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3. What are the pros and cons of working in a business ?

I wouldn't want to be doing something I ain't suppose to be doing then get fired for it. So I would like to know the pros and cons just to be cautious. #business #management

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Rob’s Answer

Pros...

You can work in an industry or for a business that you are passionate about. Think about what do you like to do. Is there a business I can work for that will allow me to enjoy what I do. In a small, medium or large business you can move up and make more money. You also will have more choices for jobs. So if you don't like what you are doing you can move to another job.

Cons...

You may not like working 8 to 5, 5 days a week. Some companies may even expect you to work more. You may not like your boss.


Doing something wrong...

Most companies will not fire someone for making a mistake (so don't worry about it and try not to make the same mistake again).


In the end, you can control things to a certain extent before you agree to work somewhere.

1) know the hours expected
2) know exactly you will be doing, know how you will be measured
3) most of the time you will interview with your potential boss. So get a feel for him/her.
4) ask about the culture

You may never be 100% comfortable with joining a business. So get as comfortable as possible before joining and then give it a shot. The worse thing that happens is that you find out that it's not right for you. That actually is part of how we learn, so it's still a win for you.
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Peregrin’s Answer

I have had experience working in a few start ups versus working for a larger company, in the case of the startups, I feel those are much like working for yourself in that the culture of the start up has yet to develop much of what you might expect from a company.

Pros:
- Established companies will have clear rules around appropriate behavior and it will be very clear what role you are coming into.
- Established companies will also have a reasonable sense of their financial stability, if they are hiring, it is most likely because they see revenue projections that warrant taking on additional staff in the area they are hiring.
- You should always have someone who can help explain things to you in your role.

Cons:
- There is no guarantee that the financial circumstances that were in place for your hiring stay in place, Reductions in Force, are not uncommon, particularly in large companies. The larger the company, the more likely there is financial stability, but also the more common that RIFs go on as the company constantly right sizes where it is allocating its money.
- The larger the company, the larger the bureaucracy, and the harder it is to influence. In small and mid sized companies, this is less of an issue, but the longer a company has been around, the more likely it is to have developed set patterns that need to be adhered to.

As to the worry about being fired for cause (which is different from being impacted by a RIF), the best advice I can give is that if you like what you do, are reasonably competent in it, and work ethically, there should never be a reason for cause.

It is important to think about what are you looking for in your employment, like stability or impact or free time, from there you would look at the type of work environment that best matches those priorities and then you can start to see if there are any particular companies that are fits (or if you want to be an independent contractor).
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Debra’s Answer

I would say that most companies are very clear about what is acceptable in the work environment. You would also have a manager that could help guide you in any tasks you are given so that you stay on task and are not going in the wrong direction.
Wherever you end up you will have many people who will help you to be successful at the job.
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Catherine’s Answer

Research any company/business you're considering working for to see if the corporate mission is something that inspires you. This also gives you foundational information to use during an interview.

Anywhere you work you're likely to find people that are eager and willing to be mentors. Most successful business people have cultivated a great network of knowledgeable professionals and mentors they can learn from.

In business I've heard many times that FAIL is an acronym -- First Attempt In Learning

Be a life long learner.
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Charlotte’s Answer

Pro's:
-you could working for a business that has loads of opportunities for you to grow in and give you plenty of career progression
-you may gain loads of experience, perfect for your CV and you can take the knowledge you have learnt to the next company you work for

Con's:
-you may not like the work you are doing (depends who/where you are working for so hard to advise on specifics)
-there may be no career progression and you are stuck doing the same job not learning any new skills

It is very unlikely you will be fired straight away. Your manager would speak to you first if you had done something that was not correct.
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Steven’s Answer

Pro: you can work in an industry you are passionate about.

- Whether you love fashion or finance, software or sports nearly every field has a business component to it. You can do what you love!
- When you are on a team that is guiding a successful business its a wonderful feeling. You can build lasting friendships and learn a lot.
- Top business professionals are paid well and valued for their knowledge and experience. As you get older you'll get better at your job and be rewarded for it.

Con: Businesses are focused on results and the environment is competitive.

- Business is not for everyone. You have to have a think skin sometimes your colleagues might be aggressive, your boss might be mean.
- Working at a business that is failing is a bummer. It affects your mood - even when you are not at work.
- You have to be ready to change jobs a lot. Few people work at one company for years and years. One situation might not work and you have to be thoughtful about navigating change regularly.




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