I'm facing an interesting career fork. I'm a startup veteran (seed to D, never worked at FAANG) and been an exec (VP Eng) for the last 4 years now, managing teams as big as 45, and building them from scratch. If I'm honest, I enjoy the job, the status and the power that comes with it. It also fits pretty well with my strengths and work style. Startups also helped me get to where I am very fast. My base salary is nice (250k+). But as always, equity is fairy dust. For one of the startups, I'm probably going to get something substantial, but not the other ones. Most of my network is well off compared to me. I have tons of experience, but haven't made bank, yet. I've plenty of friends who're trying to convince me to come make bank at their respective FAANG. I interviewed and will receive an offer from FB, but as an M2. Loss of status, and title jumps on resume (director would've hurt less). I'm unsure what to do. I'm waiting for the numbers, but they _will_ come back with something really big (equivalent to 3 years of my current salary outside ISOs). I know it's completely personal, but I'm still interested: What would you do? Would you continue gamble as a startup exec with my accumulated experience? Would you make bank at FB/GOOG? Is it weird on the resume?
Hard to say without knowing TC of each and what you think the startup’s chances of success are. I’d go FAANG though. I’ve been CEO and Eng #1 of separate startups, both with big name investors. FB has been better for me. But if the startups became rocketships...
It's a good point. My current startup is what I call a zombie. will go on half dead, half alive for a long time. I've been interviewing at other startups so I will have to compare, indeed.
If it’s a zombie then I’d easily take the FB offer. True rocketship startup should be the only reason to walk away from FNG.
Next couple of years are supposed to be rough financially. You should probably consider that aspect too. Safer option is, you can join faang, make good money, when the dust settles in 2-3 years, you can join a survivor start up. I'm risk averse, this is what I would do.
What do you want the job after your next job to be? Depending on the answer will dictate whether to stay startup or go FANG. Is money or potential control/VP and long shot odds important at this stage in life?
Probably go back to early stage or build my own. Who knows.
Then will you learn things in Fang that would help you with that or the higher TC will remove stress so better focus on next job if you take that route? IMO for where you are it seems like Fang will be a good change in pace and the higher TC will set you up for whatever you decide next
FB M2 TC?
Out of curiosity how much equity did you get from the current startup?
1.5% of the company
That’s pretty good. Did you get that at the series D, or is it now diluted? And will you have problems exercising it if you leave?
FB M2 is as risky as a startup, IMO. Sky high expectations and you really need to be able find your niche. Get your director and super star engineers on the team on your side. Then deal with constant Reorgs and pressure to deliver on key metrics. Good luck, you seem to be in a great place with respect to the options on the table
Interesting answer! Was the last sentence sarcastic? I actually wondered how do you go up as an M2? Luck? Politics? Both? meritocracy? Based on your answer sounds like luck + politics.
No didn’t mean that to be sarcastic. Was giving an indication that you are in good shape either way. My 2c. There is no place like FB when you are a junior engineer. Probably only place in the world where you can go from idea to launch that impacts 100s of millions in a few weeks. As a M2, is frankly think it is a hit and miss. Depends on team you land up in and whether your style gels well with upper management and senior engs in the team. Words like “team Building” “.org contributions” get thrown around. I personally have not seen a single game changing tech decision made by a M1/M2/director/VP of eng. it’s all some reorg bullshit and suck up to upper mgmt and senior engs. I have seen two M2s get pushed aside after a tear and they left. Two flourish. One mainly because of sucking up to the senior rockstar engs at the cost of decreasing growth for others in the team. One of the M2s who left was probably the best for the team IMO. If I were you, I’d take G. Much better WLB at the cost of a 50-100k a year less and smaller chance of becoming D. But you can use the WLB and cash cushion to start your own shit in 4 years. New team in Amazon is probably gonna be most satisfying work wise
You can jump between startups, not tiny ones, but ones with good products. You keep the same title.
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I would go make bank. Personally after 6 years in startups I’m interested in having a more lucrative job with more stability. I’m over the fairy dust. It’s just not worth it unless you absolutely love what you are building and find it completely fulfilling.