FAANG vs Startups
Is it really worth running towards FAANG or should the focus be work for a startup, get acquired or go public and make 💰💰 Or should it be other way round - work for FAANG first and then work for the startup with prospects of getting acquired or good IPO. Inputs are appreciated.
Whatever makes you happy. YOLO
I say go for the second option. Save up some money by working for FAANG and then go work for a startup.
FANG first and make sure to invest your big fat paycheck, don't spend it all on hookers and blow Most startups fail and pay poorly. Scoring a big payout is like winning a lottery. Even with a successful exit you can still get shafted big time by share dilution. FANG on other hand pretty much guarantees you an early retirement
Thanks for the inputs. That makes sense. For FAANG though, I’ll have to make a move to the Bay. Is it worth the expense that’s incurred over there? Can I still retire early and save enough?
Yes. There's also Seattle with a few FANGs and which is quite a bit cheaper, no state income tax. But depressing weather
FAANG early. Because if you go to a startup early, you’re *probably* going to encounter: 1. Bad practices that are hard to unlearn. 2. Shit management (most startups are founded by people who haven’t had a successful exit before). 3. Low compensation. Once you learn a lot at a FAANG, get that brand name, and hopefully see how a successful business operates, then a startup might be in the cards. Seriously, bad management is pretty par for the course at startups. Just because people found companies != they should be managers. You’re an investor if you’re an employee of an early stage startup. But you don’t have the information nor the money to make an informed decision or handle the risk, which real investors do. So you’re shooting in the dark, but you’re spending time there, which is the most valuable thing you can spend (time).
Plenty of bad managers in FANG too
Sure. But at least there’s some mobility at FAANG. If you’re at a startup and the CTO is your manager, and is a horrible manager, there aren’t a lot of options. In a big company, you can probably move. If not, at least you’re getting paid a lot :). And startups with terrible management seem less likely to succeed.
Depends on where you are in your career & what you value most right now