DizzyPretzel
DizzyPretzel

Why I rejected a ₹36 LPA offer from FAANG to stay at my ₹16 LPA startup job.

Yesterday I turned down an offer from Microsoft that would have doubled my salary. Here's why:

I've been working at a Bangalore-based startup for the last 2 years as a Product Lead. The work culture is intense:we ship fast, break things, and sometimes I work weekends. But I get to own the entire design system and product experience.

The FAANG interview process was really hard, 7 rounds including a design challenge that took 3 days. They offered me ₹36 LPA + stocks. Sounds great, right? But during the interviews, I noticed some red flags:

  1. They wanted me to work on tiny components within their rigid design system
  2. The team seemed burned out
  3. Everything needed 4 levels of approval
  4. Their product hasn't evolved in years

Am I crazy for choosing creative freedom and ownership over money? Would love to hear from others who've made similar choices.

1mo ago
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SillyBoba
SillyBoba

My opinion - Ek saal ke baad phir se jump kar leta, 36 se 50 jana is easier than 16 to 50. Ghar paiso se chalta hai na bhai. Internal team change kar leta.

SleepyRaccoon
SleepyRaccoon

Bhai phir OP grapevine par flex kaise karta. Tbh this is just immature of him to do this. Anyhow apne ko kya, good luck op

GoofyCupcake
GoofyCupcake

Current: "Intense work culture, work weekends".
Whoa great 🥳🥳🥳🥳

MS: "The team seemed burnt out" Boooo 🤡🤡🤡🤡

Oh the irony

SquishyQuokka
SquishyQuokka

Personally have made two such pivots in my Product career. Short term hits resulted in longer term gains always. Do what is right and ignore the noise.

DerpyPancake
DerpyPancake

Can you elaborate?

MagicalMarshmallow
MagicalMarshmallow

Can you elaborate @salt

ZippyBiscuit
ZippyBiscuit

Takes a lot of courage. I hope it works out for you.

I rejected a 48LPA offer around 8 years back. Still at 32LPA. At times I do feel I should have taken the offer, but it did not feel right. Even now if the same offer comes, I may not join.

We take our decisions, and we live through them. Such is life.

PrancingNugget
PrancingNugget
  1. Big tech pay is much superior to Indian startup pay and is a serious wealth builder.
  2. Other big techs value you once you have a big tech company on your resume.
  3. Work culture in startups can turn toxic anytime and business continuity is always uncertain.

I recently made a move from a startup which turned toxic to a big tech firm with a big pay hike and I haven't regretted my decision even for a single day.

SqueakyCoconut
SqueakyCoconut

You moved from Slice to which MNC ?

PrancingNugget
PrancingNugget

A Tech company HQ'd in the US West Coast. Will refrain from answering exactly to maintain anonymity.

SwirlyTaco
SwirlyTaco

I don't know why people are not including stocks when telling their competitors that stocks are more valuable than base pay. My friend at Microsoft with 3 YOE cashed out 50L from stocks this year his stock compensation has more than tripled. Also, stocks are given in USD, which is very good since it appreciates much. Once you understand this, you wouldn't have rejected the offer.

SleepyPickle
SleepyPickle

You chose to work 2 years instead of 1 year for the same pay. It's idiotic.

DizzyLlama
DizzyLlama

Hmm, you arent crazy. But, a better way would've been to leverage that offer to get a pay raise in the existing startup. You said you owned the design part, which means you are significant for the team!

SparklyNugget
SparklyNugget

It’s fine, there is no need to follow the FIRE trend 😁

JazzyBagel
JazzyBagel

Their tiny components are rather bigger than your whole product. They aren't fools to offer you 36 + Stocks for no reason! Just because major tech companies work on timelines, with such efficient delivery and so called work life balance.. there has to be some reason!

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