The power dynamic: You're seeking a job and mostly at a younger/lower power position and might not be able to question the founder too much. It's the kind of so

The power dynamic: You're seeking a job and mostly at a younger/lower power position and might not be able to question the founder too much. It's the kind of soft power that the #metoo movement has talked about. Unfortunately, there are people who are ready to misuse that. It's worse than when negotiating with a bigger company actually, cause there you're just negotiating with HR department employees who would follow the law more closely. At a large corp, you largely get what you expect. Be very wary of what you're promised and told. I, unfortunately, was burnt by this. I largely trusted everything that I was promised/told about the company performance. But it was all hoax. So an additional tip: Cross-check with your friends how they feel about the company. Make this effort even if you are a bit introverted and don't like discussing job offers etc with other people. Match what your research about the startup tells you with what the founders told you about the company performance. Look out for red flags.