Back in the old days (HAH! that sounds hilarious) the goal was to get a cushy job with some big successful company and make a name for yourself while climbing that corporate ladder. You put in your 25 years, retire with your gold watch and ride off into the sunset of retirement. Well times have changed, dramatically. Big business is no longer the safety net it used to be. People are not spending 20-30 years growing with one company for their entire career. In fact Gen Xers and Millenials are hedging their bets on startups. After all look at silly companies like Facebook and Google. People said they’d never last. Yeah, OK.

We’re in a new era, and it’s not just because big business is unreliable, but because the job market and small business is changing.  Garage and dorm room companies are starting by the hundreds. And while only the strong survive, those survivors turn out to be major employers in the long run for those who enter early and remain loyal. So what should you be doing to find employment with these up and comers so that you can be part of their success and growth? It’s simple. Stop focusing your energy on big business.

I see it myself when recruiting for client companies and even for my own. People tend to be skeptical about small businesses, as if they weren’t worthy of attention. But small business and start ups are the future leaders of the new economy. It’s in your best interest to seriously put them on your radar. So get off your high horse you job snob and get with the times. Here are four things to keep in mind when applying to work with a startup.

Understand their business model. Everyone wants to be the cool hip business that’s on track to make a gazillion dollars. But not everyone will turn into a Facebook. A business model simply put explains what the business does, how it serves it’s customers and how it makes money. If you don’t understand this, chances are the model is too broad and could fail. Make sure before you apply you understand these points. If you’re not sure, reach out to the founders or a company representative and ask for clarity. Once you have a clear understanding, and it makes sense to you, make your decision to apply (or not). Simply being the next coolest kid on the block is not enough to attract applicants.

Ask about growth and future goals for the company. This should be the next thing you find out about the start up you want to apply to. Sometimes a company is so laser focused on producing a product or service that the founders don’t think beyond that to scale. Don’t be afraid to ask the founders or even representatives of the company what they see for the future of the company. Make sure it’s in line with where you see your career growing. And if it is, make sure you articulate how your skills and contributions can help in steering the company in the right direction. Offer to be part of the team that drives that growth process. But make sure you are asking questions. It’s your right.

Get to know the founders. Contrary to popular demand, company founders are normal every day people who happened to have come up with great business ideas. They are not untouchables locked away in an ivory tower. They are human beings who are (or should be) always looking for input about their business and ideas. Make it a point to get introduced to the founders and really engage in a conversation with them. Learn directly from the horse’s mouth the vision, mission and direction in which the company is going. Ask them to tell you where they see you fitting into the grand scheme of their business. If they’ve been part of the recruiting process, like so many are, they would have already seen your resume and know exactly where they see you fitting. Find out what other team members think about not just the company, but also the founder(s).

Show how your skill set learned from working with big business can translate to a start up environment. Any employer really wants to know if you can do the job, what you can bring to the table, and if you’ll be a fit with the rest of the team. In your interview, be sure to articulate exactly what you did and the ensuing results or impact it had in your department or employer. Show them how those experiences can easily translate into accomplishing tasks for their company. Also let them know about other skills you have. You never know if they would have a better position more suited to your strengths open and available. If in your previous roles you were a manager, don’t get so caught up on the title. Startup environments are for doers not managers. Team members at all levels must be ready and willing to roll up those sleeves and dive in where necessary.

Get used to business as usual NOT being usual. If you’re in it for a secure steady paycheck or for fast tracking it to the C suite, get over it! You have to be adaptable and flexible. Sometimes shit happens and it’s not glamorous. Funding doesn’t come through in time, sales are slower, missions and directions change, and people will leave. But you can’t be shaken by that. It takes a certain mindset and a thick skin to work at a start up. As I said above, if you don’t truly feel a founder’s mission and vision, it’s best you don’t even apply. In a start up environment you have to have a certain entrepreneurial mindset and be prepared to roll up your sleeves and take on tasks outside of your job title. It’s often a “family” environment where everyone comes together to make things happen. If you’re content with just fulfilling your job description then bouncing at the end of the day, perhaps you should stick with big business (good luck with that!).

Working for a start up can be an exhilarating and educational experience. It’s not for everyone, but it’s the direction the job market is heading. You can’t approach the job search and application process as you would for big business. They are two very different animals. The better you prepare yourself, the greater chance you have for landing a job at a startup. If you’re interested in working for a startup, pay attention to who’s raising venture capital money, news stories about new partnerships or contracts landed and announcements of startups in the business journals. Those are some of the best ways to identify potential opportunities. Are you ready for the adventure?

Til next time,

Adrienne Graham
Startups can be GREAT for the economy!

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Adrienne Graham is the Founder & CEO of Empower Me! Corporation (www.empowerme.org). She is a strategist that helps people grow their career, business or network in any economy. She is the voice behind Views from the Top Radio Show, and the creative visionary behind Empower Me! Institute and Empower Me! Magazine. Her writing and shows focus on Career Management, Networking Strategies, Entrepreneurial Success and Small Business Management. You can also find her causing a ruckus on Forbes.com.