Ask HN: Was I right in my decision to turn down offer from Goldman Sachs?

So you went with your gut and made the call to reject the offer. For most people, that is a very acceptable reason to justify to your missing zeros on your paycheck. Right now you're perhaps wondering if you made the right decision -- afterall, Goldmans is creme de la creme no?

Like others have said, only you can answer that. Personally, I have a different take on this. I think early in your career (you sound like you're early in your career), it's all about an information land grab even if it means forgoing short term rewards (like a nice salary). The experiences you gain in the first 3 years of your career will have the most impact on the rest of your career and life. So, my question to you is: are you learning more at this company or do you think you would be learning more at Goldmans?

I respect that you found yourself unable to accept a job there given your ethical stance.

I cannot put the following sentiment in harsh enough terms: I think the company is full of utter scumbags who should all be in prison or worse.

Good on you.

What is it you want to do? What do you want to learn while getting paid? What do you need to get you to where you ultimately want to go? It is like when some asks me if one programming language is better than the other - the most honest answer I have seen anyone give to that question is: It depends on what you are trying to do.

If you want to start your own company one day, and don't like things as formal as they are in large companies, I would encourage you to work for a start up or small company. Things will likely be less formal, and you will likely get the opportunity to do a lot more things since in smaller companies everyone usually has to where more than one hat. Plus, its easier to have a big impact.

Just my two cents.

However if you're not comfortable with restriction and tracking, you're right the financial sector probably isn't right for you. The financial sector like the medical and defence sectors are hugely regulated (with good reasons), so computers, etc. tend to be locked down far more than in other sectors.

From what I understand about Goldman Sachs, what they do at its most basic level is figure out how to separate people from their money while producing as little actual value as possible, with no regard to the consequences, by pumping smart and productive people full of more money than you could ever spend in a lifetime, then encouraging a culture where all of your coworkers try to do it anyway and you are compelled to join them.

To me, part of maturity (the opposite of 'childishness') is learning to value things other than the immediate fulfillment of your most base desires.

This can be illustrated in simple ways, like when you realize that there are actually good reasons not to eat sugary cereal for every meal, or in your case, when you realize that money alone, even great piles of it, doesn't automatically make a job worthwhile.

In my opinion, the most childish people are the ones at Goldman Sachs, sniffing each other's asses and comparing watches and ties as a measurement of self-worth while they spend the prime of their lives trying to create paper out of thin air so more people can buy more watches and ties.

Good on you for not being one of them. If I were you, I would also contact the highest-up person you can reach and explain why you didn't want to work for them.