[fatnoah]

I spent the better part of 17 years at startups, with grants ranging from 0.2% all the way to 1% (VP Eng in a Series C+). The latter exited, but options were worth $0 due to liquidation preferences. I did get a cash bonus equal to about 2x my salary, so that was nice...it was also about the same as the sum of my last two stock vests (i.e. 6 months) at the FAANG I'm currently at, and whose stock price has doubled since I joined. I currently make 4X what I made at the height of my startup career.

Unless I'm coming in hot with good equity and an imminent IPO OR I don't need/want the money at all, I can't see going to back to startup life. (I also wouldn't trade that startup experience away, either)

[hinkley]

I learned long ago that the most successful tech company I know is probably not the one I work for. Also that layoffs tend to follow drops in the stock price.

I don’t buy shares on margin, so why would I want my nest egg invested in the company I work for? If I get laid off I’m poor twice over.

[mattnewton]

That's a great argument for working somewhere where the equity is liquid IMO. You can just sell public company RSU's as they vest and put them wherever else to diversify.

[fatnoah]

Yes, I sell everything on vest and save/invest the money instead.