Big name vs small company?
Hey blinders, I grew up thinking that big company names on your resume matters a lot. But now that I am finishing my masters i am not so sure. I have full time offers from Walmart and another small company where I am interning. My savings are same in both while Walmart is paying 25k more. The reason being I will be living alone in Bay Area which is costly. While in this small company in southern Cali, I will be sharing all my expenses with my bf. I feel learning opportunities can be created and I can create mine in both the places. I want to know how much of a difference does starting on a lower base(105 in southern Cali) affect my future salary on job switch? Also will I get calls very selectively from good companies later on if I start with a small company rather than a big name? Or will it even matter? I would really appreciate your help
It’s like Indiana Jones when he had to choose the right goblet to live. Working in SoCal at a small company that is relatively unknown will not get you endless future job opportunities. If that company turns into the next Instagram, it will. Walmart labs will not get you endless job opportunities unless you wanna end up at Oracle or Cisco. You are early in your career. Now is the time to take risks, but be smart. Get your foot in the door at a company that is already on the rise I.e. flexport, nuro, robinhood, stripe, etc. stay there for 4+ yrs and you will end up being in demand more than you’ll ever imagine. Why? Because you will learn more at a rate that’s faster then any small company or big company - you’ll build for scale.
I agree with LC on choosing a rocket ship, but I think the OP is looking to decide between two options and not seek a third.
You can go from small to big at any time. I went from an unknown startup in the Midwest to Amazon. Also, 25k a year isn’t a big difference. And you’ll definitely save more money by living in SoCal instead of the bay. Plus you get to live with your bf. Seems like staying in SoCal is the obvious choice. But first try negotiating. Tell the startup about your Walmart Labs offer and see if they’ll match. Last but not least, Amazon is going to eat Walmart Labs lunch.
Hey, thanks for the advice and sharing your experience. I had a question though. After how long at being the startup did you join amazon and are you being paid equally as everyone in same role?
I was at startup for 5 years but you don’t have to stay that long. I just wasn’t exploring other opportunities at the time. I’m making more then most in my role.
seems like SoCal is a better option. Small company, you get to stay with your bf, you will learn a lot. Do you need H1 sponsorship? If so, Walmart labs might be a better option.
Small company is also sponsoring h1b. Now does it matter where I apply from?
I would say, having Walmart will def be a boost to your resume. You will get to interact with lot of people and build a solid network. Learn from a big corporation that will be value add when you switch over to smaller company and negotiate better terms and comp.
second this. Unless the startup is a known one , or it is not worth of your time.
Walmart Labs is a pretty noticeable name on any resume and will open a lot of doors for you and your career. But with that said, I wouldn’t pick your next job based off the company but rather the team and work. There are good teams in Walmart, but there are also many bad ones. Choose wisely.