Ask HN:Should I continue working at a (failing?) startup?

#1

Post by anon_koder » Sat, Jul 23, 2011, 3:40 PM UTC

I am an year old rails developer.Since I finished college an year ago,I have been working at a startup(Ruby on Rails Consultancy).Now I am thinking of a job change because of following reasons :

1)They pay me around 0.5x offered by other companies in the industry.

2)The technology side of company is weak.(Heck , I do not write tests and there is no one at company who does or can teach me.)

However ,the company says - "We will pay you better,and you are the one to bring in the standards and practices" Should I stay at the company(and take the risk)? or look around for better Rails companies?

I am posting this here because,i think my feelings are much related to the (wrong ?) startup environment I am working in.The whole story happens in India btw.

Re: Ask HN:Should I continue working at a (failing?) startup?

#2

Post by svigraham » Sat, Jul 23, 2011, 3:43 PM UTC

It is not about the pay when you work at a startup. You have to ask yourself if you believe in what they are doing and if it aligns with what you feel your time's worth is. The pay is always going to be lesser than what you get outside, but if you like them, they are honest/fair, and you believe in that idea...those can be your metrics. :) my 2c.

Re: Ask HN:Should I continue working at a (failing?) startup?

#3

Post by zinssmeister » Sat, Jul 23, 2011, 3:45 PM UTC

If you think the startup is failing it is either because a.) the startup is actually failing or b.)you don't believe it can be a success and assume it is failing. Either way it doesn't sound like you are passionate enough about this startup anymore.

So the real question should be. Should you continue to work at a startup you have no passion for? The Answer is NO. Change jobs.

Re: Ask HN:Should I continue working at a (failing?) startup?

#4

Post by anon_koder » Sat, Jul 23, 2011, 4:15 PM UTC

svigraham wrote: post #2

It is not about the pay when you work at a startup. You have to ask yourself if you believe in what they are doing and if it aligns with what you feel your time's worth is. The pay is always going to be lesser than what you get outside, but if you like them, they are honest/fair, and you believe in that idea...those can be your metrics. :) my 2c.

I was bothered about pay because there are other startups around doing same service and giving a higher pay.

Re: Ask HN:Should I continue working at a (failing?) startup?

#5

Post by anon_koder » Sat, Jul 23, 2011, 4:20 PM UTC

zinssmeister wrote: post #3

If you think the startup is failing it is either because a.) the startup is actually failing or b.)you don't believe it can be a success and assume it is failing. Either way it doesn't sound like you are passionate enough about this startup anymore. So the real question should be. Should you continue to work at a startup you have no passion for? The Answer is NO. Change jobs.

I am confused if other startups too would have these issues(Feeling of financial insecurity ,Lack of talent to mentor me).

I also feel ,if I work hard , build a strong technical team - the company then may prosper.But again,as you said,it comes to the same question - Am I passionate enough about the company to work hard and possibly risk my entire career(without working under a mentor).

Re: Ask HN:Should I continue working at a (failing?) startup?

#6

Post by rick888 » Sat, Jul 23, 2011, 4:37 PM UTC

svigraham wrote: post #2

It is not about the pay when you work at a startup. You have to ask yourself if you believe in what they are doing and if it aligns with what you feel your time's worth is. The pay is always going to be lesser than what you get outside, but if you like them, they are honest/fair, and you believe in that idea...those can be your metrics. :) my 2c.

If you are an employee, it needs to be about the money. When the company gets purchased for millions of dollars (unless you have major equity), how much money are you going to get?

Many startups use this excuse so they can pay employees peanuts, when they are working 70-80 hour weeks to launch a product that will make the founders rich.

This is why I don't work at statups, unless I started it myself.