Ask HN: Is it time to say goodbye to the startup world?

2 pointsmacguyver11y ago3 comments

There has been a lot of threads* with people becoming disillusioned with the startup world.

A prominent startup figure has mentioned that there is a lot of posturing, positioning in the recruiting process. Great people just want to work with one another, but, I'm finding the interview process more and more stifled and ridiculous compared to 9 years ago - when I first started working with startups - and even 3 years ago.

I just want to work with one GREAT company for 30-40 years and am starting to think such a company only exists in more traditional sectors (hospitality etc).

Has anyone here ended their career in high tech and not looked back? (You probably wouldn't be on HN if you didn't look back :-P)

EG.,https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8177259 There's no search function for me to pull up threads with the title "programmers becoming disillusioned", there was a bunch of them.

* Edit: To think of it, is this just with SF Bay startups? I interviewed with about 15 startups, and they are noticably more fickle than East Coast startups.

3 comments

mindcrime11y ago

Edit: To think of it, is this just with SF Bay startups?

It's just a guess, but I'd say there's a good chance of that. I mean, I'm on the East Coast, and from what I read on here about SF / Bay startups, I get the feeling that a lot of things here are less competitive, less hyberbolic, more relaxed, etc.

Which is ironic in a sense I guess, since traditionally it was the West Coast were people were considered more chill, laid back, etc. But in terms of the startup scene, I feel like that may be a bit backwards. It's hard to say though.

czbond11y ago

What I've found is that startups have impossibly high standards during a physical "interview" process, out of fear. It's like their lack of management skills make them unable to decide unless someone is clearly a 1% hire.

_random_11y ago

"I just want to work with one GREAT company for 30-40 years..." - and yet you are applying to companies, 90% of which are likely to fail?

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