I interviewed at a startup recently and that raised some interesting issues. My last job was at a company that had passed the startup phase - I was the 140th employee - and was on the verge of going IPO back in those halcyon days of '99. Things were rosy and every company that went IPO seemed destined to hit the jackpot so to speak. So going there was an easy decision to make. My current job is at a fairly big well established company with a billion dollars in revenue each year. An advantage of working for a big company is that you have a fairly stable work environment, a nice salary and good benefits. Your next paycheck is never in doubt.
The startup I interviewed at made it clear that they would love to have me, but I had to agree to a pay cut. The figures they bandied about would result in at least a 30-40% pay cut from my present salary. When I told D~ about it, she thought I was mad for even considering such a move.
I feel too boxed in and unchallenged in my present job. I have a fear that my skills are being underutilized and that I could make a greater contribution elsewhere. To be truthful, I have not made a serious attempt to look for alternatives within the company. I think I could do a better job there. Though the fact that there is a hiring freeze in place certainly tempers my enthusiasm. But it wouldn't hurt to look seriously and engage in serious discussions. The other thing that puts me off is that I have to tread carefully and not piss off my current boss as I look for other jobs within the company. Sometimes I feel it is best to start off fresh elsewhere.
Going to a startup is certainly a risk. It is much like rolling a dice and hoping that the winning hand shows up. The dilemma continues
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