infoTECH Feature

August 04, 2011

Tech Savvy Workers Attracted Toward Startups

A recent survey from job site Dice.com found that IT pros who join startup companies do so not because of the unique perks, such as free soda and gaming breaks, but because of the work environment.

Polling more than 750 tech workers, Dice found that among those who gravitate toward startups, 42 percent feel they’ll work with bosses and colleagues who value an entrepreneurial spirit, 22 percent are excited by the speed and pace of the work, and 19 percent are attracted by the freedom.

Of course, startups do have their pitfalls. Among those surveyed, only 31 percent said they’d opt for a startup over a more established company. Of those IT workers who’d prefer to work for a more traditional organization, 74 percent cited greater stability, 18 percent said it’s more structured, and 8 percent deemed it less risky.

Though I can definitely see the lure of joining a startup, I’d have to agree with those who’d opt to work at a larger, more entrenched company. I worked for a startup for almost three years. And though it was often fun and exciting, I often worried about the stability and future of the company. In the end, the firm went out of business – partly due to mismanagement, partly due to the effects of the economy, and partly due to a host of other reasons.

But IT pros excited about the atmosphere at startups don’t include just the younger crowd. The poll did find that those in their late 30s to early 50s were least likely to want to join a startup. But the closer that workers reached retirement age, the more they saw a startup as a viable choice.

My former startup employer had one gentleman on staff who was retired from his old company. I don’t know if he had any thoughts or concerns about the long-term future of the business. I think he was just looking for a place and a job where he could stay active and involved and continue to contribute.

Based on my past experience, I don’t think I’d ever hop aboard a startup company again, certainly not as my sole employer. But at their best, startups can often provide IT pros with an environment less restrictive and more creative than they may find at bigger and more traditional corporations.

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Lance Whitney is a journalist, IT consultant, and Web Developer with almost 20 years of experience in the IT world. To read more of Lance's articles, please visit his columnist page

Edited by Jennifer Russell
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