What fresh graduates look out for when joining startups

An increasing number of Singaporean university graduates (and undergraduates) are joining startups. Gone are the days when university students look to large multinationals and their behemoth paychecks as compensation for slogging through four years of ‘higher learning’.

Knowing why people were interested in certain industries is the first step to helping them fulfil their career aspirations. That’s why we asked some undergrads and fresh grads about their motivations for joining startups, and what they look out for when joining one. This is what we gathered.

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Many enjoy flexibility and despise bureaucracy

Needless to say, this generation is one for the future. Most we asked have quoted the lack of red tape and the resulting possibility of seeing their efforts come to fruition as one of the key reasons for choosing to join the vibrant startup ecosystem. Here are some quotes show just how fulfilling it is to see that happen.

“I had an exciting one-year internship overseas in a startup,” said Tan Junqi, the Customer Experience Manager at ShopBack “and decided that a startup is more for me as there are never ending problems to solve and you can actually see the result of your effort!”

Elaine Teo, an undergraduate doing business development at The Smart Local, felt like a small fry in large organisations, working through processes she didn’t necessarily understand. “But in a startup, there is a much greater sense of ownership,” said Elaine, and “you get a chance to play a part and participate in lots of brainstorming sessions.”

Sam Yong from the Trust & Safety department at Airbnb Singapore enjoys the autonomy of being able to choose what he wants to do. “My boss is really encouraging and helpful in pushing us to go beyond our core work,” said Sam, “knowing that you are part of something much bigger brings a new perspective to what you do.”

They are passionate about solving problems

Valerie Koh of CoinHako loves the idea of plugging in the gaps. “Every venture is meant to plug in a gap in society, to solve a problem,” said Valerie, “you meet people who are passionate about the problem that they are trying to solve, and that’s a nice culture to immerse yourself in.”

Junqi believes that not only should a founder be driven and passionate, they should also know how to have fun. “It’s not just about passion for the business, but for life in general!” Junqi said, “I’m sure no one would want a founder (as a boss) who’s soulless and lifeless, right?”

Employees look for fit, too

The traditional interview is already a thing of the past. Candidates assess their employers as much as it happens the other way round, or even more. And that’s not a bad thing! At least they can be sure that they wouldn’t face cognitive dissonance a year down the road.

Aaron Lim, doing CRM at Zalora, believes that much as employers look out for candidates that fit well with the job description and company culture, candidates should also think about how they would fit in the firm’s culture. “Securing the job is great,” said Aaron, “but staying fulfilled and enjoying the work and the environment is crucial, especially when joining a startup.”

Sheena Koh, who interned at SUP the App, also looks for a good fit between the job role and her interests. “I joined SUP as I found that I can probably offer what they want while enjoying some individual growth at the same time,” she said. “There was an alignment of beliefs, interests, and job roles, as well as both the company and me being equally passionate about the job at hand.”

Personal and organisational growth

Speaking of fit, if you were to do a Ctrl+F on my interview transcripts, you’ll find the word ‘growth’ appear multiple times. Evidently, central to what a potential hire sees as a fit are opportunities for his self-development – I would guess especially so in an increasingly competitive labour market. I call this the paradox of the labour crunch.

Jordon Yuen, who was with Singapore FinTech Consortium, lists a few items which he is especially particular about regarding startups and founders: “Growth potential of the startup, opportunity for self-growth, sincerity in the mentoring mindset, and sufficient leadership ability to manage the startup team in a rapidly changing environment.”

Founders should be sincere, passionate, empathetic and ethical

So how can startups effectively court fresh grads?