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Thank you for your insights! I'd love to hear your thoughts on choosing between companies/industries. While I'm naturally drawn to smaller companies despite th

by Shaun0 2y ago

Thank you for your insights! I'd love to hear your thoughts on choosing between companies/industries. While I'm naturally drawn to smaller companies despite the higher job security risks (risk/reward ratio makes sense to me), I've found that many startups lack the interesting work and open culture they advertise, and sometimes their business prospects are questionable. As for larger companies, they often seek technical leads with management experience, which creates a barrier for someone like me. How did you navigate this dynamic in your search?

shw1n 2y ago
My personal thesis is some combination of Bezos’ “regret minimization framework” and working on “cool problems with the smartest people” This job application cycle I encountered three tranches of roles: 1) Great WLB companies — fully remote, ~$200k salary, if slightly less exciting work 2) Big tech companies — typically hybrid, much higher salaries ($300k+), if possibly less WLB and more boring day-to-day work in service of an exciting larger goal 3) Early-stage — super exciting work, smart people, at cost of WLB, salary, and brand Not having gone to a prestigious university, brand was a big factor I considered — esp for future fundraising and roles. Some of the big tech companies were also likely to IPO for some quick cash, and obviously had smart people there. Having a family leaned me towards the great WLB roles too, but ultimately I went with the early-stage because life is just a pure joy when both the work and people are great. Another reason is community. I lacked true peers/mentors much of my life until I joined a really solid early-stage with smart people, who became great friends. So when I sense a chance to recreate this experience, I jump at the chance.
- Shaun0 2y ago
  I couldn't agree more with your breakdown! These three categories perfectly capture the landscape of most tech roles today. Your point about the early-stage company experience particularly resonates with me. Like you, I don't have a prestigious university background, and what you said about finding true peers/mentors really hits home. I think most of us in tech struggle to find mentors who can provide genuine strategic guidance rather than just technical advice. I'm also drawn to startups and the prospect of working with brilliant teammates. The energy and growth potential in such environments is unmatched. But finding these 'small but mighty' companies feels like searching for needles in a haystack - they're rare gems where everything aligns: smart people, exciting work, and good culture. Just curious - when searching for these early-stage roles, did you have any specific strategies for identifying truly promising opportunities? And the trickier question... how did you assess whether you'd be working with genuinely smart people versus just well-practiced interviewers?
  - shw1n 2y ago
    I actually wasn't searching for early-stage, in fact I was explicitly looking for the opposite (brands for the resume) But I accidentally signed up for YC's "work at a startup", and two great offers reached out to me via LinkedIn For vetting: I've found I can usually tell within a conversation, how quickly someone gets to the core of their business, insights they have about new topics, and ofc some degree of accomplishments (not degrees or brands, but companies founded or tech they've built)

by Shaun0 2y ago

shw1n 2y ago

My personal thesis is some combination of Bezos’ “regret minimization framework” and working on “cool problems with the smartest people” This job application cycle I encountered three tranches of roles: 1) Great WLB companies — fully remote, ~$200k salary, if slightly less exciting work 2) Big tech companies — typically hybrid, much higher salaries ($300k+), if possibly less WLB and more boring day-to-day work in service of an exciting larger goal 3) Early-stage — super exciting work, smart people, at cost of WLB, salary, and brand Not having gone to a prestigious university, brand was a big factor I considered — esp for future fundraising and roles. Some of the big tech companies were also likely to IPO for some quick cash, and obviously had smart people there. Having a family leaned me towards the great WLB roles too, but ultimately I went with the early-stage because life is just a pure joy when both the work and people are great. Another reason is community. I lacked true peers/mentors much of my life until I joined a really solid early-stage with smart people, who became great friends. So when I sense a chance to recreate this experience, I jump at the chance.

Shaun0 2y ago
I couldn't agree more with your breakdown! These three categories perfectly capture the landscape of most tech roles today. Your point about the early-stage company experience particularly resonates with me. Like you, I don't have a prestigious university background, and what you said about finding true peers/mentors really hits home. I think most of us in tech struggle to find mentors who can provide genuine strategic guidance rather than just technical advice. I'm also drawn to startups and the prospect of working with brilliant teammates. The energy and growth potential in such environments is unmatched. But finding these 'small but mighty' companies feels like searching for needles in a haystack - they're rare gems where everything aligns: smart people, exciting work, and good culture. Just curious - when searching for these early-stage roles, did you have any specific strategies for identifying truly promising opportunities? And the trickier question... how did you assess whether you'd be working with genuinely smart people versus just well-practiced interviewers?
- shw1n 2y ago
  I actually wasn't searching for early-stage, in fact I was explicitly looking for the opposite (brands for the resume) But I accidentally signed up for YC's "work at a startup", and two great offers reached out to me via LinkedIn For vetting: I've found I can usually tell within a conversation, how quickly someone gets to the core of their business, insights they have about new topics, and ofc some degree of accomplishments (not degrees or brands, but companies founded or tech they've built)