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Human beings are naturally divided into three different groups with different likelihood of risk-taking after graduating: 1. I can risk everything to be an ent

Human beings are naturally divided into three different groups with different likelihood of risk-taking after graduating: 1. I can risk everything to be an entrepreneur. 2. I want to be an entrepreneur, but I'm not ready or I'm unsure to take the risk. 3. I just want a stable career and work as hard as I can. The first group will start their companies; the second group will join start-ups to learn what it takes; and the third group will ultimately join big companies and earn a stable income. Ironically, start-ups usually want loyal people to stay (especially when their businesses are uncertain), so they aim for the third group when choosing people. Big companies want to look for extra investment opportunities, especially from their employees (because they know them more and trust them more), so they may want to hire the second group instead. It's always hard to match the mutual interest in hiring. I don't think there're any reasons to choose what to do either. It all depends on what the other companies want and which group you fall in.

krschultz 15y ago
I think you are definitely onto something, although it's a temporary mindset. I've worked at a startup for exactly the reason you describe as type #2. Consider it practice for my eventual startup (when I will join #1). But after graduation I declined going back to the startup world and choose path #3. I did this for a very specific reason: stability while I save up some money to let me do #1. But I disagree with your use of the phrase 'risk everything'. There is almost no way to 'risk everything' at graduation because you have nothing. I thought about going straight to #1, but it would have required living at home with my parents. Instead I moved out and got a job. If you are living at home and being supported, you are almost risking nothing. If your startup fails while your living expenses are $0, you haven't fallen at all. The risk for someone to jump later in life is far greater. You have savings people can come after if you go bankrupt. You have bills and responsibilities. You truly are risking something. Living with someone else's support right after graduation really isn't risking anything.
tricolon 15y ago
And then there's people like me: 4. I just want to stay in the US any way I can.

krschultz 15y ago

I think you are definitely onto something, although it's a temporary mindset. I've worked at a startup for exactly the reason you describe as type #2. Consider it practice for my eventual startup (when I will join #1). But after graduation I declined going back to the startup world and choose path #3. I did this for a very specific reason: stability while I save up some money to let me do #1. But I disagree with your use of the phrase 'risk everything'. There is almost no way to 'risk everything' at graduation because you have nothing. I thought about going straight to #1, but it would have required living at home with my parents. Instead I moved out and got a job. If you are living at home and being supported, you are almost risking nothing. If your startup fails while your living expenses are $0, you haven't fallen at all. The risk for someone to jump later in life is far greater. You have savings people can come after if you go bankrupt. You have bills and responsibilities. You truly are risking something. Living with someone else's support right after graduation really isn't risking anything.

tricolon 15y ago

And then there's people like me: 4. I just want to stay in the US any way I can.