Is having a big name on your resume worth it?
I work at a great small startup, first job as a SWE (career changer). I can’t shake the feeling that i should or will need eventually a big N name on my resume for career growth in this field. What do you all think? tc 105k yoe 1
It helps a lot when companies shortlist candidates for interview. Basically initial screening!
Big names only matter to sourcers and recruiters who don’t know anything about tech. It’s too bad that they’re the front door to an interview.
So true!
Are you a bootcamp grad? How did you switch?
Self taught. Took about 2/3 years of self learning in evenings while working full time. Lots of ups and downs. Was already in a tech adjacent role so I slowly introduced automated workflows / etc to it, anything I could do that was increasing my SWE skill set while still performing my current duties / made it even better. Company wasn’t good for growth though in that field (tech dept undervalued / not good), so I switched jobs and boom
Very good! Well played. Do you code on Java now? Do you think a bootcamp would be a good idea?
Worth what, exactly? You make it sound as if it's a trade-off of some sort. I personally would like to get into F or G for a single reason - money.
My current company solves really challenging, interesting problems and being small, you have a direct impact on this work. I always thought going to a big company with only 1/2 years relevant experience you’d work on really small stuff but that might be a wrong opinion.
I think it matters to certain (not all) FANG recruiters that circle jerk around the FANG list. But if you have skills and its listed in LinkedIn or job app, you should get hits. I look for skill/experience/interview performance over school or where they worked. So do my colleagues...and we get great workers!
Consider anything in life....Harvard, Stanford.... Top 4 consulting firms... Top Banks....FAANG....Alma Matter and WorkEx of Top CEOs.... what do u see in common? Brands exist for a reason, Period.
Silicon valley is more egalitarian than a great majority of society though.
The problem is after you work at a big name you don't want to give up the benefits and guaranteed TC anymore
It is unfortunate but there are many (more than 80% of them wouldn't accept) who give disproportionate value to big names in resume. They may do it unintentionally but they take it for granted that big name means the candidate is more knowledgeable. Its not true always. In my personal experience I have seen guys from startups are much smarter, knowledgeable and quick learner than most having big names in their resume. If you really want to get that biased head start, a big name in resume is strongly recommended. You have your entire life after that.
Depends what you’re trying to do. Usually helps. In my experience, some startup founders are wary of three-four plus year stints
You mean 3-4 years anywhere or staying 3-4 years at a big company?
3-4 years at a big company. I wouldn’t stress about it - I’m thinking of a couple people in my personal network
Always