Moneycontrol interacted with leaders working in MNCs and startups to resolve the conundrum of choosing the right kind of company to begin one’s career
Candidates should realise that a job is all about the experience – if there is job satisfaction, everything else follows. (Illustration by Suneesh Kalarickal)
When Priti completed her graduation and decided to begin her professional journey, she had a fork-in-the-road moment: should she join a large multinational corporation or a startup?
Priti did what many others do: she asked seniors and relatives employed in both kinds of companies for their advice and suggestions. Each had their own take and guidance and in the end, Priti was left all the more confused.
In an attempt to solve this issue, Moneycontrol spoke to leaders working in a range of MNCs and startups and explored the conundrum of choosing the right kind of company to start one’s career. Here are some key differences:
MNCs ideal for step-by-step guidance
MNCs provide a structured learning and development environment, right from inducting, orienting and building capabilities, including technical and soft skill development, according to Prashant Mehra, a partner at Grant Thornton Bharat, part of the accounting firm Grant Thornton.
“MNCs provide accelerated career development as well, which gives an edge over other organisations that struggle to induct and orient freshers well,” he said, adding that non-MNCs do not provide a career plan because of which they lose talent early.
The 125-year-old Godrej & Boyce has a comprehensive corporate orientation programme for onboarding new employees. Thereafter, there is a programme called Buddy Connect to facilitate smooth onboarding and transition for new hires who are paired with an experienced employee for six months.
This gives newcomers the “necessary support, guidance, encouragement and a friendly environment, which enables them to accelerate their familiarity with the organisation’s work culture, values, processes and procedures,” said Harpreet Kaur, head of corporate personnel & administration at G&B.
Startups suitable for problem-solvers
Startups usually operate with a problem-solving and product-oriented approach and a fresher joining during that phase gets to experience live projects early on, said Nishigandha Shendge, an HR manager at tech startup Fynd (Shopsense Retail Technologies).
“They (freshers) get more hands-on training about the industry and the specific task on the go. This way, freshers get to know their projects inside-out and this builds a sense of ownership that compels them to put in their best efforts,” Shendge said.
A startup meets the needs of freshers who have a hunger to learn and have impatience in their DNA, said Sudeep Ralhan, CHRO of online investment startup Upstox.
“Exposure to a wide range of work tasks in a boundaryless organisation can broaden the minds of someone who’s just starting and accelerate their career,” Ralhan said.
Startups teach liberty, adaptability
The most important aspect for freshers working in a startup is that they get to experience a balance of both liberty and adaptability.
“With constantly changing requirements and priorities, freshers learn how to adapt and think on their feet,” said Ojaswini Sapatnekar, head of people strategy at IoT company Intangles.
She said the fast-paced environment does not compromise the innovation and creativity quotient because it gives candidates the liberty to innovate and explore new avenues.
Unlike MNCs, startups mostly have flat structures where a substantial number of employees stand on equal ground.
“Everyone’s opinion is valued, which promotes overall inclusivity in the workplace,” Sapatnekar said. “This setup is hard to come by when we speak of MNCs or large-scale organisations.”
Before you decide
Before freshers decide to join an MNC or a startup, experts have one piece of advice: candidates need to free their minds from three things—the urge to impress relatives, heavy salary slips in the beginning, and demand for international exposure.
Instead, they should realise that a job is all about the experience—if there is job satisfaction, everything else follows.
“Each kind of job is unique and brings with it its challenges and opportunities,” said Ralhan of Upstox. “Students should do their research and align jobs with their drivers.”
Before freshers decide to join an MNC or a startup, experts have one piece of advice: candidates need to free their minds from three things—the urge to impress relatives, heavy salary slips in the beginning, and demand for international exposure.
Instead, they should realise that a job is all about the experience—if there is job satisfaction, everything else follows.
“Each kind of job is unique and brings with it its challenges and opportunities,” said Ralhan of Upstox. “Students should do their research and align jobs with their drivers.”
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