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Work at a Startup

workatastartup.org

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Re: Work at a Startup

#81

Post by puredemo »

pg wrote: post #63
aristus wrote: post #55

A question I'm surprised isn't on here: what's the motivation to do this? Is it becoming harder for YC companies to hire, or a way to share resources, etc?

Hiring tends to be issue number 1 for all startups that get over the initial threshold of raising significant funding. Now that so many of the startups we've funded are over that threshold, we were hearing more and more about it. So we started to think whether there was anything we could do to help them, and it seemed like the best thing we could do would be to make the idea of working for a startup more real to more…

I think more startups should be willing to take on junior level programmers and interns.

For instance, there's not much of a jumping off point for smart people who are just starting out in programming. I know a few people who understand basic php and mysql but would happily learn more in depth programming and best practices if given the chance.

Re: Work at a Startup

#82

Post by zackattack »

jodrellblank wrote: post #78
zackattack wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Okay, what's the appeal of "changing the world" for its own sake? I often hear things like "entrepreneurs endure the stress because they want to change the world."

People who want to change the world think their change will be an improvement, they aren't doing it "for it's own sake".

Yeah they're improving it to be more in line with some set of values (which will vary depending on their ethics). When they don't say which values are important and just say "changing the world" I am not inspired.

Re: Work at a Startup

#84

Post by rodh257 »

this might be a little off topic, but what sort of programming languages, and other skill requirements are most popular at these sort of events?

As a programmer who wants to work for (and perhaps start) a startup in the future, I'm interested in what technologies, skills etc are most common. I do ASP.NET at the moment, but this is more enterprise than startup I believe.

If this is totally the wrong spot let me know, but I'd imagine if I rocked up to this event, and everyone was doing Rails I'd be useless to most?

Re: Work at a Startup

#85

Post by HeyLaughingBoy »

Tichy wrote: post #24
branden wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just want to code. I'm okay with the risk and glory going to someone else.

Is that attitude common, or are you one in a million? (Serious question)

Common? I'd have to say that among the average population it's the most common attitude. Most people just want to work, get paid, and go home. Sure, they may want the glory (but generally it's sufficient recognition they really want), but they definitely don't want the risk.

Common in a group of entrepreneurs? No! Common in the workforce of the average company? Definitely.

Re: Work at a Startup

#86

Post by euroclydon »

pg wrote: post #63
aristus wrote: post #55

A question I'm surprised isn't on here: what's the motivation to do this? Is it becoming harder for YC companies to hire, or a way to share resources, etc?

Hiring tends to be issue number 1 for all startups that get over the initial threshold of raising significant funding. Now that so many of the startups we've funded are over that threshold, we were hearing more and more about it. So we started to think whether there was anything we could do to help them, and it seemed like the best thing we could do would be to make the idea of working for a startup more real to more…

I've worked at both, and a problem that can occur as an employee at start-ups is the lack of peer-level comradery. If you're not getting the best benefits or are disgruntled about some decision, often the best way to move on can be by turning to your co-worker and muttering, "what an a##-hole." But at a start-up, that co-worker might be the owner's best friend, with 10% equity.

Is there a way to fix this?

Re: Work at a Startup

#87

Post by [deleted] »

pg wrote: post #21
sayrer wrote: post #16

This comment will sound a little confrontational, but here it goes. Why would anyone competent enough to work at one of these companies choose that path instead of being a founder?

That's actually a good question. There are several answers. One is that being a founder is not merely a matter of competence. It's also financially risky, and very stressful. So someone who was just as competent as the founders but wanted less risk or stress might prefer to be an early employee. You can titrate the amount of startupness you get in your job by the size of the company you join. If you're the first pers…

[deleted]

Re: Work at a Startup

#88

Post by branden »

HeyLaughingBoy wrote: post #85
Tichy wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that attitude common, or are you one in a million? (Serious question)

Common? I'd have to say that among the average population it's the most common attitude. Most people just want to work, get paid, and go home. Sure, they may want the glory (but generally it's sufficient recognition they really want), but they definitely don't want the risk. Common in a group of entrepreneurs? No! Common in the workforce of the average company? Definitely.

Most people just want to work, get paid, and go home.

That implies a certain apathy that I didn't (intend to) convey. Strlen's comment is a good expansion of what I said: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1346626

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