Question:

I'm a software engineer, and I'm expecting a job offer from an Internet start-up company. I really liked the company, the people I would be working with, and the work I would be doing. So what's my problem?

Well, the office space is cramped (they pack a lot of people into a small area), and they work a lot of hours. The office space should get better in a few months when they move to a larger building, but this could take a while.

I discussed my concerns during the interviews, and they pretty much said that the reward for the long hours was stock options. But they don't expect to go public for at least another year (maybe longer).

I understand the concept of working hard because I have a stake in the company, but I've also had stakes in other companies that didn't end up being worth anything. More than 12 months seems like a long time to be working 50 or more hours per week without being guaranteed any payback.

I've thought about asking for more money to make up for the extra hours, but even with a nice salary increase, I don't know if I'd want to work the long hours.

Does this seem like a valid concern, or am I just a whiner?

Reply:

Yours is an honest question that too many people are afraid to ask because they'll seem like less than free-agent entrepreneurial workaholics. I started headhunting in 1979 in Silicon Valley, and I've seen more job offers based on "work for stock" than I've seen new-money-millionaires.

Don't take this job for the stock options or for any potential future return. Take it because you like the work, the people, the products, the money, and the company (including the work space). That's how you'll raise your own stock. That's how you're likely to develop the skills to start your own business. (How come no one realizes that the people who usually get rich from start-ups are the founders?)

If you had never worked at a start-up, I might advise you differently. But it's clear you've been there, done that, and are not impressed. The fact is, very few start-ups make it, and fewer still make their employees rich. Why compromise the quality of your life if you don't want to live this way? Do not expect anything to change for a year, two, or longer. The odds are against a big win.

If you're not going to be happy with such work conditions, I think your concerns are valid. Just because everyone else is jumping up and down over stock options doesn't mean it's the smart choice.

Best,

Nick Corcodilos

Ask The Headhunter®

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