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Anonymous

12/03/20 at 2:13PM UTC

Career

Start up

Hello everyone - I am joining a start-up on Monday. I have worked in MNC's all of my career and now suddenly I am having jitters. This company has 3 co-founders who are atleast 10 years younger than me, and I am feeling a bit scared! Anyone who has moved from big-corporations to start-ups or vice versa, please share some tips to cope with the anxieties of unknown territory. Oh did I mention that this is really close to the job I have always dreamt off, so I feel like I am putting unnecessary pressure on myself :-( TIA

19 Comments

Ma.leonelle Sandoval

Just keep moving forward

12/03/20 at 2:36PM UTC

We are also a start up company, there are so many accelerators who are willing to help and incubate start ups. We are so grateful for the support they are giving. If we had met them earlier in the journey maybe we can avoid most of the struggles we encountered

Anonymous

12/03/20 at 2:43PM UTC

Thank you...That gives me a bit of courage.

Lisa Myers

Brand & Creative Leadership

12/03/20 at 3:45PM UTC

Just take it one day at a time. Try to remove the pressure by listening (as you would early in a big company) and thinking through any answer or task. Be their guiding light! You have 10 years of more experience and can bring that to any plan or discussion. You'll be great. So take deep breaths and rock it. Good luck!

1 Reply

Colleen McGrail

12/03/20 at 3:50PM UTC

I agree with Lisa - rushing in to prove your value can backfire. Take the time to listen, learn and share. They hired you because you bring great experience to their company, but you don’t need to come in and change the world ... yet ;) I made the reverse move from going from a smaller company to a huge one, and I am the oldest on our team. I thought I would be able to come in and share my deep experience, but found I was learning new things every day, and the fact that I did not show up thinking I knew all the answers was welcomed by the broader team. You will be amazing! Go get ‘em!

1 Reply

Anonymous

12/04/20 at 1:29AM UTC

Thank you. I am usually someone who listens and takes things as they come. I just need to believe in myself a bit more I guess. Thanks again for your encouragement.

Anonymous

12/03/20 at 4PM UTC

Congratulations and I am in the same boat! About to transition from a fairly large MNC to a small startup.. Not to mention the whole hiring process was done on zoom due to the pandemic .. I requested them to meet a few team members safely in person while social distancing so I can ask some questions .. They were very open and supportive of that which made me feel so good! I still oscillate between excitement and jitters! Changing jobs always comes with its own risks but if this is a role you have always wanted then you would be that much more motivated to do well!! Thank you to everyone on this thread for the great advice!

1 Reply

Anonymous

12/04/20 at 1:33AM UTC

You are right...I am def super excited esp to get a job close to my dream job in this environment. But I also have this jitters and anxiety and I just have to go with the flow.

Laurie Halter

278

Helping women "rear" careers and families

12/03/20 at 5:12PM UTC

Congratulations on your dream job! You bring so much to the team by way of experience. Just keep reminding yourself that they brought you in for a reason. They saw many things in you that provide value to the overall health of their company. I have found that age does not matter as much as enthusiasm and what you bring to the culture overall. This being your "dream job" will give you everything you need to be successful in your new role.

1 Reply

Anonymous

12/04/20 at 1:33AM UTC

Thank you for the kind words. Really appreciate.

Molly Trucano

12/03/20 at 5:16PM UTC

Something to keep in mind--the startup founders might have dreams of being a multi-national corporation one day! You offer experience they don't have. Even if they don't aspire to be a MNC one day, they like you for your experience and the perspective you offer from coming from one. Good luck!

1 Reply

Anonymous

12/04/20 at 1:34AM UTC

Good point which I certainly did not think about at all. Thanks for your encouragement.

Dave Holzbaur

Architectural Sales

12/04/20 at 4:16AM UTC

I went from a fortune 10 company with unlimited resources to a regional distributor. Changed fields scary as hell. Extra long sales cycle. Have to hang in there and the payoff can be big.

Jackie Ghedine

4.2k

Coach for Gen X Women | Jack Russell of Humans

12/04/20 at 12:19PM UTC

SUPER exciting. Congrats on the new position, the one that is a dream for you. Moving to any new job is unnerving, add a culture completely different from what you're used to and BAM, our fight or flight is on overdrive. Before you start, write a list of all your accomplishments, your strengths, your skills. Put pen to paper in a small notebook or in your notes app and use it as a boost of 'hell ya I'm good' anytime you start to get nervous. Then try to separate the facts from these stories you're starting to tell yourself. The fact is you're starting a new job. The stories are those thoughts that make you feel inferior like; I'm so much older than everyone how will I relate? I don't know how to navigate the start-up world. I'm out of my league. Instead, go back to your facts. I was highly successful at job X. My capabilities align with the responsibilities. You got the position, regardless of age and corporate background, but because you are a great fit for where they want to take the company. GOOD LUCK

1 Reply

Anonymous

12/04/20 at 2:13PM UTC

Thank you. This is very helpful and a great practice indeed. I am going to work on the list this week end.

1 Reply

Jackie Ghedine

4.2k

Coach for Gen X Women | Jack Russell of Humans

12/04/20 at 2:21PM UTC

YAY. I guarantee that your energy will be super high afterwards!

EmilieSA

Global VP People Operations @SalesScreen

12/04/20 at 1:45PM UTC

Congratulations on your new job!! I went from an Enterprise company to a start-up one and a half years ago, and it's the best decision I've ever made. I found that my experience form a big company was very helpful coming in to an environment where everything necessarily is not "in place", so I guess that might be something they see as an advantage. The people are so helpful, we're learning something new every day and we're trying to make each other the best we can be while figuring out the future together. I think you will feel your job has a big impact, thank you voice is being heard and you get the freedom to do your job the way you see best fit. Good luck!

Anonymous

12/04/20 at 2:15PM UTC

Thank you. It is really to hear that your transition went well and it def gives me hope.

Ellysa Smith

217

HR Engagement Curator

12/05/20 at 3:50AM UTC

Congratulations! There are a few skills and perspectives I would keep in mind with a start up. Start ups can move fast with decision making, so don't be afraid to have them slow down a little. You will most likely be wearing multiple hats in your position whatever that may be...so embrace being flexible and agile with your work. Organizational chart and organization model can alter, so adaptability is key. Remember that many start ups have great, talented minds who may not know how to manage others....feel comfortable managing up. Remember that start ups may have fancy titles like VP/Director/Head but that does not describe responsibilities or expertise that you may have seen from those with comparable titles in larger orgs. Learn to say no as well, as this will save you from burnout. Congrats again, you are doing to do well! You get to be creative and innovation on a team of collaborators, take advantage of those opportunities to try new products or learn new skills that interest you!

Melanie

562

HR Leader giving my own two cents to help women.

12/05/20 at 8:03AM UTC

Congrats. I made the plunge a little over a year ago and haven’t looked back. Keep in mid without corporate layers decisions are made quickly, it’s a all hands on deck to get things done and be patient if they lack infrastructure such as systems, policies and process. Help them bring order to the chaos! Good luck!