Why you must intern with a start-up

A start-up offers you a plethora of opportunities to showcase your talent and learn new skills. If you have a choice, here's why you must consider working for a start-up. Those long, lazy summer holidays, filled with cricket, lemonade, and 12-hour cartoon marathons are a thing of the past -- a part of school and childhood. In college, holidays mean only one thing -- internship.

Once high stipends and big names influenced a student’s decision on where to intern. But lately, a noticeable shift in this trend is seen. Students are willing to work for minimum stipends as long as they get to work on interesting brands and have a wider networking exposure, as these are things money cannot buy.

You are trusted and considered responsible

You are not a trainee who runs around getting coffee and handling excel inventory sheets. Even as a mere intern, your boss trusts you with real responsibilities, provided you have proved your determination. As most early-stage bootstrapped start-ups work on shoestring budgets, everyone is expected to perform multiple roles. Lack of micro-managers in start-ups means you can’t expect to be spoon fed. Failures here end in introspection and celebration, not being reprimanded.

It allows you to decide whether start-ups are for you or not

This might sound obvious, but you can’t decide what waters are best for you until you test them. Simply following the herd in your college just narrows down possibilities. I am not saying it is impossible to decide what you want until you try it, but it’s more likely to help than not. Take advantage of these risk-free college days and try out various things before finally jumping into the market with a full-time job.

You are headed by a leader and not a boss

A great leader not only motivates but also trains his people to be great leaders. Unlike a corporate environment, where promotion-hungry bosses take as much credit for your work as they can, in a start-up your boss will happily give you your due credit. Favouritism towards senior employees is absent. Hard work is always appreciated.

You are surrounded by emerging talent

Good start-ups attract the best people; the kind that are motivated to achieve a shared dream. Even in the field of advertising, there has been a noticeable trend of senior executives quitting established agencies and opening their own shops. Chances are that you could share your office with another equally charged start-up team. This creates a constructively competitive environment that keeps you motivated. To top that, you have so many talented people to bounce your ideas to. Who knows, you might just meet the co-founder of your start-up while working at one?

Never-ending support

Feel low because you haven’t been able to complete a project in time? Or you’re confused about where you want to head in life? Should you run behind money or do what you love? Do such questions sometimes make your head explode? Share these problems with your leader, not only will you get some sound advice and encouragement but also a free hug.

You’ll find inspiration in abundance

The vibe of a start-up is way different than a stuffy corporate organisation. Casual dress code, cozy workstations, whacky colourful furniture, PlayStations, rusty coffee machines, mini beer fridges, and cool wall art are just some of the perks of life in a start-up. Then of course there is innovation, creativity, and chaos bubbling in every nook and cranny of the organisation.

It helps you kill your fears

A lot of us fear being judged by others, especially by strangers. This is one of those habits that one must get over. Of course, you can’t talk to anyone and everyone, but the reason for it must not be fear of being judged. Every stranger you meet has the potential to help you in your future endeavors, or become a good friend. Whatever stops you from presenting your true self to the world needs to be eliminated. Start-ups help you do exactly that. Your colleagues are welcoming, friendly, and understanding, so much so that it just feels just like home.