17 ms·
I was there 2006-2009. Each year a new level of management appeared above me, and things got ever more "political" and perf centric. Just as people are differe
by BurningFrog 5y ago
I was there 2006-2009. Each year a new level of management appeared above me, and things got ever more "political" and perf centric.
Just as people are different at age 10, 20 and 40, companies are different in different stages and sizes. Know what you want and look for it.
I realized I want to be at small companies, and have not worked at a company larger than 25 people since.
- brundolf 5y agoI've found the sweet spot to be around 50-200. I've always worked at smaller companies, and the 10-person company I worked at was the only terrible experience of the bunch. It sounds weird to say, but... I'm really glad to have an HR department again. I'm sure it varies widely. I just feel like a tiny company leaves too much room for unhealthy and unprofessional dynamics, even though I'm sure it can be perfectly fine in other cases. Just depends on the people.
- Andrex 5y agoMirrors my experience. 50-200 is a sweet spot of possibly knowing just about everyone in the company while also having many perks of BigCo, and the sub-10 person startup folded the week I joined.
- BurningFrog 5y agoAt my craziest startup, the charismatic CEO would occasionally yell "under 50 employees, no one has any rights!". It was a joke, but was it really? Part of the small startup life is that most job don't last. Both because startups die young, but also because they can be crazy. My first dying startup was a disaster. I adapted my expectations, and now I see them as unplanned vacations. I quit the crazy company above on my 1 year vesting day.