English translation · Reader alias: ZhiqiuRead the Chinese original ↗
Echo correspondenceNO. 08
Four options / For Airing
From Zhiqiu
Stability, income and growth: what should I prioritize?
Reader alias · Zhiqiu
NO. 08Letter
Zhiqiu to Airing
Hello, Airing! I saw the letter consultation service on your personal site. I happen to be weighing some career choices 🤔 and would appreciate a little guidance if you have time.
[Education, career history, identifying combinations of technical specialisms and recruitment leads removed.]
The opportunities I currently have
[The options table in the original letter is presented below as separate entries in its original order.]
Option A. Company: stay at [company A]. Pay: [exact compensation and equity vesting dates removed]. Features: stable, [internal projects and responsibilities removed], limited room for growth.
Option B. Company: an early-stage startup. Pay: [salary and equity or option amounts removed]. Features: [team size removed], remote work, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., five days a week, weekends off.
Option C. Company: [company C]. Pay: [size of increase removed]. Features: [team, product and level removed], relocation to [city removed] required.
Option D. Company: [company D]. Pay: [compensation and overtime pay increase removed]. Features: a prominent startup in a specialist field, [size removed], demanding work, relocation to [city removed] required.
My analysis
A. Stay at [company A]: safest in the short term, worst in the long term.
Pros:
· [Equity value and vesting dates removed], plus a pay rise, are definite gains. [Specific performance and timing details removed.]
· I know the business. [Internal projects, responsibilities and identifying technical details removed.]
· No move, no need to adjust to a new environment, no psychological cost.
Cons:
· [Specific changes in technical direction and comparisons of employer investment removed.]
· The hidden cost of staying is difficult to quantify. I feel I am exchanging time for an increasingly uncertain future. [Company A] feels like a great ship from a bygone era, slowly sinking.
B. The early-stage startup
Pros:
· Remote work, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., five days a week, weekends off: excellent quality of life.
· The founder seemed trustworthy in conversation. [Founder’s background and business information removed.]
· The [technical field removed] is a good fit.
Cons:
· Annual cash compensation of [amount removed] feels too low.
· [Equity or option amounts and terms removed.] The options feel like nothing more than paper.
C. [Large internet company and team removed]
Pros:
· A substantial pay increase.
· The reputation of [company C] on my résumé.
· [Team and product comparison removed.] No need to change technical direction.
· The team’s overall capability is strong. [Interviewer’s background removed.] My prospective direct manager made a good impression.
Cons:
· Moving from [current city] to [new city] means renting, moving and rebuilding my life. There are direct costs, and the adjustment cost is even higher.
· Strict probation assessments and a strong culture of eliminating underperformers at [company C].
· Risks in [product and company removed] itself: internal projects at [company removed] change frequently, and the team could be restructured.
· [Internal performance review details removed.] I am not sure how smoothly I could settle into this team.
D. [Company D]: a prominent startup in [specific field removed].
Pros:
· The highest-paying option.
· A prominent startup in its specialist field. If it succeeds, the returns for early employees could far exceed those of working at a large company.
· Growth and the scope of responsibility at a startup usually far exceed those at a large company; I could experience more of the complete business process.
· The living infrastructure in [new city] is comparable to [current city], with potentially more future opportunities.
· [Specific product and technology comparisons removed.]
Cons:
· Startup survival rates are low. If [company D] does not succeed, its name on my résumé would carry less weight than [company C].
· Startup work is extremely demanding: alternating five- and six-day weeks, with late-night overtime common during busy periods.
My preference is D > C > A > B. These are only my own judgments and inclinations. This would be my first job change as an experienced hire, so I still feel uncertain and worry that I have overlooked risks.
Given my current stage, what would you suggest?
NO. 08Reply
Airing to Zhiqiu
Personally, I would suggest D over A.
I do not think D’s two disadvantages amount to much.
1. The depth of the project and the experience it offers would be competitive enough if you wanted to return to a large company.
2. Whether overtime is worth a [size of increase removed] pay rise is up to you. I think it is acceptable soon after graduation. If you would otherwise use your free time to develop yourself, and the work at [company D] has enough depth to teach you something, I think the trade is worthwhile.
I would not recommend considering B.
Staying at A is also a better short-term choice, but not the best long-term one. Since you have been promised a strong midyear performance rating, I do not think you need to rush these next few months. You could wait and see, and ideally try to secure a quick promotion along the way. I think leaving at [level removed] would offer the best value.