Enticing stock options, late night foosball, and around-the-clock screenings of Austin Powers. Sounds like the typical start-up scenario, right? Well, in some ways, that picture is fairly accurate. Many Internet start-ups can feel more like a college dorm than an office, but don't let the seemingly laissez-faire ambiance fool you. There are still steep financial obligations to be met, a business plan to carry out and the lure of a potential IPO or buyout to push it all along at a heady speed. If you're considering joining a start-up, evaluate what you're getting into before you jump on board and figure out if you're cut out for the start-up lifestyle.

Clean Sheet of Paper
First, think about your time. It's not unusual to work 60- to 80-hour weeks to get a start-up off the ground. That's why these types of companies often draw younger employees just out of school who are not burdened by family obligations. Also, get used to non-traditional office hours. Gen Xers and techies, in particular, seem to favor coming in late and staying late, while Boomers often prefer the typical 9-to-5 day. Last, if you're looking for stability and a clearly defined job title, forget it. Many start-ups don't have organizational charts. Positions are not always clear-cut and you'll probably juggle dozens of different tasks each day. Flexibility and a willingness to mold your role at the company are important. If you like to take initiative, you learn quickly and you welcome change, a start-up can be a great place to work.

So, what is the perfect start-up employee like? Joe Rodriguez, director of marketing and communication at San Francisco-based Personify.com says, "To me, the perfect employee is someone who can work without a lot of organizational support, can juggle and successfully execute multiple projects and work with others to do whatever it takes for the company to be successful. The best start-up employees in my experience are those with multiple job skills, the ability to complete tasks and a 'self-starter' mentality."

Rodriguez says he loves the start-up world. "It is a place for passionate people, big ideas and wealth creation. Every person who joins a start-up plays a direct part in the success or failure of the company. Unlike the experience in most big organizations, what you do on a daily basis counts. At the end of the day, you can go home and say, 'Honey, I came up with the coolest idea at work. The CEO loves it, and we'll be rolling it out in the next two days.' In my experience, employees at bigger organizations have a tendency to get mired in turf battles, procedures and other forms of inertia. However, not all start-ups are created equal, and you need to be choosy about which company you join."

Rodriguez knows what it's like to work for a big, established company as well. He came from a job where he was global advertising director at a 5,000-person company. "I joined Personify as the ninth employee and helped build it to its present pre-IPO size of 90 employees. A start-up company is like a clean sheet of paper, and I've loved influencing key company decisions like the business model, marketing plan, product decisions and corporate values," he says. "The big challenge with a start-up company is deciding which thing -- out of 100 competing priorities -- you do next. Of course, it has been a challenge balancing out my personal life as well, with the seemingly insatiable demands of a start-up. So, I've had to set some personal priorities and adjust my work life accordingly."

Before You Say "Yes"
Sure, you're feeling giddy after hearing those sweet little words "You're hired!" but before you say yes, make sure you know what to expect. Rodriguez, suggests that you ask yourself the following questions before signing on the dotted line:

1. Is there a real need for the product or service?
2. Is management on the "clue train" -- meaning, do they have a clear vision or know what they are doing?
3. Do you like the people you'll be working with? Do they have similar business values to you?
4. Do you want to work hard and smart -- without a safety net? Or are you just succumbing to "dotcom fever"?

Even before the offer comes in, it's a good idea to research your dream companies to see if they are good places to work. Here are some resources where you can get the inside scoop on what it's like to work at a variety of companies from people who have already "been there, done that."

• TopStartups.com is a good place to start when researching private companies. It lists emerging technology-based firms, most of which are pre-IPO and have an average of $10 million in venture funding. Companies are divided into categories including Internet, hardware, software and wireless.

• Vault.com offers message boards and information on tons of new media and Internet companies. Want to find out what it's like to work at GoTo.com, Salon or Agency.com? This is the place to do it.

• Company Sleuth.com provides free, legal, inside information on publicly traded companies. Once you select the publicly traded companies you would like Company Sleuth to track, you will receive a daily email containing free, legal inside information including job postings, business news, stock rumors and earning estimates.

• WetFeet.com offers in-depth research by industry and by individual company. The information includes a short overview of the company, its services, key financial statistics such as revenue, number of employees and contact information.