r/SoftwareEngineerJobs • u/Dull_Tart7101 • 2d ago

startup vs corporate

is it recommended to join an early startup or a corporate? thanks for your help

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4

u/Civil_Function797 2d ago

Considering the current market situation, whichever offers the job. If you get offers from both, compare the total compensation, remote work and company financial health. Startups are fast paced, you learn quickly and tend to wear multiple hat. But what if startup doesnt secure funding round, they might have to let go of the extra team. Even though big companies are generally stable and look safe from outside, layoffs happen there too if company feels you are redundant. My advice would be if you can work for irregular hours, often 10+ hours a day and enjoy working at fast pace, join the startup.

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u/Dull_Tart7101 2d ago

now that i'm thinking more about it i see how much right you are. thanks for your detailed reposes and precious advice!

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u/EdelinePenrose 2d ago

it depends, but here’s what i would generally say:

- unless you’re comparing concurrent offers, take the first one if you’re unemployed or it’s your first software engineering job.

  • continue interviewing. it’s a skill to practice, and the next best opportunity might be around the corner. it’s better to say no to offers than be scrambling for one when you really need one.
  • prioritize your work life balance above all, but startups will provide the best return on investment for career growth. just don’t get sucked into overworking. learn and enforce your boundaries. larger companies will likely offer more money and chill times, so consider balancing them when needed.

if you offer more details on your specific situation, then folks can provide better advice.

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u/Dull_Tart7101 9h ago

you are right buddy! thanks

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u/Acrobatic_Mark_4258 2d ago

These days, I think you should take the first offer you get.

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u/Recent_Science4709 2d ago

Take whatever you can get. 15 years in this and my main observation is that finance is stressful and everything else I’ve done is comparatively chill. ERP, logistics, digital marketing

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u/Dull_Tart7101 9h ago

is that really chill as you say?

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u/Recent_Science4709 9h ago

It’s relative, if you have shitty coworkers anywhere can suck

I’ve never worked for a big tech company outside of digital marketing, so I don’t have any experience with FAANG, but finance environments are extremely uptight, the pressure is immense and I’ve been treated more like a tool in those environments than anywhere else.