I would agree with that 100% In some other HN comments over the years I've suggested that a very good path for young people is to start with the big companies.

I would agree with that 100% In some other HN comments over the years I've suggested that a very good path for young people is to start with the big companies. You will likely be set up with more support, free time, and lower stress so that you can get your feet under you and figure out life in tech with little risk. For the enthusiastic and generally well prepared you will likely be bored in 6-9 months. Maybe a year. For the very green, "I got into CS because of the paycheck/whatever" crowd, they've probably found their career. The big companies treated me as well as they could in my short stints and I was paid VERY WELL coming out of school and I learned a ton about careers in technology and how it's not just about the code and I truly feel I owe my career jump start to my experiences at those first three companies. However, I'd never go back to working for a large company again. The variety, multidisciplinary teams and tasks, the ability to affect change in a smaller organization, the camaraderie and enthusiasm displayed in even a 100 person, 15 year old company aren't even in the same ballpark as those of a big company.