

My colleagues weren’t my friends. We didn’t spend much time together outside of work. Most people had other concerns: they came to the office, did their job, and went on with their lives.

If it sounds boring to you, it’s not your best choice. However, what seems dull to you might represent stability, confidence, and consistency to others. If there is no room for uncertainty in your life, consider this employment type.

Key takeaways:

• Stable everyday working life, low uncertainty, fixed schedule.
• Limited responsibility, low level of creativity, little decision-making power.
• Colleagues are rarely friends, not many like-minded people.

#2 Startup job

Working in a startup is exciting. It’s a preferred choice for many ambitious and energetic young professionals. I considered myself one of them and was very excited to join a small but ambitious startup.

Working days in a startup were unpredictable. I had a general idea of what my day would look like, but circumstances often interfered.

It’s easy to make changes within a small team. Your schedule can change last minute. So you need to stay flexible and adjust quickly.

My to-do list was always full. I could rarely say I completed it all. New things came up every day — emergencies, urgent decisions, or updates on the presentation. It’s a fast-paced environment, and you need to be flexible to adjust.

The same energy was present in the team. It was very dynamic, and my colleagues always motivated me to keep going. We were all in the same boat and worked towards the same goal. We celebrated all the milestones together because all achievements were teamwork.

But all of it comes with a high degree of uncertainty — you don’t know what the next day will bring. Your judgment and decisions have consequences and your contribution matters.

When you make mistakes, you learn a tremendous amount. It allows growth and personal development for every team member.

Working at a startup is an opportunity to gain a lot of knowledge and skills in a short time. Knowing how to navigate this environment and the skills you get from it are invaluable.

If stability and consistency are boring for you, consider getting a job in a startup. Its exciting and dynamic working atmosphere will challenge you every day.

Key takeaways:

• A dynamic environment supports creativity, flexibility, and learning.
• A high degree of uncertainty and individual responsibility, faster decision-making.
• Closer relationships with colleagues, fun atmosphere, and team spirit.

#3 Self-Employment

Self-employment is the most unpredictable type of employment I’ve experienced. It’s a high-risk, high-reward game.

Whether you want to build your startup or get freelance gigs, you are responsible for your success. You carry the entire weight of responsibility for your actions, judgement, decision-making.

If you don’t do the work, no one will do it for you. You can’t postpone or ask your colleague to take over your job. You have full responsibility by yourself.

When I quit my job last year, I didn’t know what to do. I needed a change, but I didn’t have a plan. Going into the unknown was scary. But you won’t learn how to swim until you throw yourself into the water.

So I did the same and threw myself into the pool of uncertainty and limitless possibilities. Having the freedom to figure it all out has led me to where I am today.

Working hard on my writing career is inspiring. I am more committed and passionate about what I do than I ever was.

Being on your own also gave me a great push of motivation that I lacked before. I know what I want. And I am the only person responsible for achieving my goals. No one will do it for me.

Self-employment is exciting, risky, and rewarding. If you’re ready for a challenge, go for it. In the worst case, you learn even if you fail. Getting experience elsewhere before going self-employed is helpful to gain knowledge and perspective.

Key takeaways:

• High risk, with the weight of responsibility on you.
• No colleagues, low stability, or predictability at first.
• Total freedom of decision-making and opportunity to do what you love.

Final Words

There is no right answer to which employment is better. Depending on your life situation, your choice may differ. You grow and evolve. You change opinions and views. The more you try in your life, the more experiences you get.

Experimenting with my career helped me find the one that feels right. Although it has its risks, I enjoy the freedom it gives. I appreciate the opportunity to pursue my passion.

If you are looking for stability, try an employment contract. While a corporate job provides an environment of certainty, a startup job does the opposite. Try self-employment if you are ready to take full responsibility for your success.

Choosing your employment type is never easy. Take into account all the pros and cons of my experience, and you’ll have the tools to find the most suitable path for you.

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