How to make sure your career soars when your company goes public

Whether you joined a company in its start-up infancy, or are part of a large privately owned organisation, going public is a hugely exciting time (especially if you have a stake in the company or own stock) that can also be of huge benefit to both the owners and staff.

And while IPO activity this year has been slower than previous years for a number of factors including the war in Ukraine, soaring energy prices and inflation, the first half of 2022 has seen 11 companies listed on the stock exchange to the tune of £500m.

For the companies that do make the transition, once the IPO dust settles and you officially work for a publicly-owned company, ways of working will automatically change as accountability to shareholders informs the structure and running of the business.

Below we highlight how to use this flux to your advantage and ensure a new era equates to more opportunity.

Think long term

Public companies, answerable to shareholders, tend to have more robust policies in place concerning everything from their environmental endeavours to annual reports detailing the company’s finances. This ethos will trickle down into every part of the business and will offer stability in a way private companies can’t. Access this information and educate yourself on future business plans to see how you can align them with your own career goals.

Lean into additional resources

In a private company, especially a start-up, the lines are often blurred when it comes to who does what. And while this attitude can be beneficial in terms of getting hands-on experience across lots of different projects, it can also limit your ability to gain insights and knowledge from people who know exactly what they’re doing, and progress accordingly.

In a public company, more liquidity equals, more resources, and a larger staff can benefit the greater workforce in many ways, including facilitating junior employees to tap into internal networks to gain more knowledge and experience. It also allows managers to have more availability so they can delegate accordingly and use that time to mentor others. Lean into this framework to get the support you need and carve out a defined place on your team.

Climb the ladder

Public companies are usually larger than their private counterparts, meaning there are more management positions and potential to climb the career ladder at a faster pace. In order to capitalise on any opportunities, investigate what kind of learning and development programmes your company plans on offering staff, and sign yourself up for courses that will help develop your skills or hone your expertise in a particular field. This way, you’ll be able to put yourself forward for any opportunities that may arise.

Stay longer

Employee retention and attracting top talent is an increasing concern for both private and public companies. While pay is the number one reason Millennials and Gen Z have left a role in the last two years, company values, having a good work-life balance and learning and development opportunities were also top priorities, according to a Deloitte survey.

As public companies tend to have structures in place when it comes to all the above, flexible work models and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, along with frameworks around appraisals and promotion, means that staying put for longer than two years will allow you to access more opportunities while you usher in a new era of employment.

That being said, if you’re currently working for a company, public or otherwise, that isn’t facilitating the kind of career advancement you’re looking for, there are plenty of public companies currently hiring. Below we look at three that are actively recruiting or for more options, check out the Growth Business job board.

Global HR Specialist, Spotify, London

The Global HR Specialist role is fundamental to Spotify’s HR team and is central to ensuring operational efficiency and effectiveness for all employees within the UK and Ireland markets. Day-to-day you’ll support all stages of the employee lifecycle, including delivery of employee onboarding, facilitating training, Workday processing, working to resolve employee queries, managing employee relations cases, and partnering with key stakeholders.

Asset Manager, Liberty Global, London

Do you want to be part of a new team to take UK connectivity to its next level? Liberty Global is seeking an Asset Manager to oversee the functions performed by the MCA regarding procurement and asset management. You’ll be responsible for decision making on company results, the interface between strategies defined by the CFO, and alignments with the MCA. Apply here.

Senior Principal – Conduct & Culture, BNY Mellon, London

BNY Mellon is seeking a Senior Principal at Conduct & Culture to expand best practices in other regions while maintaining a focus in the UK. This opening represents an exciting opportunity to further embed ESG and diversity, equity and inclusion policies within the BNY Mellon framework, while also refreshing risk frameworks, collaborating with global ethics teams, and chairing the EMEA Conduct and Culture Council. Find out more here.

For more career opportunities across public and private companies, visit the Growth Business job board today.

Aoibhinn McBride has been a lifestyle journalist and editor for over 10 years, Aoibhinn has written for titles in Dublin, London, New York and Dubai.