It's the same Dan Lyons story about Hubspot that was on HN a week or two ago.
It is slightly different. The old one was about ageism. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11430596
So he's trying to push his book. Great.
Congratulations You’ve Been Fired
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Re: Congratulations You’ve Been Fired
#12The interesting thing about this is that Lyons quotes Jeff Bezos's letter to shareholders, which some places described as ‘a very late response’ (http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/5/11373438/amazon-corporate-c...) to the NYT's own story from earlier this year… Lyons quotes it to demonstrate how Amazon is totally down for this exploitative culture he's trying to describe. But while I was pretty horrified reading the NYT's original story, Bezos responded—admittedly internally—shortly after the original article came out. He basically dismissed the idea of the type of culture Lyons is describing (‘I strongly believe that anyone working in a company that really is like the one described in the NYT would be crazy to stay. I know I would leave such a company.’), and that response was fairly widely circulated.
To me, while I recognize some of the anecdotes that Lyons is describing as indeed representative of things that happen at startups, this is the kind of cherry picking that rapidly turns a potentially interesting book (or article) into total nonsense. If you can't choose your supporting arguments well, your main argument falls over.
(Worth noting: Pretty sure these sundry* articles all just possibly-adapted excerpts from the book.)
Re: Congratulations You’ve Been Fired
#13Look startups aren't perfect. You will most certainly work harder than at a large established firm. Your life balance will be no where near as good as at a large firm.
But why are you electing to work at a startup?
1) You are getting some options and have the possibility of a big upside which does not exist at a large firm.
2) You want more responsibility and you will certainly get it in the form of wearing many hats, but you will work harder.
3) If things are working out you will be promoted faster and move your career forward much quicker than most established firms.
4) There are many other points I could make here but arguably the most IMPORTANT reason to work at a startup is to LEARN, and learn you will.
There are tradeoffs with working at a startup, startups aren't perfect. To say that they are much worse than large corps who are scared of key man risk and keep you at an arms length so they can fire and lay off thousands at a time is disingenuous.
Corporations are generally only after profits big or small. You as an employee have a responsibility to make the right decisions for you.
Edit: some spelling mistakes.
Re: Congratulations You’ve Been Fired
#14> Tech workers have no job security.
To generalise in the same manner as the article, they also have no loyalty - job-hopping is more common in tech than any other industry I've seen, excluding perhaps hospitality. It's a bit of a chicken-and-egg problem.
Re: Congratulations You’ve Been Fired
#15> She was 35, had been with the company for four years, and was told without explanation by her 28-year-old manager that she had two weeks to get out. I think that's a bit funny that the author implies you can't be good as a manager at 28. Specially when you are writing an article about bias.
I think he doesn't need to imply it, firing someone without explanation is bad management, no matter how young or old you are.
Re: Congratulations You’ve Been Fired
#16> She was 35, had been with the company for four years, and was told without explanation by her 28-year-old manager that she had two weeks to get out. I think that's a bit funny that the author implies you can't be good as a manager at 28. Specially when you are writing an article about bias.
I didn't get that from the article. The author's friend was 31 when she joined the company, not much older than her 28 year old manager. To me it illustrates the churn at the company. The 28-year old manager will probably be fired - excuse me I mean "graduated" - by a 20-something manager after a few years.
Re: Congratulations You’ve Been Fired
#17Amazon is new Walmart.
They don't care that you don't like their work environment.They have money; you need money and have little options.
I think instead of being interested in recycling talent; Amazon is interested in those who will take the most abuse.
Re: Congratulations You’ve Been Fired
#18> Given the choice, I think I’d rather make furniture.
So go start making furniture.
Re: Congratulations You’ve Been Fired
#19> She was 35, had been with the company for four years, and was told without explanation by her 28-year-old manager that she had two weeks to get out. I think that's a bit funny that the author implies you can't be good as a manager at 28. Specially when you are writing an article about bias.
Having worked at a few startups I can relate to what the writer is saying (although I do agree the article is a bit slanted). It happens a lot in the tech world under the guise of "thinking differently" about management. I agree that age shouldn't matter, until you're 10-15 years older than your Manager who is completely out of their element, has no clue what they're doing, and you spend every day wondering how the fk they got the promotion in the first place.
Re: Congratulations You’ve Been Fired
#20> She was 35, had been with the company for four years, and was told without explanation by her 28-year-old manager that she had two weeks to get out. I think that's a bit funny that the author implies you can't be good as a manager at 28. Specially when you are writing an article about bias.
it's not in the least bit funny and the author is not implying that a 28 year old can't be a good manager. The author is comparing 1980's, 1990's tech work and now, and is making a point that amongst other observations, its also a new phenomenon for a younger person now in the tech world to be a manager to older staffers.