> I was tightly following what Goldman had done during recession.
What were you doing? What do you mean people were too professional?
How did you get the job? What sort of experience/background do you have?
Ask HN: Was I right in my decision to turn down offer from Goldman Sachs?
11–20 of 20 posts
Re: Ask HN: Was I right in my decision to turn down offer from Goldman Sachs?
#12Based on your reasons, it sounds like while you found the job exciting and cool, you didn't like the culture. So you went with your gut and made the call to reject the offer. For most people, that is a very acceptable reason to justify to your missing zeros on your paycheck. Right now you're perhaps wondering if you made the right decision -- afterall, Goldmans is creme de la creme no? Like others have said, only you…
I am learning a lot at this company. Main focus for me right now is to learn a lot. I am at early stage of my career and working on something exciting and new everyday is more fun than a fat paycheck. (EDIT: Question - Am I getting too emotional with this stuff, and is money more Important?)
I am good at stuff, and feel that I will jump to a higher paying job whenever required in the future. For now I want to stick to what I love to do. :D
Re: Ask HN: Was I right in my decision to turn down offer from Goldman Sachs?
#13Based on your reasons, it sounds like while you found the job exciting and cool, you didn't like the culture. So you went with your gut and made the call to reject the offer. For most people, that is a very acceptable reason to justify to your missing zeros on your paycheck. Right now you're perhaps wondering if you made the right decision -- afterall, Goldmans is creme de la creme no? Like others have said, only you…
I am learning a lot at this company. Main focus for me right now is to learn a lot. I am at early stage of my career and working on something exciting and new everyday is more fun than a fat paycheck. (EDIT: Question - Am I getting too emotional with this stuff, and is money more Important?) I am good at stuff, and feel that I will jump to a higher paying job whenever required in the future. For now I want to stick t…
I'm gonna mindf*ck you a bit by saying: you didn't answer the question :)
Re: Ask HN: Was I right in my decision to turn down offer from Goldman Sachs?
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
I am learning a lot at this company. Main focus for me right now is to learn a lot. I am at early stage of my career and working on something exciting and new everyday is more fun than a fat paycheck. (EDIT: Question - Am I getting too emotional with this stuff, and is money more Important?) I am good at stuff, and feel that I will jump to a higher paying job whenever required in the future. For now I want to stick t…
I'm gonna mindf*ck you a bit by saying: you didn't answer the question :)
I am learning a lot here, definitely !
I can't undermine the financial knowledge I got at GS.
Re: Ask HN: Was I right in my decision to turn down offer from Goldman Sachs?
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm gonna mindf*ck you a bit by saying: you didn't answer the question :)
I am learning a lot here, definitely ! I can't undermine the financial knowledge I got at GS.
Are you learning more at your present job or do you think you were learning more at GS?
Re: Ask HN: Was I right in my decision to turn down offer from Goldman Sachs?
#16Re: Ask HN: Was I right in my decision to turn down offer from Goldman Sachs?
#17Yes, you were right, and I wonder what influences have led you to question whether declining to work for a company for ethical reasons is "childish".
From what I understand about Goldman Sachs, what they do at its most basic level is figure out how to separate people from their money while producing as little actual value as possible, with no regard to the consequences, by pumping smart and productive people full of more money than you could ever spend in a lifetime, then encouraging a culture where all of your coworkers try to do it anyway and you are compelled to join them.
To me, part of maturity (the opposite of 'childishness') is learning to value things other than the immediate fulfillment of your most base desires.
This can be illustrated in simple ways, like when you realize that there are actually good reasons not to eat sugary cereal for every meal, or in your case, when you realize that money alone, even great piles of it, doesn't automatically make a job worthwhile.
In my opinion, the most childish people are the ones at Goldman Sachs, sniffing each other's asses and comparing watches and ties as a measurement of self-worth while they spend the prime of their lives trying to create paper out of thin air so more people can buy more watches and ties.
Good on you for not being one of them. If I were you, I would also contact the highest-up person you can reach and explain why you didn't want to work for them.
Re: Ask HN: Was I right in my decision to turn down offer from Goldman Sachs?
#18You should do what makes you happy, but you should realize that the film "Inside Job" wasn't designed to be an objective overview but rather an attack piece against the financial industry. It's as reliable as a Goldman Sachs press release.
However if you're not comfortable with restriction and tracking, you're right the financial sector probably isn't right for you. The financial sector like the medical and defence sectors are hugely regulated (with good reasons), so computers, etc. tend to be locked down far more than in other sectors.
Re: Ask HN: Was I right in my decision to turn down offer from Goldman Sachs?
#19Disclaimer: the following opinion is only my opinion and does not reflect anyone else on HN or the internet in any way shape or form: I respect that you found yourself unable to accept a job there given your ethical stance. I cannot put the following sentiment in harsh enough terms: I think the company is full of utter scumbags who should all be in prison or worse. Good on you.
So why do you think, say the staff at GS who worked 100-hour weeks doing due diligence on Google prior to their IPO to ensure it's success are scumbags who should be in prison?
Re: Ask HN: Was I right in my decision to turn down offer from Goldman Sachs?
#20Let's look at the opportunity cost of you leaving. You get to do something more significant to you that's more valuable. And also, someone else (who may actually want it) new gets an offer from Goldman Sachs. So you're helping that new person and (probably) helping yourself too.