However, you could be a huge contributor and positive influence in a small org... and it's possible to gain a lot of life satisfaction that way[0]. Plus, your employer actually knows you and understands the value you bring, etc. etc.

Yes, you probably will not earn as much as you could by indirectly peddling ads, tracking users, or whatever, but personal fulfillment matters... at least it does to me... and I hire people who feel the same way.

[0] It sounds weird, but studies have shown that giving people agency (as they must be in a small org), setting their own goals, etc. has a positive influence on their well-being and productivity.

The pay at smaller companies is still good enough for you to live comfortably, even at the entry-level. I worked a software development internship half-time while going to college, and it was easier and more enjoyable than all of the non-programming jobs that I did before that.

If you can't get a job at the companies that you want, you have no choice but to settle for something else until you have the experience and knowledge that is required.

Thinking some more on it, there is another (long shot) way to get hired at a large company: start your own software company that is eventually acquired by a large company.

Most smaller companies dont have these sorts of interviews. Most of mine have been technical in nature and some involved take-home projects, which were then discussed.

I've also avoided the dreaded non-compete clauses that FAANG employees need to sign and work on my own side-business with no issues.

spot on.

It’s a little weird to say “other than comp”, given that almost no one would work for their employer, whether startup or FAANG, if they weren’t getting paid for it. And the difference isn’t small. Multiple startups in NYC offered me comp of around $200k, while the public tech companies were all in the $400k to $500k+ range.

Additionally, I think overwork and burnout are much worse at startups vs big tech. The offer I took pays more than twice as much as the startups and the people on my team are in the office for 40 hours at best, work from home as needed, no emails or slack on evenings or weekends, and take 4-5 weeks of vacation. It’s definitely not the grind that startups are.

Your complaints about bureaucracy and ad tech are fair, which is why I went with Square over G or FB. I like their business model and they’re a fraction of the size of the bigger tech companies, but still pay much better than most startups.

Your mileage will vary depending on the team you land on.