FAANG vs startup career acceleration
I have an offer from Amazon and another from a young startup. TC is of course higher at Amz, but responsibility and passion about the product are higher at the startup. Still working on pros and cons, so my question is, did working at FAANG speed up your career growth? or made your resume more attractive and made it easier to find and qualify for other opportunities? YOE: 8
Depends on the stage of your career and your personal life goals. If you are your or probably graduating student, then contrary to the popular opinion I would advise you to join Amazon. Learn from smart people around. But don’t stay for longer than 2 years. You get good exposure as well as good name on your resume - believe it or not, it matters. After two years, join a startup and build cool shit. You will learn so many new things which you couldn’t learn in a big org. Depending upon the startup and its future, stay there or not. But this time you won’t need guidance coz you will know what you want to do.
Thank you for your input. I’m a senior sw eng with 8 yoe, but I totally get what you mean.
Have you spent your 8 yoe at bigger companies? If so the startup is a good option since it's something new. You'll learn more and have more fun.
I spent the first 5 years in a startup that I didn’t care much about it’s products but it was a great experience with smart people. Learned a lot and established my career. Then we got acquired by a midsize mediocre company, and haven’t grown a bit since. That’s why I feel I’m missing both, big company experience, and working on something I’m passionate about in a startup.
@vb. Same boat as you but 6 years. I’m going to big tech because it would help me grow a bit in places I’m missing. My offers have been all over the place because of gaps in my knowledge. Go to big tech for a few years before moving back into a tiny startup. That’s what I decided.
Skip the startup. Did that for 10 years, too much $ opportunity lost
Thank you