Early stage startups
Currently interviewing (LA) with various companies- larger (Hulu/riot/tinder/etc) and smaller Looking at offer at early stage (post seed) for 150TC plus heavy equity. <20 employees. I love their product. Big disrupter. My heart leans to startups What is better for career? Need help here. No FANG on resume, no experience with large companies. Current TC 130, 5 YOE
I'm assuming Sr. Engg and not Product etc! Go for the startup! Put in 2 years max...learn a shitload..and make your move. If you were later in your career I'd say a post-seed startup is a huge risk. But for you, I say go forth and channel your passion for a couple of years. But if they don't raise further rounds then don't stay around for long!
Knee-jerk reaction - there is tons to learn at an early stage startup You'll, more likely than not, be stretched beyond your forte. Do ensure the culture is something you can jive with and they're as tech savvy as you if not more. Curious: what's your equity stake in it ?
What does "heavy equity" mean for a 10-20 person company? 0.2%?
Go to startup 100%. Happy to share my experience but I worked 1,5y at a very early stage startup. Learned more than all my years of experience combined. Startup doing very well now, have some crazy accomplishments on my resume. Was able to get offers from FAANG easily with a good level and comp.
5 YOE — Get a FAANG on your resume at this point. It’ll help in both startups and FAANGs, be a huge career boost, plus confidence boost too.
How old are you? And what roles are you targeting or getting? Answer will largely depend on that.
25 - targeting senior level roles at most companies (am self aware so not senior at google)