Chose failing startup over FAANG, regret it
I’ve been working at a startup that is now dying for 1.5y after graduating. If I had taken my FAANG offer I’d be earning more at this point and would easily be able to jump to other companies. Don’t fall for the trap of the startup lifestyle. Choose FAANG and you won’t regret it.
Most startups fail.. some like the risk/reward esp after graduation
It has to be a damn good Startup for me to ever join one.
Look, if you need money FAANG is best obviously. So much 💰... Unbeatable! If you need growth/promos and learning, then risks are certainly higher in FAANG that you won't get what you need in these areas, or you will have to toil very hard (killing WLB). Overall, if you are in the right team with the right people working on the right problems, then FAANG is amazing as long as this lasts (which is not guaranteed).
I 100% disagree with the learning part and it blows my mind that people believe in this. YOU WILL LEARN FAR MORE AND FASTER AT A FAANG THAN YOU CAN AT A STARTUP. Why? Many of the best engineers join FAANG or some other larger company to earn more money. Startups, on the other hand, are filled with people who fail to get into large companies and are generally not as intelligent. Just because Uber is considered a startup does not mean this is the way most them are; most of them suck and have low skilled people in high ranking positions simply because they can’t lure smart FAANG employees away. If you want to learn a lot and at a faster pace, you need to surround yourself with smart people who knows wtf they’re doing. You can certain get that at a FAANG. Do not waste your time at a startup unless you love risk. Also, just because you’re promoted faster at a startup does not mean you’re actually skilled enough to be at that position at other companies, especially FAANG. Startup traps people into the illusion of competency. Learn this now.
Disagree - I worked at both faang and startups. Financially faang is unbeatable deal, but startup you get more responsibility and learn how to run a business. People in faang are insulated from the hardships of running a company and mostly exposed to technical side of things (writing code is only one part of building a company/running a business). Also, plenty of startups have great talent. I find it bizarre that many faang workers think they are Einsteins or something.
Is the startup Microsoft?
I hate the buzzword "Startup". Any small company in tech is now a "startup".
what’s the startup name?
Maybe your contributions to your firm is insignificant and that’s why it’s failing. Never generalize FANG vs Startup situation. Every firm is different and every individual’s view towards work is different (not just money).
Believing a single developer can save a failing business is insane
You will get more money at FANG because you are riding on someone else previous hard work and success. It’s unfortunate that the firm you joined is unsuccessful and didn’t have such heavy lifting guys but it doesn’t mean all start ups are trash compared to FANG. I am a high performer and I never get enough recognition and fulfilling feeling about work at FANG with all the politics and rat races.
Wrong info
If you don’t mind me asking, was the startup you joined a small startup, or more established like a Unicorn startup?
You know exactly what you’re getting into with a startup. This basically says, if you don’t like startups; don’t join one.
The OP is a recent grad. He doesn’t necessarily know what startup life really is about. I hear a lot of people recommend startups over large companies and it blows my mind why anyone would do it.
That’s no excuse, recent grads aren’t babies. They’re 22-24 years old, they should know at this point how to evaluate the consequences of their decisions. I co-founded a startup after I graduated, knowing full well I only had a 10% chance at success and <1% chance at huge success.