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THE TECH INDUSTRY EXPLAINED
What types of companies can I work for? Have you ever found yourself daydreaming about working on the next Netflix-type concept, finding a way to cure cancer with an app, or hobnobbing with the likes of Tesla’s Elon Musk and Microsoft’s Bill Gates? You’ll be relieved to hear that these dreams are pretty much universal because – let’s face it – tech companies are the rock stars of the professional world. That being said, it’s not all glamorous. Behind the perks and fame lies a foundation of hard work and high stakes in what is an ever-changing and highly competitive space. If you’re thinking about applying for jobs in the tech sector, we recommend exploring the types of companies where you could find yourself working for. Working for companies in different stages of growth will give you a very different perspective of life in the fast lane of tech, so it’s handy to know your startups from your tech giants. EARLY-STAGE STARTUPS The term ‘startup’ is evolving beyond its strict definition to describe a certain kind of workplace culture. When you hear the word, your mind can’t help but pair it with others like ‘creative’, ‘fun’, ‘young’ and ‘cutting-edge’. Most of today’s tech and
social media giants began as startups. We’re talking names like Google, Uber and Facebook that have quite literally changed the way we interact with the world around us. But what is a startup in its truest sense? All startups have at their core a brilliant idea for a product that would make some aspects of our lives easier. This idea is championed by a small collective of passionate, driven individuals who work tirelessly to create a minimum viable product (MVP) to present to customers and/or investors. Investors usually come into play when a startup is ready to refine their product and rapidly scale their business to get that product out into the market and to as many people as possible. Startup incubators Imagine you’re someone with a technical skill and an incredible concept for a new app or technological service that could potentially change the world. Imagine also that you don’t know the first thing about starting a company and finding the resources to actually build that product. Where do you go for help? Enter the startup incubator.
