Help me
Should I work at well-named startups or companies to work at (eg: CRED, Infosys, etc) with less pay? Or Should I work at unknown startups or companies (eg: early-stage startups or local companies) with higher pay? (x2 the salary here). Note: For the above, the experience & designation are the same. The question is related to future work prospects does working at we'll name brands help me get higher pay in the future?
It really depends on what your personal goals are.
It personally for me I always believe starting at a top brand company is usually helps set a safer career for you in the long run and open more doors later on.
The only scary part to avoid at a top company is to make sure you don’t forget to hustle and work hard. Don’t let the cushiony job spoil you
MetalalGada
Student
2 years ago
Currently, I work at an unknown startup with higher pay. If I switch to a branded company I get lesser pay should I do that? (~15% lesser).
Mowgli
Stealth
2 years ago
Mix it up. Why pick one direction? Your career will last years. Just figure out your priorities first depending on where you are in your career.
A startup will multiply your learning and breadth of work much quicker than a larger company while the latter will typically offer more work-life balance, depth of work and money.
MetalalGada
Student
2 years ago
I have not seen a branded name offering decent pay till now only early-stage startups are offering decent pay.
My question is only limited to career growth and not about learning, WLB, gf, marriage, etc.
Take the example of Tara Kapur.
Mowgli
Stealth
2 years ago
@MetalalGada No company is going to offer more than what they think they need to.
A startup might offer more but they extract a lot more work with that than a larger company would, which banks on its name to offer lesser salaries.
BUT, salary negotiation is usually possible once you've shown the hiring team enough value to get them to offer you top-of-the budget comp rather than the median.
I've no idea who Tara Kapur is, but if you're referring to titles when you mean career growth, I'd advise to stay away from that race. It's hollow and it will make you feel hollow and give rise to impostor syndrome. And if not that, you'll get burnt out quick because of being on the treadmill. Picking something you're genuinely interested in as a career path will lead to growth, money and (if you still care about it after finding that thing) titles too. And a startup would still be the better choice to discover such a thing just because you can get opportunities to dabble in multiple areas and find what you like.
MetalalGada
Student
2 years ago
I am not referring to titles when I am talking about Tara Kapur.
You can search to see who has been famous recently to leave Netflix and join Duolingo. I refer to her, I am talking about the brands she attested with (Bloomberg -> Times -> VICE -> Netflix -> Duolingo). (And certainly, she is making ~50LPA - of course after hard work and experience she has).
So it's so easy for her to jump to different companies because of the brands she is attested with.
Compared to some who have worked for companies - that no one knows about. (But has a higher salary)
So it's like
A = Works at a Startup or Company no one knows about.
B = Works at a Well know Startup or Company.
Now A has 1 year of experience and is paid 10LPA (Same designation & Same role).
B has 1 year of experience and is paid 5 LPA (Same designation & Same role).
Now Cut to 5 years.
A is working at a lesser-known startup or company (let's say after 2 or 3 switches) and is making 20LPA
B is working for another branded startup or company (let's say after 2 or 3 switches) and is making 25LPA. (earning 5L extra just because worked with famous brands in the past).
So now what do you suggest?
(Please don't involve satisfaction, WLF, wife, mental health, etc. Nothing is in ones hand)
Mowgli
Stealth
2 years ago
@MetalalGada If you think all of those are out of your hand, buddy, I'd suggest working on changing that mindset first.
I've been where you are. I'm from a tier-3 engineering college and a middle class background. I've rejected offers from Facebook (back when it was Facebook) and recently Google in favour of lesser known firms and I'm happy with my choices. I've changed my career a couple of times, I've made 45 LPA despite that, and I still get a lot of interest from a range of companies in my inbox, including FAMANG.
All I can tell you is that everything, including your career, starts with yourself and figuring what you'd like to do most and then finding an intersection of that with something that's in fair demand in the industry.
There are plenty of opportunities out there for both A and B but that won't matter if you're doing something that you don't like.
I'd suggest looking inwards and figuring out what matters to you. Is it association with big brands? Is it flexibility in career choices? Is it looking for stability? Is it money? Once you figure that out, things will be pretty clear when look outwards again.
If you don't have any clear answers, that's okay too, and I'd still suggest starting with a start-up to figure out the answers since that would allow you to look into and perhaps explore different career lines to figure out your interests. All the best.
MetalalGada
Student
2 years ago
Alright. What do you suggest? Currently, I work at a not-famous startup with higher pay (like no one is paying the amount I am earning). Should I switch to a Startup or a company (just because they are famous) goal is get added that brand name to my CV or Resume so that it becomes easy for me to get future jobs (switching easily to new jobs); the condition is if I switch to these branded startups or companies my salary will be lesser than what I am earning right now (~15/20% lesser).
Why it is lesser? It's not lesser because I am a fuddu. It's because the average salary is in that range but where I am working is providing more than average (20-30% higher).
The question is should I risk my high paying for it?
Since you're starting off I would recommend early stage startups. A ton of experience will come to you in a very short span. The thing about "working in well know brands" for future career prospects is a myth. Its only specific to sectors. For example most JP Morgan folks jump to Fidelity. Most PWC folks will jump to EY or KPMG etc. So yeah don't worry on this. I wil take the startup work and experience any day if I was younger.
Depends on your age profile. If you are a beginner in you mid 20s, go for startup. Learn as much as you can. Target to settle with an established MNC by your mid 30s.
Discover More
Curated from across
