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Work at a Startup

workatastartup.org

31–40 of 88 posts

Re: Work at a Startup

#31
post #9
post #7

This is definitely interesting. I'm currently working at a startup, but it's always good to see how others work too. Is this specific to developers, or can business side folks attend too?

This particular event is mainly for programmers. We're hosting this at YC itself, and we can't fit as many people as you could in an auditorium. But ultimately it depends on the presenting companies: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1346178

That's what I figured. Thanks a lot for clarifying. :)

Re: Work at a Startup

#32
post #9
post #7

This is definitely interesting. I'm currently working at a startup, but it's always good to see how others work too. Is this specific to developers, or can business side folks attend too?

This particular event is mainly for programmers. We're hosting this at YC itself, and we can't fit as many people as you could in an auditorium. But ultimately it depends on the presenting companies: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1346178

This is an interesting filtering process. Presumably, there will be some who attend this event already identified (based on their resumes) as desirable candidates for one or more companies.

Will this be asynchronous knowledge or will the attendees and companies have contact and/or show interest in advance?

Re: Work at a Startup

#33
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

arhg, me too. I just applied and then found out that it is in MV and I am in Boston. Well, that's life...

If you're a hacker and want to work at an interesting, funded startup in Boston, there are about a million jobs here. Everyone here is hurting for good technical talent. Just today, I had lunch with an executive at a company that is just killing it and, as always, the conversation turned to recruiting. If you want a gig in Boston, shoot an e-mail to sachinag@gmail.com with your resume and what you're interested in, a…

Do you know if NYC is the same?

Re: Work at a Startup

#34
post #16

This comment will sound a little confrontational, but here it goes. Why would anyone competent enough to work at one of these companies choose that path instead of being a founder?

I have a good friend who has asked me to look for opportunities to work at a startup, preferably in China.

He wants to be a founder deeper in the future, but wants to work under a serial entrepreneur first, for the experience.

Re: Work at a Startup

#35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're a hacker and want to work at an interesting, funded startup in Boston, there are about a million jobs here. Everyone here is hurting for good technical talent. Just today, I had lunch with an executive at a company that is just killing it and, as always, the conversation turned to recruiting. If you want a gig in Boston, shoot an e-mail to sachinag@gmail.com with your resume and what you're interested in, a…

Do you know if NYC is the same?

Join some meetup groups. There's job postings and pre meetup "have a job, need a job" things in pretty much all the tech meetups I attend, most are startups.

Re: Work at a Startup

#36
post #16

This comment will sound a little confrontational, but here it goes. Why would anyone competent enough to work at one of these companies choose that path instead of being a founder?

If everyone thought like that, the salaries for competent employees would skyrocket due to minuscule supply, and startups would start failing for inability to find anyone to hire. These two factors would push less people to be founders, and it'd sort itself out.

Re: Work at a Startup

#37
I have never worked for anything but early stage startups and wonder what it is like on the other side where pay is (almost) always certain, you can't drop into the CEOs office at a moments notice and everyone just works 9-5. It is like a foreign country to me, but one that is on my list of places to visit eventually.

Re: Work at a Startup

#38
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This will get you in the door at an already funded startup where you'll get a salary and still have the potential payoff of a big exit. Simply out of curiosity, what range equity stake would a programmer get? More specifically, if there is a $10mm exit, what would a programmer stand to make? How about $100mm? I know it varies by company, vesting, additional funding rounds, and a bajillion other factors. I'm just curi…

Based upon some completely unscientific asking around, it seems like a person who has an employee number under 10 is likely to make 1/50th to 1/400th of the total exit after taxes. So $100mm for the company = $500K plus or minus. Not total crap, but also probably not worth it based upon the money alone. The reason to work for a startup as an early employee is the fun (if you like working 12-14 hour days on cool stuff…

Is the 12-14 hour thing necessarily true? I know some people at startups and they don't work that much. It seems that a lot of startups say they value life/work separation. There has also been research to suggest that working that much is anti-productive. Of course, I understand crunch time, but as a rule 12-14 hours a day!? That seems a little outrageous.

Re: Work at a Startup

#39
post #24
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just want to code. I'm okay with the risk and glory going to someone else.

Is that attitude common, or are you one in a million? (Serious question)

I wouldn't say it's common but it certainly isn't uncommon. I have basically the same view.

I like to code and I'm not big on risk but I hate bureaucracy and bullshit even more. So startups are a great fit. They're generally places where people get things done.

Re: Work at a Startup

#40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're a hacker and want to work at an interesting, funded startup in Boston, there are about a million jobs here. Everyone here is hurting for good technical talent. Just today, I had lunch with an executive at a company that is just killing it and, as always, the conversation turned to recruiting. If you want a gig in Boston, shoot an e-mail to sachinag@gmail.com with your resume and what you're interested in, a…

Do you know if NYC is the same?

I flew out to the Hackers and Founders meetup in NYC, and I talked with a number of founders. Rhey all complained about not being able to find talent. Specifically, I heard complaints about not being able to find PHP and .NET talent. :|
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