Take Google and see if u can do advisory work for the startup on side for equity. I am bias as worked at Google but left for startup world and would never go back. The Google name can open pretty much any doors
This would be a violation of Google’s anti-moonlighting clause, so only take this advice if you’re willing to lose your job at Google over it.
Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
101–110 of 224 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
#102Advice from someone who had a similar choice and went the startup route: choose the Google option. It will not only open doors for you for all your future jobs, but you can invest the money now and create a nice start for yourself. There will never be any shortage of interesting startups to work for in the future.
Re: Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
#103My brother left a good job for a promising start up last year. Without getting into detail he wound up quitting a few weeks before they closed up shop. It started out great but quickly fizzled out due to the lack lack of a cohesive goal. It's a high risk that he took and lost. Now he's looking for work again. He regrets the decision.
YMMV but Google is a guarantee and a great resume stuffer.
Re: Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
#104Advice from someone who had a similar choice and went the startup route: choose the Google option. It will not only open doors for you for all your future jobs, but you can invest the money now and create a nice start for yourself. There will never be any shortage of interesting startups to work for in the future.
I couldn’t agree more—I would add live below your means because you don’t want to get used to that lifestyle/level of income where it would be impossible to step back later if you wanted.
This is good advice in general
Re: Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
#105Will you be able to work on problems interesting to you or you think are important, with people you like and enjoy working with? Nobody can answer the question for you but Google and a startup are going to offer wildly different answers to that question. That's the aspect I would focus on. Everyone in this thread who is telling you they can predict the net effect on your finances or your reputation or future career options after a few years give themselves too much credit.
And hell, in my own experience going through a failed startup has actually had an equally positive impact on my life as another I co-founded which was more successful. Don't let people fool you into thinking that walking away from a failed startup where you learned and grew as a person is somehow a worse outcome than spending your years in a job that is more "secure" but with a narrower breadth of skill development or ownership over your work.
Re: Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
#106I was faced with a similar choice two years ago and went with Google. I really didn't enjoy my time there; turns out big companies really aren't my cup of tea. I also learned much less than I would have somewhere else because Google's stack is quite proprietary and I simply wasn't motivated in that environment. I quit after only 8 months. So it may surprise you that I'd recommend taking the Google offer! In my mind,…
Re: Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
#1071. 6% of zero is zero. 2. 4 years is a lot of time to spend at a company for a high probability of making 6% of zero. 3. If you're an employee at a startup, you're in the wrong job. You're much better off being a founder. 4. Equity is a way to be paid less and to be fired in the first year if you haven't vested anything. 5. Who are you going to sell your equity shares to? It's not necessarily a free market in the sta…
"...You're much better off being a founder." Or VC investor with preferred shares that will guarantee you get paid first N-times your original investment (before unaware engineers will see a penny).
Re: Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
#108Disclaimer: I'm a founder of an early stage startup, so I'm biased. You need to figure out what your goals are. We can't answer for you because we don't know what you want. If your goal is just money (which is fine, don't be afraid to say this), then definitely go to google. In 10 years you'll be earning 500k per year, and have put away a ton of cash too. Financially, if the startup is successful you_might_ make $10m…
if the startup is the next facebook, sure. But usually an employee doesn't make 10 million, even for 100 million dollar(+) acquisitions. Founders do, but that is a different game.
Re: Ask HN: How do I choose between a job offer from Google and a promising startup?
#1091. 6% of zero is zero. 2. 4 years is a lot of time to spend at a company for a high probability of making 6% of zero. 3. If you're an employee at a startup, you're in the wrong job. You're much better off being a founder. 4. Equity is a way to be paid less and to be fired in the first year if you haven't vested anything. 5. Who are you going to sell your equity shares to? It's not necessarily a free market in the sta…