4 ms·

The basic idea of this article is awesome - right now is certainly the right time to get a non-shitty job. However, I disagree strongly with the idea that star

by bri3d 15y ago

The basic idea of this article is awesome - right now is certainly the right time to get a non-shitty job. However, I disagree strongly with the idea that startups are some sort of panacea for bad jobs. There are plenty of bad startup jobs, and they're generally easier to get than a corporate job. It's easy to talk yourself out of the bad corporate job somewhere in the 5 levels of HR review and background check. It's harder to argue with "free beer, flexible hours, $90k, and you start Monday" - even if none of the above end up being true.

Roboprog 15y ago
Some corporate jobs are better than others. There are cheap-skates, and those that will reward talent. But if paperwork kills you, it won't work, no.
wpietri 15y ago
I agree that not all startups are good. But I think your odds are better at a startup. At IBM, you're 0.00025% of the company. At a startup, it's more like 10 or 20 percent. You have a lot more ability to shape your job and the company so that it's non-shitty.
- mkramlich 15y ago
  Further: if you're at a large company and do something that saves/makes that company say $5M, you will get somewhere between 0% and 0.00025% percent of that money as a bonus. Whereas if you're at a startup, and have 10-20% ownership, then when you save/make the company $5M, there's a good chance you will get 10-20% of that. (Speaking in rough terms, of course. But you get the point.)
  - Drbble 15y ago
    Do you have any backing for that? Usually at a big company, your team makes the 5mil. Good luck conjuring 5mil at a small company with no scaling infrastructure and few users. And not working for a CEO or CTO or whoever who takes credit for your work. Sure it's possible, but it's a gamble not everyone feels like taking.
    - mkramlich 15y ago
      > Usually at a big company, your team makes the 5mil. I don't think we live on the same planet. :) I'm talking about modern/recent software development roles in the US/West. Are you talking about a Wall Street job? Are you talking about a banker or a full partner at a financial firm or law firm? I'm talking about an employee. And I'm talking about the general case, not the outlier cases.

by bri3d 15y ago

Roboprog 15y ago

Some corporate jobs are better than others. There are cheap-skates, and those that will reward talent. But if paperwork kills you, it won't work, no.

wpietri 15y ago

I agree that not all startups are good. But I think your odds are better at a startup. At IBM, you're 0.00025% of the company. At a startup, it's more like 10 or 20 percent. You have a lot more ability to shape your job and the company so that it's non-shitty.

mkramlich 15y ago
Further: if you're at a large company and do something that saves/makes that company say $5M, you will get somewhere between 0% and 0.00025% percent of that money as a bonus. Whereas if you're at a startup, and have 10-20% ownership, then when you save/make the company $5M, there's a good chance you will get 10-20% of that. (Speaking in rough terms, of course. But you get the point.)
- Drbble 15y ago
  Do you have any backing for that? Usually at a big company, your team makes the 5mil. Good luck conjuring 5mil at a small company with no scaling infrastructure and few users. And not working for a CEO or CTO or whoever who takes credit for your work. Sure it's possible, but it's a gamble not everyone feels like taking.
  - mkramlich 15y ago
    > Usually at a big company, your team makes the 5mil. I don't think we live on the same planet. :) I'm talking about modern/recent software development roles in the US/West. Are you talking about a Wall Street job? Are you talking about a banker or a full partner at a financial firm or law firm? I'm talking about an employee. And I'm talking about the general case, not the outlier cases.