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Because it is fun and I don't feel like filing Form 3794-G to have a plant on my desk or something. I worked in the US Gov't as my first job and the amount of

Because it is fun and I don't feel like filing Form 3794-G to have a plant on my desk or something. I worked in the US Gov't as my first job and the amount of wasted time due to bureaucracy and red tape was overwhelming. I will admit comparing the government to big business isn't fair, but I can't imagine it is a far step. Also I prefer working on scrappier teams where the work is either the entire project or a large chunk, rather than being responsible for one screen or something. I have never worked in a large business but it always makes me shake my head when I hear a place like Pinterest or something having 2,000 engineers. Like how? What can 2,000 engineers do that 200 can't? You don't need 200 dev-ops. You don't need 200 front-end engineers. It just baffles me why these places with one product need so many engineers. I am sure it is business people thinking nine women can make a baby in one month. --- I will admit that the whole equity thing tripped me up at first. Now I just want a large salary, keep expenses low and hope I can get a few years before "It's been a fun ride". Also, for any junior startup people: No one is your friend. Absolutely be friendly and sociable but remember that it is a business at the end of the day. Regardless of how many times the CxO says "We're a family!", you aren't. That same CxO will be forced to cut X% when times get rough. They may not like it but it is a business, not a family. Dwell on the worst cases, keep your resume sharp and trust your gut rather than your heart. You may love life, but tides shift fast in startups (both good and bad).

world32 7y ago
This is a very honest and non-naive answer about the pros and cons of working startups. The "We're a family!" bit made me laugh too - the startup cliches are real. I would add - don't assume that because its a startup that means you have to be working 60 hour weeks. I have worked in and known plenty of other people who have worked in startups that were 9-5 with hardly any over time. There are plenty of startups that succeed with the majority of the employees working normal office hours, you just don't hear about them because they don't brag in interviews about how hard they are "hustling" and how they do yoga at 5am in the morning etc.

world32 7y ago

This is a very honest and non-naive answer about the pros and cons of working startups. The "We're a family!" bit made me laugh too - the startup cliches are real. I would add - don't assume that because its a startup that means you have to be working 60 hour weeks. I have worked in and known plenty of other people who have worked in startups that were 9-5 with hardly any over time. There are plenty of startups that succeed with the majority of the employees working normal office hours, you just don't hear about them because they don't brag in interviews about how hard they are "hustling" and how they do yoga at 5am in the morning etc.