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10+ years ago part of the allure of tech startups was they really “got” what made technologists jobs fulfilling. Back then companies had management that had no

10+ years ago part of the allure of tech startups was they really “got” what made technologists jobs fulfilling. Back then companies had management that had no idea how to build high quality software. There was lots of waterfall like process and TPS report style bureacracy. Fast forward to the present. FAANG companies dominate the economy. They pay well, offer upside in actual stock, AND most crucially: they do a better job giving more fulfilling tech work than most startup Who wants to work at a startup where management likely sucks? They might have no real track record building good tech or empowering great technologists. You’d rather have your 40 hr / week FAANG job doing what you love, spend time with your kids and family, where you know the balance of risks means you’ll likely end up in a position of upper middle class life (if not outright wealthy...)

taurath 5y ago
The current stereotype among my circle in FAANG is that they move slowly and you’re more likely to be working on something dreadfully boring and also have few opportunities to branch out. That’s what keeps a lot of people going to startups though I agree with the OP the financial and work life arrangement gets less and less ideal.
- reikonomusha 5y ago
  More anecdotal experience, but I agree. Most people I know doing FAANG only “don’t hate” the work, but love the pay and benefits, and the fact that laying low rewards them. Quizzically, previously politically active friends have turned quite quiet about their beliefs and morals as soon as they started earning a fat paycheck from Facebook. For a lot of people, vast amounts of money really is the most attractive aspect of a job.
- throwaway052221 5y ago
  This stereotype doesn’t hold true for Facebook. On excitement: As a software engineer you get to choose the team (out of 100s) you join after completing bootcamp. Unless you intentionally choose something boring I just don’t see this being the norm! You are also free, and often encouraged, to switch teams every few years. On velocity: This may be more subjective but as someone who has worked at 2 startups and founded another I’ve not noticed too much difference in pace. It’s been a very fulfilling experience for me.

taurath 5y ago

The current stereotype among my circle in FAANG is that they move slowly and you’re more likely to be working on something dreadfully boring and also have few opportunities to branch out. That’s what keeps a lot of people going to startups though I agree with the OP the financial and work life arrangement gets less and less ideal.

reikonomusha 5y ago
More anecdotal experience, but I agree. Most people I know doing FAANG only “don’t hate” the work, but love the pay and benefits, and the fact that laying low rewards them. Quizzically, previously politically active friends have turned quite quiet about their beliefs and morals as soon as they started earning a fat paycheck from Facebook. For a lot of people, vast amounts of money really is the most attractive aspect of a job.
throwaway052221 5y ago
This stereotype doesn’t hold true for Facebook. On excitement: As a software engineer you get to choose the team (out of 100s) you join after completing bootcamp. Unless you intentionally choose something boring I just don’t see this being the norm! You are also free, and often encouraged, to switch teams every few years. On velocity: This may be more subjective but as someone who has worked at 2 startups and founded another I’ve not noticed too much difference in pace. It’s been a very fulfilling experience for me.