I would make sure you actually want to start a startup and arent just looking for a way out from your boring day to day
Ask HN: Covid Burnout – Quit FAANG to found a startup?
11–20 of 25 posts
Re: Ask HN: Covid Burnout – Quit FAANG to found a startup?
#12Are you working for Amzn?
Knowing company helps people to give more accurate advice especially if they know how things works over there for a specific role. Same problem in different enviroment requires different solution imo.
At Google now, but have offers at 2 other FAANG's if I want to go there for a level up.
Re: Ask HN: Covid Burnout – Quit FAANG to found a startup?
#13Some added context since I'm throwaway:
I've been at Google for the past 4yrs. I'm fortunate that I can join any other company I'd like. I have offers at FAANG, mid level startups, and early startups.
I founded a startup before Google, so I know what it takes. I just don't really know how to go from 0 to 1 right now. My mind is also muddled with taking time off and thinking of an idea, or if I should just take time off and come back to a new team at Google, or join a different company. But, I also feel like I'm capable of building my own future with a startup.
Re: Ask HN: Covid Burnout – Quit FAANG to found a startup?
#14Startups have their own way of creating burn out and since it takes a toll on finances as well, the impact is much higher. It is not all fun and motivation. Also there are non tech problems one need to solve in a startup.
IMO, avoiding burnout might not be a best motivator for starting up. Maybe moving to a startup might help you decide along with reducing zoom calls hopefully :). Also it gives time to think about what is that you want to create.
Another option is to talk to friends who started up, to understand the practical challenges.
My suggestion, take some time and decide. It is more about making an informed decision. And when we are lost, sometimes we take decisions more on hope.
Re: Ask HN: Covid Burnout – Quit FAANG to found a startup?
#15> I founded a startup before Google
You've got more personal experience with this than I do. But I would think it's a bad idea on a personal level if COVID wfh is the main cause for your burnout. I'd find founding a startup to be more isolating that working at a company right now.
Re: Ask HN: Covid Burnout – Quit FAANG to found a startup?
#16I would test the market for your idea. Can you get people to pay for it? How many, and how many $ per customer, and how quickly? And not hypothetically, actually try to get money coming in. Then focus on that if you think it will simultaneously solve your burnout.
Re: Ask HN: Covid Burnout – Quit FAANG to found a startup?
#17I'm in the same position. WFH has sucked out nearly all of my energy to contribute to my current company, and I would very much like to just focus on my own side projects & startup ideas. Since my company went 100% remote, I'm planning to move to someplace a bit more convenient, then hopefully split my time between work and personal projects.
Re: Ask HN: Covid Burnout – Quit FAANG to found a startup?
#18My suggestion is not to quit but to ask for a 3 months no-pay leave (LOA). Firstly, take care of your body and mind by taking a break. Then take the time to figure out what exactly you want to do including your startup ideas. Please note that GOOG policy on LOA may restrict on what you can work on publicly.
Re: Ask HN: Covid Burnout – Quit FAANG to found a startup?
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
Knowing company helps people to give more accurate advice especially if they know how things works over there for a specific role. Same problem in different enviroment requires different solution imo.
At Google now, but have offers at 2 other FAANG's if I want to go there for a level up.
Changing jobs are very refreshing depending on the company you will join. Facebook has high peer review pressure now a days. I heard stories around Amazon’s peer review system where people backstab and I do believe it will be worst when people are working remotely. For Netflix people say miss or hit as at the end of the year they will ask “should we raise your salary or let you go”, depending on your team and manager you might not able to show your self. I do believe Apple might be a good option as SwiftUI development might trigger tons of new design tasks with less pressure due to tons of old iOS devices out there. I hope people can comment with much better info then I have. You are not alone, I do believe community will start to write tons of comments for this type of questions more then the ones trying to find their next big thing. The next big thing is human as it was before.
Re: Ask HN: Covid Burnout – Quit FAANG to found a startup?
#20Surprised most of the comments here are risk adverse, you won't know if you don't take the risk. If you do decide to quit, plan out how long you can survive off your savings and give yourself a chunk of that time to get a business running that sustains you. If you don't make it in that time, you can get back into the workforce or freelance with your experience. Having an idea helps, but be wary of working on ideas on…
I think the issue is how it's phrased. OP said, effectively, I don't like my job, should I do a start up? Which is a terrible starting point for a business. If they said something like "I've got this great idea" then people would tell them to go for it.
There's this weird idea out there that Start Up is a job or company in itself. But it's not. Sure, companies will pivot and opportunities can come out of seemingly nowhere. That doesn't mean you just start something without a reasonable belief that it will work.