Anyone Work For A Startup?

[yeah]

Sup NT,

I was wondering if anyone here has worked for a startup? Either currently or in the past.

I recently got an offer through LinkedIn and was wondering if anyone could share their experience. The opportunity is a DBA role (what I currently do) for a startup in financial services. Comes with full benefits, equity, and other perks.

 

[thrillhouse]

Startup pay was not great. But the atmosphere and the experience that came with it was great. I left the start up for another job and the atmosphere cant compare to my last job.

 

[st1llundftd]

How big is the company?

I worked for a startup for my last job. I started when there were roughly 100 employees, grew to about 500, then slowly back down. I survived like 3 different rounds of layoffs. Im surprised the company is still around too.

Best perks were the food/snacks. Working with a lot less people, i had more resposibility and had to learn different areas outside of my experience (which is a plus). Moving up the chain might be a little easier compared to bigger companies.

Downsides are the hours. I remember when i had to pull 6 10 hour days for a while because we were competing for a contract. Also the uncertainty of the company not making it.

Every company will be different though.

 

[6 Rings G.O.A.T.]

 

[ricerocket1]

Me. Was a start up. But it was a new business. Worked in IT. Good times. Learned a lot, some stuff i prolly wont experience if i was in a different company. Currently still here. Hyper Growth is no joke man.

 

[sfc415]

I've only worked with/at startups my entire career.

Positives: Good pay, relaxed environment, free company lunches and unlimited PTO (at least at mine),ability to learn A LOT very quickly, chance to get stock in the company and hopefully make $$$ after being vested, flexibility

Downsides: not really a negative, but you are definitely expected to work much more/harder than you would at most regular corporate companies. You're expected to be "on call" most of the time, even if you're a lower level employee, since a lot depends on each individual person. The pace of work is also very hectic and disorganized since you don't have much support. Also, you don't know if yout startup will fail or still be good a year from now. I'd suggest aiming for startups that have good VC backing

 

[Fong$tarr]

^^^^What he said. I think hours wise, you will do way more work than most regular 7-8 hour corporate jobs. I know people that work at Facebook, Amazon, etc and even though those are tech giants now, they still have to put in like 10-12 hour days. Pay is good for them but it seems they are always exhausted. To top it off, they live in SF and most of their money just goes to rent and eating and boozing on the weekends.

I work corporate. Environment sucks here and there is no one really my age even though I am on the old side as far as tech is concerned (36 years old) but I do my 7 hours each day with an hour lunch. I do about 2-3 hours work total and the rest is being on NT and just listening to music.

 

[llerraj]

Yes. It is now a company that dominates it's niche.

Pros: You enhance your skill set because you have to wear multiple hats.

Cons: You have to wear multiple hats. The hours can be rough at times. When there's shaky finances, you're likely the first one to go which was my experience. Although this can happen anywhere, it's easier to see coming at a larger company.

I will never go back to a startup. When I review contract offers and see that it's from a startup, I kindly turn them down.

 

[W)taps]

I've only worked with/at startups my entire career.

Positives: Good pay, relaxed environment, free company lunches and unlimited PTO (at least at mine),ability to learn A LOT very quickly, chance to get stock in the company and hopefully make $$$ after being vested, flexibility

 

[Fong$tarr]

^^^^Unlimited PTO is only good if you can use it. If you are working like crazy, and can't take the time off, it's almost a wash. I do know people that took 3 weeks off at a start up which is something that is rare at a corporate job. Also I don't think you can cash out on your PTO. Like if I left my company and have 2 weeks PTO, I'll get cashed out on all those hours. I mean it's just a check in the grand scheme of things but something nice anyways.

 

[sfc415]

By unlimited PTO I definitely don't mean that I can take off months at a time in practice it's more like a couple of 1-2 week vacations a year and occasionally taking the day off every month or so. The benefit is not having those random days off affect your actual vacation plans. In addition every once in a while we're allowed to work from home, but I usually come to the office anyway for the free food

 

[sfc415]

Another negative: being around unwashed looking and annoying tech bros in flannel shirts all day. One of the reasons I hate SF and live outside of the city now. I just keep to myself at work, outside of the fake friendly interactions

 

[AZwildcats]

I work for a software company that hasn't been around that long. The pay is decent but the benefits awful. Going through the growing pains with the company can be both a good and frustrating thing

 

[nazdrowie]

im still trying to figure out what "unlimited PTO" actually means...is it just butts in seats during "busy season?"

several companies in the DC area have instituted this policy

http://goingconcern.com/grant-thornton-changes-unlimited-pto/

 

[AZwildcats]

I get a week of PTO

 

[sfc415]

im still trying to figure out what "unlimited PTO" actually means...is it just butts in seats during "busy season?"

several companies in the DC area have instituted this policy

http://goingconcern.com/grant-thornton-changes-unlimited-pto/

It's an incentive to both the employee and the employer. Like Fongstarr said, the employer doesn't have to cash out any PTO the employee hasn't used if the employee leaves. For the employee, it's an incentive to stay loyal to the company again, in practice, it's not THAT much more vacation time if you work at a fast paced and busy company like I do. It just allows for more 1-2 day trips that would've dug into your long vacation plans if you had the usual 10-14 days most people have.

 

[Fong$tarr]

Plus unlimited PTO also means you don't have to roll over days as well to count on having a ton of vacation days. Like say I had 2 weeks of PTO and wanted to go on a 3 week trip, I would have to take vacation conservatively in order for me to take that huge trip the next year. With unlimited PTO, you don't have to deal with that. Again, not all companies want you to take tons of time off anyways so in an odd way, it could be looked at as the same as having regular PTO unless you just don't get any. I have 3 weeks PTO and that is enough for rolling over some and taking a lot of time off.

 

[HellaSteph]

9.5 years in startups in Silicon Valley and SF. I dedicated my entire career to startups and most everything said here is pretty spot on.

Some things I noticed when I worked at my last startups:
- Engineers are first class citizens and they don't let you forget that.
- Layoffs are sudden and frequent. Stability in a startup doesn't exist no matter how much money there is.
- All the office benefits are all for show. They only offer it to keep the younger crowds working longer, not harder.
- Startups are great for people like me who get bored doing one job. The many hats is a great way to learn new skills all the time.
- Just because a startup is profitable does not guarantee it will be stable or successful for the long term. One of the startups I worked for was around for 10+ years then some bad management came in and ruined it all.

If the role you're being offered is a DBA, it's considered engineering so you will be treated very well in a startup.

 

[AZwildcats]

My dream is to eventually be a DBA or Network Admin

 

[HellaSteph]

My dream is to eventually be a DBA or Network Admin

I know how to deal with queries and what they mean but I don't know how to write. I formerly ran database reports for business clients and had a great experience. I highly recommend anyone considering becoming a DBA to learn about the many ways to apply their skills. Lots of job opportunities that pay very well for those roles (many are remote and don't require you to live close by!)

 

[lazyj10]

I haven't directly worked at one but know a lot since I work with a number of VC funds.

As for the PTO model, it's a mechanism to minimize PTO payouts and sick leave. Part of it has a HR law too.

The vesting period and how you can still sell your shares is something you'll want to know before accepting an offer.

 

[sfc415]

- All the office benefits are all for show. They only offer it to keep the younger crowds working longer, not harder.

True. I spend ~10 hours at my office every day, and the free food is what keeps me from being miserable

 

[sfc415]

The vesting period and how you can still sell your shares is something you'll want to know before accepting an offer.

Definitely. If you have the luxury to do so, do a ton of research into a startup's industry and don't sign for a startup that doesn't give you stock options. I didn't do this when I first started my career since I was happy to get any job at the time, but now that I look back, I spent years at that company with nothing to show for it.

Also, PLEASE do not join companies run by tech bros and young CEOs, CFOs, etc. I worked as an accountant for many of these startups, and these clowns burn through cash on so much unnecessary @#$@. I had one startup collapse because the officers were convinced that moving from a $10K/month office in Mountain View to a $50K/month giant hipster warehouse in SF was a good idea for "attracting talent that want to work in the city" On top of that, they were buying all these random hipster appliances like coffee machines that cost thousands of dollars, vintage arcade games for the office, etc. Zero credit card controls; dudes would spend literally ~200K a month on travel and meals&entertainment. I was just like damn, at least establish yourself as an actual desirable service/product first before you buy all this stuff!

 

[HellaSteph]

Definitely. If you have the luxury to do so, do a ton of research into a startup's industry and don't sign for a startup that doesn't give you stock options. I didn't do this when I first started my career since I was happy to get any job at the time, but now that I look back, I spent years at that company with nothing to show for it.

Also, PLEASE do not join companies run by tech bros and young CEOs, CFOs, etc. I worked as an accountant for many of these startups, and these clowns burn through cash on so much unnecessary @#$@. I had one startup collapse because the officers were convinced that moving from a $10K/month office in Mountain View to a $50K/month giant hipster warehouse in SF was a good idea for "attracting talent that want to work in the city" On top of that, they were buying all these random hipster appliances like coffee machines that cost thousands of dollars, vintage arcade games for the office, etc. Zero credit card controls; dudes would spend literally ~200K a month on travel and meals&entertainment. I was just like damn, at least establish yourself as an actual desirable service/product first before you buy all this stuff!

Uh, are you sure we didn't work at the same companies at some point?? I swear this happened to me, too. It's scary how a pattern of bad behavior out of tech companies can be drilled down, regardless of how the company was started or who backed it up.

Same here. 9.5 years in the industry and I have nothing to show for it because some knuckle heads got spend-happy. One C.O.O. I worked for got a $2 million dollar salary (per year) when the company only made $10 mil in profit. How is that reasonable? Dude worked out of NYC, and he flies to SF every month or so to work. How is that reasonable? He's one of the dozen C-level jerks who burn money but the middle and lower level folks have to fight to get a decent salary or even a reasonable raise.

The last straw for me was learning one of the CEOs I worked for invested into entertainment in the form of escort clubs with company money. Nice to know how hard I worked to afford them such wonderful "entertainment."

I loved tech startups until I learned the truth.

 

[lazyj10]

Definitely. If you have the luxury to do so, do a ton of research into a startup's industry and don't sign for a startup that doesn't give you stock options. I didn't do this when I first started my career since I was happy to get any job at the time, but now that I look back, I spent years at that company with nothing to show for it.

Also, PLEASE do not join companies run by tech bros and young CEOs, CFOs, etc. I worked as an accountant for many of these startups, and these clowns burn through cash on so much unnecessary @#$@. I had one startup collapse because the officers were convinced that moving from a $10K/month office in Mountain View to a $50K/month giant hipster warehouse in SF was a good idea for "attracting talent that want to work in the city" On top of that, they were buying all these random hipster appliances like coffee machines that cost thousands of dollars, vintage arcade games for the office, etc. Zero credit card controls; dudes would spend literally ~200K a month on travel and meals&entertainment. I was just like damn, at least establish yourself as an actual desirable service/product first before you buy all this stuff!

Good points. Honestly, if I were in the position to join a startup of any kind, who is backing them matters. If the VCs are strong, then some of that pointless, frivolous spending goes down exponentially.

Be cognizant too that we're in a very frothy valuation period which means M&A and a downturn could drastically cut the number of viable companies and increase the talent pool (I.e more competition for jobs).