What looks better on resume or linkedin: non-FAANG big company vs start-up?

Apr 30, 2021 10 Comments

By non-FAANG big company I mean something like capital one. Would it hurt me in any way to go to a smaller start-upish company?

P. S. I am not talking about stripe or robinhood type of start-up. I'm talking about more low key startups that are smaller.

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  • This comment was deleted by original commenter.

    • I got a decent amount of recruiters reaching out while working there. I'm just worried if I downgraded for going to a start-up.
      Apr 30, 2021
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      nomitorta

      New

      nomitorta
      Chili can be served with cheese
      May 1, 2021
  • New
    swiftpgeon

    New

    swiftpgeon
    It's depends on the start up.
    Apr 30, 2021 2
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    rvsx87

    Go to company page Square

    rvsx87
    Think it depends on your goals. No one size fits all. If your goal is to transition to another big name company, even though it’s not tech potentially having a recognizable name could benefit you. But also depends on seniority at the company. If you are CXO at a startup that’s doing well and is funded then people might look at that as impressive. If you’re straight out of school and you’re going to be a junior person at a startup vs a well known company that would be different.

    So I can’t really answer the question and say universally a startup is better or universally Capital One is better. Depends on what you’re doing at both those places and what you want to do next
    Apr 30, 2021 1
    • Capital one is my first company, I got promoted there once since I joined, been there two years then left. I am at a start-up as a senior software engineer (one level below a manager). It's not a unicorn start-up, it's local to DC, but it's been around for years and is pretty stable.

      I am wondering if going to new company will get me less recruiters on linked in or make my resume look worse. Obviously what I do at said company is more important, but trying to isolate factors and evaluate them.
      Apr 30, 2021
  • Second this on depends on the tier of start ups, your industry and your level in general.

    Top tier unicorns like robinhood, stripe? Beats old school fortune 500 for sure.
    Later stage unicorns with strong funding, might weight in the same as Capitalone, but probably still better than those big name uninspiring boomer companies.
    Anything less than that, brand name beats no name any day any time.
    Apr 30, 2021 2
    • The start-up in question is not a big brand name or top tier by any means.

      So I guess based on this answer capital one is better. But will having capital one as a previous position still be good enough or do I have to be working there? I moved from there to the start-up.
      Apr 30, 2021
    • The key here is that you are on the rise with your career trajectory with each jump my friend. Reputation of your company is only one of many factor that the future employer evaluate, there are many others such as responsibility, position, industry and so on.

      Let's say you're director at a start up leading team of 10, then join capital one as L5 IC swe. This looks backward even you are joining a company with stronger reputation. On the other hand an IC swe from Coca Cola jumping to a Fin tech start up as a manager, that is career progession which is impressive to employers.
      Apr 30, 2021