what would you do? please help!
Blind, A few months ago I started my job search after not being aligned w my cofounder after 2 years. stepping away has been hard. I am now interviewing with enterprise software companies part of SWAAS in the bay area. Comp range is roughly $300K to $320K TC. While in final round of interviews, I reached out to a previous boss and mentor, a 3x tech founder who has exited, 1 private, 1 IPO with multi-billion dollar market cap. He offered me a job on the spot when he heard I was searching. the problem is that TC offered, no budging is $180K with no equity. its a 10 year old private enterprise software company w about 1K employees. should i take my mentors offer with risk of no equity, low comp compared to others but opportunity to work on a hard problem with a genius OR should i join large SWAAS enterprise software company reporting to sr director/ vp and being siloed into business function. i am in strategy and business role now. TC 120K (founder comp) based in LA 10 YOE thanks friends!!!
No
No. As in don’t take role with mentor? Thanks
Don’t settle for less if you have a good chance to make more
No way. If he really valued you he would have given you substantial equity.
Why does your mentor offer so low? Because you’re a chump that would work for below your market value?
Exploiting high profile nature of role. Stating experience w him and exposure with him will be better in long run. In your scenario, testing me to see if I am the chump he wants me to be, I suppose
Thats some classic LA exposure bullshit arent you trying to leave that?
This is a test to verify your loyalty. If you accept your mentor's offer he will match or beat the other offer.
Bullshit
Ya, I agree. I don’t think he would match. He was very direct in saying that my salary could grow over time but equity is not happening. Stock options as part of an employee pool closer to an IPO IF company ever gets close to that.
Go with mentor
Interesting comment. Any insight as to why? Thanks a lot
You will get faster growth and better work , it will set you up for longer term success
Personally I would never work for my mentor, I would ask him to reach out to his network. At the end of the day his offer is so low in your eyes either because your value proposition wasn't the same as what he values you. Or He doesn't think you will be there long-term
Wait a sec...am I misinterpreting your description or is the 180k TC the only actual offer you have? You might be getting ahead of yourself...
No. Multi offers in hand and in rounds w 3 other companies
Ok. Then the market is telling you how much your skills are worth and your mentor is gaslighting you. Take the best offer you have (balance of TC and job scope) and find a new mentor.
No equity offer seems like a bad faith offer. I can understand low on cash argument. But ask them why no equity?
No way.
Ask the mentor, would he take the offer. If he means well, he'll tell you that you should take the 320k TC.