Why tech startups are more rewarding than big business

Download your tech startup career. Photograph: Getty

Working for a big global technology firms, you can feel like a small cog in a much larger machine, often lacking the flexibility of smaller organisations.

Startups, meanwhile, are generally much more agile, making them particularly attractive to those with an entrepreneurial flair. And as startups emerge and expand, there's a constant demand to develop teams and scout new talent for these small businesses.

So what is so great about working for a tech startup? And why should you consider working for one?

Flexibility

Because large organisations can have thousands of employees across the world, they are not always the most dynamic and flexible organisations. Change can be controversial and arduous. Startups, on the other hand, have to be flexible to survive.

They are constantly honing their product or service, and this offers employees an exciting chance to see it evolve. The flexibility that is built into the service is also built into the organisational structure – employees can have exciting opportunities to get involved in a range of different roles. You might be a talented developer but have a hankering to better understand branding. Startups can offer this opportunity in a way that their corporate cousins often can't.

Working for a startup can also allow you to have a bigger stake in the company's focus. The hierarchy tends to be flatter because the employee count is smaller, which means there is more chance of getting your voice heard and contribute to the company's overall direction. However, if you think working for a startup is an easy way to leapfrog your way to the top, be warned that it also takes lots of hard work and persistance.

Don't be put off by the geeky stereotype: variety is the lifeblood of a good startup and you'll find that they employ a big mix of people.

Entrepreneurial culture

Tech startups, by their very nature, embrace self-starters. And while Silicon Valley has been congratulated for its innovative startup ecosystem, the UK has made great inroads into creating a unique startup culture of its own. It's not simply about replicating what's happened in the US, but tapping into our history of pioneering design, fashion, music or software businesses and spinning out a new start-up set.

There's a myth that London is the only place in the UK with a vibrant and innovative start-up scene, but that's not the case. At Moonfruit, which builds websites for small and medium-sized businesses, our customers are based in a diverse range of locations throughout the UK. There has been heavy investment in locations including Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester, which has allowed startup ecosystems to evolve.