Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Does working for big tech companies pay off more compared to startups?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 40 posts

Re: Ask HN: Does working for big tech companies pay off more compared to startups?

#21

Post by DubiousPusher »

captn3m0 wrote: post #10
recuter wrote: post #6

I'm currently a devops consultant embedded in a big enterprisy company. The scrums, endless pointless meetings, pointy haired bosses and general incompetence is soul crushing. After almost a year of doing this I can't wait for it to be over and just pack a bag and go a-travelin'. I honestly don't believe this can even be classified as work really, as the output from these places is so low or even negative. These plac…

I read the wiki entry and still don't get the link. Could someone explain, please?

I believe the poster means that while the world of start-ups is full of charlatans, it's also where you have to go find the most interesting people and ideas, since anyone inside the 100 meter radius (inside the established software industry) who has an interesting idea is shunned or banished to the world of start-ups.

(Not espousing this view myself, just trying to clarify the analogy.)

Re: Ask HN: Does working for big tech companies pay off more compared to startups?

#22

Post by skjlls »

We are currently running a non-profit, 4-minute survey on exactly your (and some other) questions. We posted it on HN but it now has moved down to the 4th page or something like that. Results will be out in a couple of weeks. If you got 4 minutes, take part (or simply wait until the results come out): http://bit.ly/skjlls-EN

Re: Ask HN: Does working for big tech companies pay off more compared to startups?

#23

Post by mpeg »

legohead wrote: post #17
mpeg wrote: post #4

"At big companies, you can expect to get ~$400k-$500k of stock" Where did you get that figure from? That's a bit surprising to me, there's no way you could get that kind of stock grant as an engineer in any of the big companies I've worked at.

Wasn't too long ago Facebook was in the news for giving new hires $1m in stock as signon bonus.

I just don't believe this is post-IPO, or for non-managers.

Re: Ask HN: Does working for big tech companies pay off more compared to startups?

#24

Post by skorecky »

peacemaker wrote: post #20
recuter wrote: post #6

I'm currently a devops consultant embedded in a big enterprisy company. The scrums, endless pointless meetings, pointy haired bosses and general incompetence is soul crushing. After almost a year of doing this I can't wait for it to be over and just pack a bag and go a-travelin'. I honestly don't believe this can even be classified as work really, as the output from these places is so low or even negative. These plac…

I'm amazed you've survived a year at a place like that. I had a very similar environment and quit after 6 weeks. You're right, it's soul crushing and will destroy any interest you have in your career. Lots of places seem to fall into this trap. It's frustrating because most of the time it's simply a matter of politics rather than merit. In my own businesses, I make it very clear from the start that no amount of brown…

There need to be more owners with this philosophy.

Re: Ask HN: Does working for big tech companies pay off more compared to startups?

#25

Post by Bahamut »

radmuzom wrote: post #15
devnulled wrote: post #9

I have been a Software Engineer in the field for around 18 years and have worked at numerous companies.. I've been employee #1, and have also worked at a company with around 100K employees across the globe. I haven't yet been a founder, but I've been at 3 startups which have been acquired. At this stage in my career, if compensation is your primary concern, my opinion and experience is that your best bet is a bigger…

In my experience, bad advice (though I agree it may work for some). I made the mistake of joining startups early in my career. I still suffer because of those decisions. It is much better to work for a big brand when you are young. Yes, in startups you get to wear a lot of hats but unless you are really lucky, you never learn anything in depth. Big companies have enough good people to learn from if you are motivated…

Truth is, YMMV. I have only worked at startups and smaller companies (& a mid-sized non-profit for my first job), and I mentor my junior developers quite frequently on improving code quality & code design. They also get the space to work on features & sink or swim based on their decisions so the lessons hit harder - the responsibilities are great, and they aren't just siloed into maintaining existing code. They also get to see the difference between excellent code & code that they have written.

It is hard to speak for all startups since they're a dime in a dozen.

Re: Ask HN: Does working for big tech companies pay off more compared to startups?

#26

Post by loumf »

michaelglarson wrote: post #12
mpeg wrote: post #4

"At big companies, you can expect to get ~$400k-$500k of stock" Where did you get that figure from? That's a bit surprising to me, there's no way you could get that kind of stock grant as an engineer in any of the big companies I've worked at.

Mostly by talking to friends that work at these places.

You are way off. I would estimate $100-200k for 4 years for someone with around 4 years experience when they join. This is based on some quick googling, glassdoor, quora and knowing that 600k+ stock for 4 years at established company for relatively junior positions doesn't make economic sense.

Acquihires and very rare skill holders or more senior roles? Higher -- if your friends of either of these, then maybe.

Re: Ask HN: Does working for big tech companies pay off more compared to startups?

#27

Post by radmuzom »

Bahamut wrote: post #25
radmuzom wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my experience, bad advice (though I agree it may work for some). I made the mistake of joining startups early in my career. I still suffer because of those decisions. It is much better to work for a big brand when you are young. Yes, in startups you get to wear a lot of hats but unless you are really lucky, you never learn anything in depth. Big companies have enough good people to learn from if you are motivated…

Truth is, YMMV. I have only worked at startups and smaller companies (& a mid-sized non-profit for my first job), and I mentor my junior developers quite frequently on improving code quality & code design. They also get the space to work on features & sink or swim based on their decisions so the lessons hit harder - the responsibilities are great, and they aren't just siloed into maintaining existing code. They also…

My hypothesis is that working in small companies (or startups) like Fog Creek where the goal of the founder is to be sort of "be happy and make some money at the same time" is going to be a far better experience than the typical company whose goal is "Let's acquire users so that there is potential to display ads which means that I get funding or get acquired". Of course I have no data to back that up.

Re: Ask HN: Does working for big tech companies pay off more compared to startups?

#28

Post by daxfohl »

Supply vs demand. The supply of engineers wanting to work at small startup companies is huge, while larger companies will always dwarf the startups in demand. So yes, you're paying a premium in your salary for the opportunity to work at a startup.

Re: Ask HN: Does working for big tech companies pay off more compared to startups?

#29

Post by O____________O »

I have a number of friends who work at Google. Meanwhile, I've worked at a variety of small companies, from privately held to "startups".

My advice is, hands down, to get on with the Googles of the world. They have actual career trajectories, and bosses who actually care about moving them along it.

Financially speaking, a startup is almost always the worst choice, unless you're a founder (and even then, the reward is most likely going to be satisfaction of seeing something through, rather than financial).

I hear stories of bureaucracy at large companies, but I've been amazed at the amount of it at so-called startups. Unless you're a founder or a principal engineer role, you're probably going to see the same endless meetings and religious arguments over minutia.

Re: Ask HN: Does working for big tech companies pay off more compared to startups?

#30

Post by daxfohl »

devnulled wrote: post #9

I have been a Software Engineer in the field for around 18 years and have worked at numerous companies.. I've been employee #1, and have also worked at a company with around 100K employees across the globe. I haven't yet been a founder, but I've been at 3 startups which have been acquired. At this stage in my career, if compensation is your primary concern, my opinion and experience is that your best bet is a bigger…

Similar boat. I've found work quality wise it also comes down largely to the people. A traditional new-product "startup" has a lot more potential for a monomaniac egotistical founder that interferes in everything you do, appreciates nothing, and makes things miserable, far more personally so than the "big corp beaurocracy" people complain about (and yet still pay less than them). Big corp you can usually at least transfer departments / managers if things get too out of sorts. For me the best fit has been the small consulting agency; diverse projects with lots of flexibility, and stable enough to recognize the value of good employees and usually give decent raises and benefits.
Post reply on HN