Joining a young business can be one of the most rewarding career moves you make, particularly if you enjoy variety, change and making a real impact. As an HR professional, you'll often have the chance to help shape the company's culture, policies and people strategy from an early stage.
Of course, working for a newer organisation or startup isn't without its challenges. Before you make the move, it's worth understanding both sides of the picture so you can decide whether it's the right environment for you.
The opportunity to make your mark
One of the biggest attractions of working for a young business is the chance to influence the way things are done. Rather than maintaining established HR processes, you'll often be creating them as part of a small developing HR team.
Whether you're developing induction processes or writing company policies, your ideas can have a lasting impact. You get to make your HR mark and not simply be a cog in a machine.
A broader and more varied role
In a growing business, everyone tends to wear multiple hats, and that’s particularly true in HR.
You’ll likely be involved in recruitment, employee relations, salary reviews, building an employer brand, employment law, learning and development and more. This variety helps you build a broad skill set and develop confidence across every aspect of HR.
This hands-on generalist experience can be a real advantage when applying for future HR jobs in London.
Faster career progression
Young businesses often grow quickly, creating new opportunities as the company expands. You might even have a hand in developing the role you grow into as the business grows. New management and specialist roles emerge as the business matures. If you’re ambitious, this can be an exciting environment.
Expect some growing pains
The flip side is that young businesses don't always have established systems, and can be a little haphazard with more limited resources.
Budgets may be tighter, technology might still be evolving and priorities can change rapidly.
You'll need to be flexible, resilient and comfortable with a degree of uncertainty.
You'll need to embrace change
Processes in a young company are rarely set in stone. You’ll be behind shaping and evolving them! But that means that you’ll need to embrace and lead change. While some people thrive on this pace of change, others prefer the consistency of more mature organisations. Think about whether that thought energises or stresses you.
Is it the right fit for you?
The answer depends on your personality and career goals.
If you enjoy taking ownership, influencing decisions and developing alongside a growing business, while recognising there will be disorganisation at time, you'll likely find the experience hugely rewarding. If you prefer clearly defined responsibilities, extensive support structures and established processes, a larger employer may suit you better.
Ready for your next opportunity? Find out about HR jobs in London with us. When you’re ready, submit your CV.