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From personal experience, the biggest downside to this advice is that it builds a culture of being in or out. You either tow the company line or you're not part of the team, it leaves little room for challenging the status quo when you see mistakes being made.
I like the idea of towing the company line though, it takes on a nautical meaning.
Rule 2: Giving People a Chance to “Change the World” Is a Lousy Way to Recruit Employees Have to say that I roll my eyes every time I see an HN article titled "X is hiring: Help change the face of Y forever"
From personal experience, the biggest downside to this advice is that it builds a culture of being in or out. You either tow the company line or you're not part of the team, it leaves little room for challenging the status quo when you see mistakes being made.
The idiom is "toe the line", to stand with ones toes exactly at the appointed spot. I like the idea of towing the company line though, it takes on a nautical meaning.
At least that's the legend I know.
This kind of attitude is what gives rise to mono cultural companies where everyone looks, thinks and acts the same. The cultures seem okay but they're brittle in that as soon as someone shows up who doesn't think exactly like everyone else, the whole thing falls apart or the additions are become "problems".
I've worked at a startup and I've resolved that if I do ever build a one, I want a company that is heavily resilient to diversity of thought and where everybody doesn't have to be best pals with everyone else because that is just fucking annoying after a while.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree 1000%. And I'm not sure, but honestly, the couple of YC companies that took an interest in hiring me convinced me to stay far away. One of them expected me to build a demo project on a national holiday before interviewing me.
It's amazing they asked, because you got a clear indication that they will have no respect for your life. Good to know that early. I mean, every startup I've worked with has behaved in some way like this. But there are extremes. I work for a large company now, and couldn't be happier. I work at least 2/3rds what I did at a startup, and I get paid more. It's amazing. I never had a vacation that wasn't interrupted by t…
Its doubly amazing because I told them I'd be busy that day in a previous email. :)
> I mean, every startup I've worked with has behaved in some way like this. But there are extremes. I work for a large company now, and couldn't be happier. I work at least 2/3rds what I did at a startup, and I get paid more.
I prefer small companies. Like, where I work now the IT team is about 10 people. So startups are always tempting. Its just a question of finding the right one.
Right now, I work 5 days a week and handle some backend stuff on Saturdays. I don't mind the hours, I mind my personal time being interrupted without cause. :)
Articles like this make me believe that even if I managed to find my way into Silicon Valley I simply wouldn't fit in. My job is not my identity, I feel its healthy to generate a life outside your work that is entirely separate; heck I see it as a necessity for longevity in life to have such segregation. I've turned down jobs that promote "monthly massages", "beer fridays", "gaming evenings", and other perks like the…
I've turned down jobs that promote "monthly massages", "beer fridays", "gaming evenings", and other perks like the article mentions because when you step back and look at it they're trying to replace your life outside of work with excuses why you shouldn't leave work. Bind your job to your necessities and leaving becomes so much harder. This isn't always the case, especially in larger companies. Sometimes perks are j…
From personal experience, the biggest downside to this advice is that it builds a culture of being in or out. You either tow the company line or you're not part of the team, it leaves little room for challenging the status quo when you see mistakes being made.
The idiom is "toe the line", to stand with ones toes exactly at the appointed spot. I like the idea of towing the company line though, it takes on a nautical meaning.
P.S. I liked the imagery of my version better.
Articles like this make me believe that even if I managed to find my way into Silicon Valley I simply wouldn't fit in. My job is not my identity, I feel its healthy to generate a life outside your work that is entirely separate; heck I see it as a necessity for longevity in life to have such segregation. I've turned down jobs that promote "monthly massages", "beer fridays", "gaming evenings", and other perks like the…
I've turned down jobs that promote "monthly massages", "beer fridays", "gaming evenings", and other perks like the article mentions because when you step back and look at it they're trying to replace your life outside of work with excuses why you shouldn't leave work. Bind your job to your necessities and leaving becomes so much harder. This isn't always the case, especially in larger companies. Sometimes perks are j…
I'm just trying to say that the fact that they thought going against the grain and being creative in an attempt to match the stories you hear out of Google or the like rubbed me the wrong way.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's amazing they asked, because you got a clear indication that they will have no respect for your life. Good to know that early. I mean, every startup I've worked with has behaved in some way like this. But there are extremes. I work for a large company now, and couldn't be happier. I work at least 2/3rds what I did at a startup, and I get paid more. It's amazing. I never had a vacation that wasn't interrupted by t…
> It's amazing they asked, because you got a clear indication that they will have no respect for your life. Good to know that early. Its doubly amazing because I told them I'd be busy that day in a previous email. :) > I mean, every startup I've worked with has behaved in some way like this. But there are extremes. I work for a large company now, and couldn't be happier. I work at least 2/3rds what I did at a startup…
I think this sounds intentional. They were screening you, looking for employees who wanted to work with them so bad they'd drop everything.
I actually give them some kudos for that in that they were being indirectly honest about their expectations. You got a quick sense that it was a poor fit and bowed out, which is in both parties' best interest.