Bizarre reasons why most employees decide to opt out of their startup jobs

Even as there’s lot of excitement around startups, a lot of people who join the new kids on the block drop out of this career too soon. Experts have identified several reasons that are making people opt out and they say the reasons attributed are no less than bizarre.

“There is hardly any clarity”
Rishi Das, whose company HirePro hires talent for various other companies, says startup is all about lack of clarity. When a person decides to pursue a role in a startup, they ought to know what’s coming their way. However, it’s surprising, he says, to see that the uncertainty, lack of predictability, which is very inherent in startups, is often confused with the organization’s incompetence or immaturity.
Why this happens – “When you work in structured IT companies or come from an FMCG company into a startup, you are used to working in a structured way, something the startup won’t offer. So, at one time you want the excitement of working in a startup, but when you see unflexible timings or having to work outside of your roles, people choose to opt out of it,” says Rishi.

“No Work-life balance”
In structured companies, they have predictable work life schedule. By the time, employees are in their mid-30s, they have friend circles and families and are used to a certain lifestyle. Howeverm when these people end in startups, they have to sleep in office just to make things happen.

“Not everyone can adapt to meetings happening 11 at night. I have seen people living in the office for a whole week, because let’s face it, it’s a crazy job with crazy goals and if you want to achieve them, it has to come with some sacrifice,” says Rishi.

“Promoters are interfering”
Like it or not, every promoter is a beast even as they form both the strength as well as weakness of a company.

“Most people who have worked in structured environments are not ready to take the whims and fancies of the promoter. Usually, the senior management faces this challenge. Promoters have different styles of working, they may be micro-managing, they may have their own biases and it can be seen as extremely interfering. When they experience such problems, people get disenchanted and decide to make their way out,” says Rishi.