Re:Ask HN: Startup vs. big corp fresh out of college?
by xyzelement on Friday July 17, 2015 @05:01PM
(#9905305)
You will get advice like "do it now while you don't need a lot of money." But that's not how money works, assuming you have discipline. All else being equal - the more you make sooner, the more you will have overall.
Two big reasons for this: you will invest the money you have now and will earn interest on it. And: what you will make in your second job will generally be based on what you make in your first. Settle for less the first time around and you will always be playing catch-up.
You want to find the best of both worlds: something that offers you good compensation and stability, while also giving you a chance to learn and grow. A big company can do that, you just need to find the right one. Get as many interviews and offers as you can, feel out the company cultures and do research. Someone else mentioned Google and FB. I am sure that's true, there are also lots of other companies where that's true as well.
Personal anecdote: I work in a fairly large NYC based fin-tech firm. Started 12 years ago out of CS undergrad. Now in my 5th role, including having run multiple dev teams and done product management. The firm supported my growth in other ways (grad school tuition.) I would challenge the notion that I learned less than I would have in a startup.
At the end of the day, you want both: money and opportunity. If you are good, you will have options that give you both. Good luck.
Two big reasons for this: you will invest the money you have now and will earn interest on it. And: what you will make in your second job will generally be based on what you make in your first. Settle for less the first time around and you will always be playing catch-up.
You want to find the best of both worlds: something that offers you good compensation and stability, while also giving you a chance to learn and grow. A big company can do that, you just need to find the right one. Get as many interviews and offers as you can, feel out the company cultures and do research. Someone else mentioned Google and FB. I am sure that's true, there are also lots of other companies where that's true as well.
Personal anecdote: I work in a fairly large NYC based fin-tech firm. Started 12 years ago out of CS undergrad. Now in my 5th role, including having run multiple dev teams and done product management. The firm supported my growth in other ways (grad school tuition.) I would challenge the notion that I learned less than I would have in a startup.
At the end of the day, you want both: money and opportunity. If you are good, you will have options that give you both. Good luck.