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Ask HN: Moving from a startup to a big co, what should I be aware of?

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Re: Ask HN: Moving from a startup to a big co, what should I be aware of?

#101

Post by blihp »

snarfy wrote: post #90

I just started at Big Co! For my first assignment, I had a question about an API I was supposed to use. I was told to email Bob. me: "Do I do A or B when using the API?" Bob: (cc's his manager my email) Bob's manager: Is your team suppose to be using API? (my manager cc'd) Two weeks of infighting later, still no answer to A or B, and my task is now past due.

Now you know not to ask that type of question there. Next assignment, just focus on hitting your due date and use whatever API seems right to you... ask for forgiveness later, if needed. Since you're new, you can pretty easily get away with 'sorry about that, I didn't know I shouldn't use that API. Thanks for letting me know!' The more important lesson I would be noting from this experience: there's far more CYA than clarity. (typical big co) So keep your head down and stay out of the line of fire.

Re: Ask HN: Moving from a startup to a big co, what should I be aware of?

#102

Post by mliker »

lunias wrote: post #72

Remember when you used to ask your Mom / Dad, "Why?" and they'd respond with, "Because I said so." It's like that, but subtly more infuriating because it's never a single identifiable person saying "no" that could be spoken to, understood, and reasoned with. The answer that you'll get at a big company is, "because that's the way it is".

No, that's not the way it works at big companies like AWS, Google, Microsoft (source: me, I've worked at all 3). A large company attracts various types of people. It's not homogeneous like what you describe. Also, there are plenty of opportunities to practice "intrapreneurship" within a large company with lots of resources to impact the world in a positive way.

Re: Ask HN: Moving from a startup to a big co, what should I be aware of?

#103

Post by throwaway9191a »

bobbytherobot wrote: post #93
katzgrau wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having worked at Big Co and then on my own company for years, this is exactly what I was thinking. You'll lose professional autonomy in exchange for a good salary, job security, and resume bling. And you probably won't have to work as hard or as often (again, probably).

"you probably won't have to work as hard" For me, it was a question of: do I put in 40% to get 90% completed, or do I put in 150% to get 99% completed?

I'd like to echo this, along with the "relax" sentiment from other comments.

I worked incredibly hard to open source a project at a faang. I was even given a customer obsession award for it. No promo.. and no promo level projects for the next year or so... and now this open source project is "too old" for promo consideration.

I've learned to relax and give just enough to not be marked LE. I now have a lot of time to dedicate to other pursuits.

Re: Ask HN: Moving from a startup to a big co, what should I be aware of?

#104

Post by caleb-allen »

danck wrote: post #96

Once when I was frustrated with my current Job at a large corporation, an experienced friend told me the secret. He said, they'd value "predictability over excellence". Meaning, talk about your goals, give an estimation and arrive exactly on point. It doesn't matter if it's your personal project or projects/processes where you take the lead. Being faster than estimated, or finding a better way and switching while you…

I joined a large company about 9 months ago, coming from startups, and while I knew things would be slower, your quote seems to make explicit something that I've observed in my time here.

I think I had the mentality of "putting out fires" that is always the case in startups, and so for a few months I was stressed that I wasn't doing enough, since my workload was lower than I'd experienced at startups.

But I've learned that the work that is value most is the work that helps others, and what helps others seems to be anything that is highly predictable. So, "showing up" and consistently being responsive and available during work hours. But also writing automations which are visible, reliable, and have a material impact on a team (or many teams).

Thanks for your insight, I think I'll keep that more front of mind in the coming weeks

Re: Ask HN: Moving from a startup to a big co, what should I be aware of?

#105

Post by mywacaday »

Don't just dive straight into whatever you're asked to do, take a bit of time to understand the department/division/company structure. Try to get a mentor assigned for the first six months, ideally someone from a similar role but NOT your department. Get them to help you navigate and understand the organisation/policies/procedures/key players. In a large company you can be hammered for not following procedure, if you are following procedure you are safe.

This is my own advice to myself, after changing industry four years ago I'm moving to a new company but same industry next month. These are some of my biggest take aways after going in to recover from a everyone got hit by the metaphorical bus scenario with not hand over and little support. I'm probably a bit on the negative side but I think the advice holds up either way.

Re: Ask HN: Moving from a startup to a big co, what should I be aware of?

#106

Post by bryanmgreen »

bobbytherobot wrote: post #93
katzgrau wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having worked at Big Co and then on my own company for years, this is exactly what I was thinking. You'll lose professional autonomy in exchange for a good salary, job security, and resume bling. And you probably won't have to work as hard or as often (again, probably).

"you probably won't have to work as hard" For me, it was a question of: do I put in 40% to get 90% completed, or do I put in 150% to get 99% completed?

That is so accurate and succinct.

I'd say 40% for 80-85% from my experience.

Re: Ask HN: Moving from a startup to a big co, what should I be aware of?

#107

Post by maybeiambatman »

jerrysievert wrote: post #66

here are some things I've learned: * politics: yes, they exist everywhere, but tend to be amplified at larger companies. polish your political skills, and one thing that I've learned is that it's important to "show, don't tell" * fiefdoms: there are more of them, some more welcoming than others. be prepared for those that value power above all. you can't take it personally, or you'll go into a very dark place; "be th…

> polish your political skill

Genuinely curious to know what this means.

Re: Ask HN: Moving from a startup to a big co, what should I be aware of?

#108

Post by alexbanks »

Everything moves slower than you're used to, probably by a tremendous amount. You don't have to have those expectations for yourself, and you shouldn't have them for the people around you.

Politics are the most important thing with respect to large groups of people. Your ideas will matter less than who you are and the clout you carry. Always be paying attention to who is asking for things and why they might be asking those things. At bigger companies, people's personal agendas may trump company agendas, and you may have to pick and choose which projects are worth taking (after understanding the who and the why).

Re: Ask HN: Moving from a startup to a big co, what should I be aware of?

#109

Post by jonfw »

mliker wrote: post #102
lunias wrote: post #72

Remember when you used to ask your Mom / Dad, "Why?" and they'd respond with, "Because I said so." It's like that, but subtly more infuriating because it's never a single identifiable person saying "no" that could be spoken to, understood, and reasoned with. The answer that you'll get at a big company is, "because that's the way it is".

No, that's not the way it works at big companies like AWS, Google, Microsoft (source: me, I've worked at all 3). A large company attracts various types of people. It's not homogeneous like what you describe. Also, there are plenty of opportunities to practice "intrapreneurship" within a large company with lots of resources to impact the world in a positive way.

I don't think he was saying that the people are homogenous, but he was saying that you often get put in a position where somebody way over your head makes a decision that affects your work, and by the time it reaches you, that decision is non-negotiable and unexplained.
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