How does joining a no name start up impact your future resume?

Jan 12 11 Comments

As the title says, how does joining a no name start up impact your resume?

If you’re a senior leader at a start up that doesn’t have huge brand recognition but is moderate to very successful, how does that look?

what if you have some big brands previously on your resume already?

Considering joining a start up as a senior leader but a little concerned about how it’ll play long term for then trying to join the FAANG / broader t1 or 2 firms

Edit for additional context: I have experience at Microsoft and joined Qualtrics while it was still private. I’ve interviewed at FAANG companies multiple times, so my current resume is enough to be a candidate (though I never joined an official FAANG). Trying to think about the balance of that and a potential senior leader “head of” not VP level impact on the resume at a start up

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TOP 11 Comments
  • Flagged by the community.

    • OP
      That would be a great outcome! I’m just thinking through, if I move to a startup that’s successful will I be able to relatively be a strong candidate move to a decently senior (L7 type) at a google or FAANG etc. or will i mostly be able to just keep redoing senior leadership for growth and scale start ups?

      I mentioned in another comment but for context I worked at Microsoft for awhile and now Qualtrics so it’s not like my entire resume would have no name companies. It would be a balance.
      Jan 12
  • New
    SoNotSo

    New

    SoNotSo
    I joined a no name start up that got bought by a publicly traded company on the Canadian stock exchange (that also operates as a startup. They are new and tiny).
    Pay is poor (5 figure salary) but love the work and the team. No stress job.

    I would prefer no stress versus big name stressful job. My mental health and WLB is more important to me than how much my resumes weighs.

    As someone who has hired for his team, I could care less if the candidate is from FAANG or Non-FAANG. But not everyone thinks like me.
    Jan 12 2
    • Amazon
      sheje

      Go to company page Amazon

      sheje
      You're giving yourself a false choice. There are no stress jobs that pay 300k+, I work like 20 hours a week.
      Also of course you don't care if someone worked at FAANG or not. You pay 5 figures if anything you should throw out all FAANG resumes because you're not going to be able to agree on numbers 90%+ of the time. It'd just be a waste of both parties time to interview.
      Jan 12
    • New
      SoNotSo

      New

      SoNotSo
      @sheje. Thanks for the perspective. I am in customer success (non-tech). It is extremely difficult for non-tech guys to have a salary of $300k +. Have PM background too but I have been shit out of luck in terms of job hunting.

      Agree with u on the latter half of your comment. FAANG folks wouldn’t even bother applying for my customer success team anyways cuz they know it’ll be a 5 figure salary. Was just sharing my thought process that IF they do apply.
      Jan 12
  • Amazon
    sheje

    Go to company page Amazon

    sheje
    Switching between no name, and FAANG is a good way to get promotions provided you interview well.
    Go to no name for title bump, stay a couple years, return to FAANG. That said if you don't know the magic phrases to say you'll get down leveled
    Jan 12 1
  • Google
    zober

    Go to company page Google

    zober
    If you don't have FAANG on your resume, but you want this experience, go work for FAANG first. Startup experience means very little at FAANG (CxO from startups join Google as L5-L6), but experience at FAANG will get you nice role & title (Principal SWE, VP Eng) at a startup.
    Jan 12 1
    • OP
      I’ve worked at Microsoft and have been at Qualtrics from private to public. Ive previously interviewed at Google for L6 roles(non Eng side), meaning that as of today my resume is good enough to be in the conversation for those roles.

      I’m just a little concerned that the longer I spend time at lesser known brands my resume may start to look a little odd to the bigger enterprise companies.

      My hope is that having Microsoft for a significant amount of time on my resume would balance out the more senior experiences I get at a start up from a story perspective
      Jan 12
  • This comment was deleted by original commenter.

    • Amazon
      stbe

      Go to company page Amazon

      stbe
      What a coincidence how it's only the people at companies with no chance of attracting FAANG level talent who say this.
      Jan 12
    • Amazon
      stbe

      Go to company page Amazon

      stbe
      Imagine trying to brag about getting a recruiting phone call and from Amazon of all places. If you have a pulse we will interview you.
      But I wouldn't even get on a phone call from TechStyle Fashion Group, so I think you just proved my point.
      Also hate on Amazon all you want, I'm leaving in 3 days anyways for another top tier company.
      Jan 12