The Start up Girl Blogs about entrepreneurship & the start up scene in London.

Ping-pong, collaborating, flexible working, side projects and Friday beers; sounds like a dream. Working in a start up can often be considered as a great job. Depending on where you work there can be multiple benefits, however it’s difficult to know the norm in the start up world, and therein lies the problem – there is no norm.

Every start up is different and all offer their own packages of what they believe works for their employees. Some benefits are more common than others:

1. Stock options: Start-ups offer their employees stock options in their company to act as an incentive to work harder. Ideally it should also shift a myopic outlook towards a long-term view. You may have to prove yourself to earn this benefit so don’t be surprised if you don’t receive it on day one of your new role. Check out these 7 common questions about startup employee stock options.

2. Flexible working: Most start-ups are goal oriented. This means as long as you get the job done you may be given the flexibility to choose where and how you work. Britain has started to embrace the flexible working culture and supposedly it’s not proving the right results.
   

3. The socials: There’s divided opinions on this benefit. Many argue working in a start up ruins your social life and working in small teams means only a few friendships can be made. Many start up firms are in favour of creating a good social environment. If you are in the start up world and stuck for ways of meeting people, try Silicon Drinkabout or Start Up Socials.
   

4. Ping pong tables/nap areas/ brainstorming pods: There’s always a form of breakout areas to help you boost your productivity, even if you don’t have one of these, if you’re in the right start up, a short walk or time away from the desk is never frowned upon as long it produces the right results. If you’re lucky enough to be based in a co-working space then you probably have the additional benefit of a ping-pong table to use for those ‘creative boost’ moments. Popular co-working space Rainmaking Loft certainly endorses one.

5. Dress code: Scrap the suits; no one wears them in a start up. Luckily, in a start up you can truly express your personality through the clothes that you wear. The usual is to go for the ‘smart-cas’ look. Check out this cool link where 70 start-up women show what they wear to work
   
   

Still not convinced? Check out these top 6 start ups that offer incredible perks, you will be sure to want to work for one after seeing these.

By Startupgirl

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