4 ms·

You can get all of those things at a non-startup. Having worked at a handful of startups and non-startups, I am skeptical that a startup offers those things at

by daenz 4y ago

You can get all of those things at a non-startup. Having worked at a handful of startups and non-startups, I am skeptical that a startup offers those things at above-average rate the justifies the downsides, which are, from my experience: * High pressure to work at all hours, because a startup is fragile * Extreme financial uncertainty * Many QoL concessions If you're not accepting a generous equity package in exchange for ensuring that the startup thrives and succeeds, you're missing a huge opportunity for exchanging hard labor for potentially high return. It's like buying a lottery ticket without filling in the numbers.

runnerup 4y ago
> You can get all of those things at a non-startup. I mean I've been trying super hard for the past 10 years and I haven't been able to find a workgroup at a large corporation that has a high velocity of execution and is actually innovating much. I'm personally taking a pay cut to go to a startup to hopefully find this. I'd love to join Project Starline or similar truly innovative groups within large companies, but I don't have a degree from a top-10 school so startups are kind of my only way that I can find to get to an environment like that. Even with strong references from Staff Engineers at Google my resume just gets thrown out, haven't been able to secure even a first round interview with FAANG in over 5 years of trying. Maybe they're not interested in working with ex-oil industry engineers, or maybe my resume just really really sucks. > you're missing a huge opportunity for exchanging hard labor for potentially high return. It's like buying a lottery ticket without filling in the numbers. Sure, but my reasons didn't have "make more money" they had "decent-enough pay". Also currently my preferred geography is Houston to stay with my incredible partner. Most of the large companies here have a lot people that I don't enjoy working with -- e.g. people who are outspokenly excited for an illegal immigrant to try to steal tools out of their shed at night so that they can legally kill them. So "great coworkers" is also a bit hard with "preferred geography" sometimes. Granted for a $250,000 role, we'd certainly pack up and move somewhere, but I haven't been able to get FAANG to even give me a first round interview! The bottom line is that it's entirely possible that the best situation for me is to make almost the same money to work with what seems to be an incredible group of really, really, really smart people on some super cool technology. Yes it will be "more work", but with this should come more skill development. I don't have and am not planning on having kids, so I'm happy enough just going to pilates at 7am and working my ass off all day on something that I find personal reward in, and then doing my hobbies (sailing, beer brewing) on the weekends.
- wbl 4y ago
  If you want to do exciting tech in Houston, there is a really obvious employer. Pay isn't great but the intangibles are out of this world.
  - runnerup 4y ago
    You know, I actually somewhat agree but the pace of innovation/execution at NASA is glacial.
- quickthrower2 4y ago
  > people who are outspokenly excited for an illegal immigrant to try to steal tools out of their shed at night so that they can legally kill them If they do you can be a witness to their premeditation.
  - runnerup 4y ago
    I mean, obviously. But also it's just their fantasy. The chance of it actually happening is absurdly low. The chance of me having to listen to daily rants about everything and just ignore them or go "uh huh." is 100%.
    - quickthrower2 4y ago
      Yeah I meant in jest (they made something legal illegal by saying it is legal). They most likely would do nothing. The actual crime is spreading hate and making it uncomfortable to work.
- vinceguidry 4y ago
  > my preferred geography is Houston to stay with my incredible partner. The consideration that outweighs all the rest. Personal reasons are, well, personal.

by daenz 4y ago

runnerup 4y ago

> You can get all of those things at a non-startup. I mean I've been trying super hard for the past 10 years and I haven't been able to find a workgroup at a large corporation that has a high velocity of execution and is actually innovating much. I'm personally taking a pay cut to go to a startup to hopefully find this. I'd love to join Project Starline or similar truly innovative groups within large companies, but I don't have a degree from a top-10 school so startups are kind of my only way that I can find to get to an environment like that. Even with strong references from Staff Engineers at Google my resume just gets thrown out, haven't been able to secure even a first round interview with FAANG in over 5 years of trying. Maybe they're not interested in working with ex-oil industry engineers, or maybe my resume just really really sucks. > you're missing a huge opportunity for exchanging hard labor for potentially high return. It's like buying a lottery ticket without filling in the numbers. Sure, but my reasons didn't have "make more money" they had "decent-enough pay". Also currently my preferred geography is Houston to stay with my incredible partner. Most of the large companies here have a lot people that I don't enjoy working with -- e.g. people who are outspokenly excited for an illegal immigrant to try to steal tools out of their shed at night so that they can legally kill them. So "great coworkers" is also a bit hard with "preferred geography" sometimes. Granted for a $250,000 role, we'd certainly pack up and move somewhere, but I haven't been able to get FAANG to even give me a first round interview! The bottom line is that it's entirely possible that the best situation for me is to make almost the same money to work with what seems to be an incredible group of really, really, really smart people on some super cool technology. Yes it will be "more work", but with this should come more skill development. I don't have and am not planning on having kids, so I'm happy enough just going to pilates at 7am and working my ass off all day on something that I find personal reward in, and then doing my hobbies (sailing, beer brewing) on the weekends.

wbl 4y ago
If you want to do exciting tech in Houston, there is a really obvious employer. Pay isn't great but the intangibles are out of this world.
- runnerup 4y ago
  You know, I actually somewhat agree but the pace of innovation/execution at NASA is glacial.
quickthrower2 4y ago
> people who are outspokenly excited for an illegal immigrant to try to steal tools out of their shed at night so that they can legally kill them If they do you can be a witness to their premeditation.
- runnerup 4y ago
  I mean, obviously. But also it's just their fantasy. The chance of it actually happening is absurdly low. The chance of me having to listen to daily rants about everything and just ignore them or go "uh huh." is 100%.
  - quickthrower2 4y ago
    Yeah I meant in jest (they made something legal illegal by saying it is legal). They most likely would do nothing. The actual crime is spreading hate and making it uncomfortable to work.
vinceguidry 4y ago
> my preferred geography is Houston to stay with my incredible partner. The consideration that outweighs all the rest. Personal reasons are, well, personal.