Ask HN: FOMO by working in startups only vs. Big companies

You seem to be putting "the right way" on some kind of pedestal. There is no one right way. There are right ways to do software in a lab, there are right ways to do software in a startup. You've learned those two. You lack exposure to one of the right ways to do software in a megacorp that optimizes for making developers fungible resources and maximizing shareholder value. It doesn't make you somehow less of a developer not being able to do the third. If you want to chase a high TC then by all means, jump in and learn it. But, that's the only reason. Learning how to develop for a megacorp won't enrich your life, enlighten you or make you feel anymore like you've made it as a developer.

Also, the grass is greener won't stop. Once you get to the megacorp you will wax poetic about your academia and startup days. You'll tell those fun stories to your coworkers because you stopped accumulating fun work stories when you joined megacorp. You'll occasionally think about going back to grad school, or joining a startup again; but, you'll remember you have an RSU vest in 2 months, better stick around at least for that, can't leave money on the table...

Odd take. I guess if you're shitty at picking startups. I know so many people who have made multiple 7 figures across secondary sales in various Series A-B companies.

A VP at a fast growing SaaS company has millions in equity. Their comparable L-8 type position at BigCo won't give nearly the same upside.

It's easier to make mid-high six figures at BigCo. It's easier to make a few million at startups. Frankly, the most talented people I know (outside of in engineering) always inevitably leave BigCo for a startup.

BigCo is a far better place for more mediocre performers.

In the context of engineering:

> Odd take. I guess if you're shitty at picking startups. I know so many people who have made multiple 7 figures across secondary sales in various Series A-B companies.

Sounds like those people are the most successful VCs ever and should consider a career switch with their ability to pick winners.

> A VP at a fast growing SaaS company has millions in equity. Their comparable L-8 type position at BigCo won't give nearly the same upside.

A VP at a fast growing SaaS company has millions in fake money. Their comparable L8 type position at Big Tech has ~700k-1 million yearly compensation in real money.

> It's easier to make mid-high six figures at BigCo. It's easier to make a few million at startups. Frankly, the most talented people I know (outside of in engineering) always inevitably leave BigCo for a startup.

Citation required. Who are these people? What were their exits? How many times did it take? Stories from a friend of a friend do not make compelling data.

> BigCo is a far better place for more mediocre performers.

The pool of available jobs at all start-ups dwarf what's available at Big Tech. It's very hard to argue that there's more mediocre people at Big Tech than start-ups.

I've hopped around a few medium sized established companies and early stage (pre-series A and series A) startups over the past 8 years as an iOS developer.

With coarse grained detail, it's a fair characterization to say that big companies require more navigation of interpersonal politics and hierarchical structures within the company, but afford you the opportunity to work on (more often than not) bigger problems (but you may be a small part of that big problem). And on the other hand startups allow you more autonomy and the chance to work on a wider breadth of the product yourself.

I've been told more than a couple times in bigger company land to stay in my lane, while in startup world that more and more executive functioning is required of me.

Both are valuable and right now I'm in bigger company land, that is until I get the itch again ;) Bigger companies tend afford more work life balance and respect your time, but your millage will vary. If you plan on starting a family anytime soon then it might not be a bad idea to situate yourself at a big company for a while.

One key for finding fulfillment as a smaller contributor in a larger company is finding personal validation outside of work. If you find things are going too slow for your taste and this frustrates you, then realize it's by design; people have lives outside of work and would like to live them :)

Working remote is just as viable in either scenario for my case, but I'm less sure about yours since robotics can only be simulated up to a certain point before you need actual hardware, right?

I've gone through this at multiple jobs too. It's hard. You want the company to succeed (especially if you have a stake) but the work itself becomes less enjoyable. I very much understand why some companies choose to stay small even if it means they're limiting their potential.