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Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech

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Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech

#21

Post by nostrademons »

I've switched between startups and Big Tech multiple times. I worked for startups before and after college, left to found my own, ended up at a FAANG, quit to found more startups, and then went back to my previous employer. I was effectively financially independent (went back with more savings than I started with, after 6 year with no income), but I burned myself out. It's been almost 3 years since the last startup, during which I've written very little code (I've been an architect and then a manager), and I'm only just starting to enjoy coding again.

To me, the biggest red flag in your post is "I'm starting to feel not so happy with my current route". I had started to feel like my startup ideas had run their course around 3 years in, but I doubled down on a complicated one because I can be hella persistent and kept it going for another 3 years. Big mistake. When your feelings start telling you it's time to throw in the towel, it's time to throw in the towel. I don't regret leaving the security of a big company to play the startup game, but I do regret sticking with it for so long, even when evidence had mounted that the market had turned and there wasn't really an opportunity there.

Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech

#22

Post by codelover7 »

throwaway8829 wrote: post #7

I'm the opposite right now. I had a startup then joined FAANG. Spent the last 8yr in product at Google + Coinbase, and now I have the startup itch more than ever before. Maybe the grass is always greener. What is it about your current route that is leaving you unhappy?

I've done a lot of side projects and worked with a lot of businesses, so I'm starting to get a little jaded about how difficult it is to create or figure out what people want. I'm now realizing I could very easily spend another 8+ months and still not end up with a decent product.

Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech

#23

Post by princevegeta89 »

codelover7 wrote: post #17
renewiltord wrote: post #3

It's worthwhile to have some degree of financial stability. It lets you weather other problems with some equanimity. Do it. You'll have time later. Fwiw though, the only times I ever considered this was when I was upset at my life at a startup. I'm now happy at another startup. So this is a little of do as I say not as I do. But there's no harm in 2 years of big tech. It might blunt your edge a bit but burnout will d…

How do you reason about the pay decrease joining a startup vs. joining a high paying small company or big company?

If you really believe in that startup and did a lot of research that suggests that the startup will boom and grow as much as you think it would, it is worth accepting the lower pay. On another note, a high paying company is always the same, it is basically a stable job without much adventures or financial upside in terms of stocks.

Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech

#24

Post by uptownfunk »

Nothing wrong with working at big tech. Nothing has to be forever. Get some stability and then focus on your personal life. A job is one dimension of your life, but most humans are multidimensional. Life is meant to be lived, try and relish a diverse set of experiences. It will reinforce the other dimensions.

Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech

#25

Post by codelover7 »

gus_massa wrote: post #2

I have no advice, but I want to wish good luck with the change if you decide to make it [1]. I'm not sure if this is so unpopular here. Hey! I work in a free public university, that is probably the most different place than a startup (at least form size and the income sources point of view). Just in case it's useful, this is an old post by patio11 when he transitioned from working in consulting+startup to working in…

I just read his post; thanks for sharing!

Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech

#26

Post by ilovecaching »

ilovecaching wrote: post #12

I also spent a lot of my 20s coding for FAANG and while I am able to retire at 35, once I met my future wife and had kids I realized just how empty my life was with just work. There’s a lot of lies we tell ourselves to settle with a hobby or piece of work that causes us to miss out of the real riches of life.

I would try to game plan meeting new people by increasing your exposure to new groups and activities, come up with a list of short and long term goals and action items. I started ramping with meetups I found online.

Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech

#27

Post by codelover7 »

nostrademons wrote: post #21

I've switched between startups and Big Tech multiple times. I worked for startups before and after college, left to found my own, ended up at a FAANG, quit to found more startups, and then went back to my previous employer. I was effectively financially independent (went back with more savings than I started with, after 6 year with no income), but I burned myself out. It's been almost 3 years since the last startup,…

Yeah, I think you're right about burn out. It's starting to feel more like work/effort and not enjoyable.

Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech

#28

Post by codelover7 »

brundolf wrote: post #6

Whatever you do don't burn yourself out. Make sure you're doing what makes you happy, and not what you feel like you "have" to do for one reason or another

Brilliant insight. I've always heard this advice, and recognize how difficult it is to follow, so I'll be sure to keep this in mind.

Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech

#29

Post by renewiltord »

codelover7 wrote: post #17
renewiltord wrote: post #3

It's worthwhile to have some degree of financial stability. It lets you weather other problems with some equanimity. Do it. You'll have time later. Fwiw though, the only times I ever considered this was when I was upset at my life at a startup. I'm now happy at another startup. So this is a little of do as I say not as I do. But there's no harm in 2 years of big tech. It might blunt your edge a bit but burnout will d…

How do you reason about the pay decrease joining a startup vs. joining a high paying small company or big company?

I thought about it poorly initially. I modeled it simply as pay drop for a learning period with greater exposure to the whole thing (I tried building out one arm of a company). In my case, I should have just founded at the time.

A close friend of mine actually helped. The short form is: I'm in my mid-30s, so the majority of my compensation and wealth is still in my future so long as I can keep the engine running. So I optimize to keep the engine running. Some time that may be a couple of years in big tech so you have the amount of money that removes financial anxiety from your life. The rest of the time that may be years in startups because big tech is a low productivity environment.

This may be different for you, but I don't want to stop working so so long as macro stuff stays sane, I will probably be doing things into my 60s. That means that endurance is more important than power.

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