Startups are sometimes described as fast-paced and risky, but they're also known for being exciting places to work. While an "all hands on deck" work environment might not be for everyone, plenty of workers switch from a traditional industry into the startup world and never look back. We caught up with four Boston employees and founders who ditched the corporate world to work at a tech startup to hear why they made the jump.
Responses from Jorge Pascual, Sales Manager 
What job did you have before you joined a tech startup?
I spent most of my professional career in two very traditional industries: banking and foodservice import/distribution.
When did you decide you wanted to change careers?
After spending the last few years in the foodservice industry it became very obvious to me that there are big opportunities in the restaurant industry for improvement through technology.
How did you settle on your career?
Coming from a traditional sales background I was always fascinated with how rapidly scalable some of the tech-driven business were and I was always curious to learn more about it. When I was presented with the opportunity to work with GoPapaya, I didn't think about it twice — it just felt like it was a perfect fit for me.
What was it like explaining your career change in job interviews?
I have had a lot of experience with restaurants and sales but the most challenging parts were explaining how I was going to add value to the company with no previous tech experience and explaining how fast I could learn the technology part.
What advice would you give to someone considering a move similar to the one you made?
If you are a person who likes to keep learning new things, go for it. It is very exciting to be part of a company that can have a big impact. It has been exciting to see how a very old industry like restaurants can do new things with technology.
How has your life changed since starting your new career?
I'm still in sales, and my life hasn't changed that much. I still spend most of my time servicing my customers or looking for new customers. The biggest change is perhaps that now I don't have to carry heavy samples with me, which is nice!
Responses from Maya Rafie, Founder
What job did you have before you joined a tech startup?
I was a freelance photographer studying Marketing Communications at Emerson College.
When did you decide you wanted to change careers?
When I realized all my friends were taking odd jobs or running errands to pay off their student debt and I was making extra cash as a photographer and loving it!
How did you settle on your career?
This made me realize that students need experience and money while employers seek flexible, creative talent. There was no easy way to bridge that gap so going into tech and building a marketplace made the most sense.
What was it like explaining your career change in job interviews?
My personal story of being a photographer in college and loving it while building experience and making money before graduating led to a natural start for bistara. So, it’s easy enough to explain.
What advice would you give to someone considering a move similar to the one you made?
Change is good. Change is SO good! Especially in a city like Boston, where the startup community is vibrant and full of opportunities. If you want something, go for it. I just turned 21. There are a thousand reasons I could have decided not to do this, a thousand questions to doubt myself, but I just DID IT! And I'm happy with my decision.
How has your life changed since starting your new career?
Lifestyle-wise, I'm no longer a college student, so in terms of discipline, things have definitely shifted around. I'm still doing freelance photography when I can but bistara is like a baby, and as a woman leading a tech product, I have to take care of it at all times!
Responses from John Liston, Manager, Strategy & OperationsWhat job did you have before you joined a tech startup?
I spent over four years working in mergers and acquisitions as an investment banking analyst at Pacific Crest and then as an Investment Associate in growth equity. Both roles were traditional finance roles and I focused on financial modeling, due diligence and transaction execution.
When did you decide you wanted to change careers?
Starting my career in M&A was really valuable thanks to the incredible exposure it gave me to awesome companies and the broad development experiences that naturally came out of the various transactions that my teams executed. However, after being a part of over 20 transactions and having the opportunity to sit on both sides of the negotiating table, I realized that I was more interested in the execution that took place before and after the transaction than in the deals themselves. Work anniversaries are always inflection points in finance, so as I was finishing up my first year in growth equity, I made the decision to start targeting roles at early stage startups.
How did you settle on your career?
The majority of the companies that I had worked with to that point were early to mid-stage technology companies and I knew from this experience that I really enjoyed working with companies that were just starting out. Early stage startups face such a diverse set of challenges and offer the ability to see the direct impact of your work on the day to day success of the business. With that in mind, I was focused on finding a role where my responsibilities would allow me to leverage my past experiences without strictly being limited to finance. As All Set’s Manager of Strategy and Operations, my role is constantly evolving and every day brings a new set of challenges. The final and most important piece was finding a startup with a mission I could get behind and a great team, which is how I ended up at All Set.
What was it like explaining your career change in job interviews?
It is not uncommon for people to move from finance into more direct operational roles, so my desire for a career change resonated with a lot of people in initial conversations. As my conversations grew more serious, however, it became more challenging to prove that I was both willing and able to roll up my sleeves and handle some of the less glamorous aspects of operational life without any direct experience on my resume. While I was able to work past this and find a great role, it reflected the hesitancy from some startups to hire from outside of the tech community and the value that early stage companies place on every new hire.
What advice would you give to someone considering a move similar to the one you made?
So much of finding the right opportunity at the right startup comes down to knowing what opportunities are available and timing. As a lot of startups do not have the resources to post new roles all over the internet, networking in the tech community can be a great way of hearing about opportunities. It is also good to understand going in that unlike finance where roles and career tracks closely mirror one another at different firms in the same industry, every startup has a different culture and organizational structure. This means that it pays to be patient and flexible when thinking about your next steps as your ideal role will be different at almost every startup.
How has your life changed since starting your new career?
I have really enjoyed working for All Set and am very happy with my career transition. My days in finance were always busy, but there is something about the work at a startup that makes your days absolutely fly. If you are the kind of person who is motivated by ownership and autonomy in your career then there is no better place to work than an early stage startup. There is a lot of work to be done but there is also a flexible and relaxed culture that you do not find in other industries.
Responses from Ben Zlotnick, Founder
What job did you have before you joined a tech startup?
Before I started EDEN, an on-demand snow removal and lawn care business I owned INCUBES, a business incubator investing in our city’s smartest people and their startups.
When did you decide you wanted to change careers?
People mention getting the itch and I can confirm that it is real. Investing in startups and living the life from a distance creates an internal dialogue where you realize you should put your money where your mouth is.
How did you settle on your career?
I have been fortunate in my career with early success that I have had the luxury of time to try things and decide where and when I wanted to jump into my own startup and move full speed ahead. Coming from the landscape industry I knew the industry and the space so launching EDENapp.com was less of me settling and more bringing a new platform and level of convenience and customer service to something I already knew.
What was it like explaining your career change in job interviews?
Going from investor to startup CEO is always a conversation starter because as an investor you can be “the most attractive person in the room” no matter where you are. Giving that up for long days and nights building a company is something people can’t wrap their heads around but if you get it, you get it.
What advice would you give to someone considering a move similar to the one you made?
Make sure you are doing this for the right reasons because building a business (even a well-funded one) is not easy and failing at your own company can bruise your ego more than making a bad investment.
How has your life changed since starting your new career?
I am sleeping less, different kind of pressures but have never been happier. Even on the worst day, hearing from a happy EDEN customer makes it all worth it.
Photos via featured companies
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