Working at a start-up is an appealing prospect to many. It sounds exciting, purposeful and a cool thing to tell people about at weekend barbeques. It is, indeed, all these things, but it is not like other jobs or industries, and it’s important people understand that if they are considering joining one.

There are lots of ups and downs, and they are big. When the team cracks a complex problem it’s exhilarating, and makes you feel like you and your team can do anything. When you hit a snag, or when an important partnership or deal falls through, it’s the pits. It can literally be the end of the dream so the stakes are high. Some people love this risk-reward model, and they thrive in the environment, but for others it’s too volatile and the unknowns create intolerable stress. You need to be someone who is driven by possibility, who is resilient, enjoys the extremes, and who is willing to step into a risky setting.

In the early days (months, years) of a start-up’s journey, there are scarce resources, which means each member of the small team needs to be Jacks, or Jills, of many trades. You may join as an expert in one or two areas but you’ll quickly find yourself doing things you’ve never done before, or things you did ten years ago in your career.  For some the idea of learning new things, being humble, and giving something a go is invigorating, for others it’s scary or boring, and exhausting. Someone who thrives in a start-up is flexible, proactive and open to change and growth.

As the challenges unfold (and they rarely stop), you can find yourself extremely busy and under enormous pressure,  or if you are waiting for something to happen before your work is required, you can find yourself seemingly idle.  This sporadic workflow provides the opportunity to be flexible, proactive and creative in finding ways to help your team, but does not suit everyone. It requires an understanding of the bigger picture, patience, and a willingness to step back, or step forward, as required. 

If this type of  environment appeals, and it’s important to do some soul-searching to understand yourself and your true preferences, working in a start-up can be life-changing.

You revel in the thrills of the wins, you stretch and grow as you navigate the hard times, you become a part of a team that shares passion, purpose and supports each other.  You learn a whole lot of things you might otherwise never get the chance to.  You work some long, hard hours, but when you need to step back you have flexibility to do things during the days that make your life full and balanced. 

At Eden Brew we get lots of passionate people applying for our job opportunities. We try to communicate what it’s like working with us from the start, in our job ads, in our conversations and interviews, to help people make the best choice for themselves and for our success.  We also work hard to ensure our employees continue to build the skills, practices and habits that further strengthen their flexibility, resilience, creative problem solving and teamwork, and to ensure their engagement and success in their roles, and drive the results and outcomes that propel us forward in our mission.   

Since closing our Series A capital raise, which we’ll use to propel our business forward, we’re always interested in hearing from potential candidates who think they’ll thrive in this ever-increasingly exciting environment. If this sounds like you, connect with us here: https://www.edenbrew.com.au/careers