Greylock reposted this
Glen Evans' post touches on common themes that are central to many conversations I have with engineers. It's worth a read and I've put some of my thoughts below too. I talk to countless people who have “rinse-and-repeated” their role at larger companies and find themselves leveling off, the rate of learning has significantly slowed and they want a new way to think about their career. Here's a framework that may help. Breadth versus Depth At established companies (post product market fit, over 1K employees, multiple business lines, etc) you can optimize for depth in your skillset. Your work will typically focus on one part of a platform, of one product line, of one division of the company. At smaller companies (pre product market fit, sub 50 people, one product line), you can optimize for breadth in your skillset. Your work will focus on the core product that is directly connected to the trajectory of the business and you'll work in lockstep with every function at the company. It's not an argument of what is "better" or more "valuable" in a persons skillset - it's about what you want for your career. It's about understanding the tradeoffs and making distinctive decisions that set you up to grow in a way that's fulfilling to you and where you perform at your best. Many candidates do not take the time for this self reflection of what they want in their career. They get lost in comparison or societal expectations of what looks “good” on a resume. Joining a stealth startup is an incredible way to hockey stick your impact and gain breadth in your skillset. Feel free to get in touch if you'd like to learn more or connect here as well. https://lnkd.in/e-FUGMxk
In today's newsletter, Greylock's Core Talent Partner Glen Evans shares why joining a stealth startup could be a great career move, and offers key advice for candidates considering a role at a company that has little to no public information. Additionally, Greylock partner Seth Rosenberg chats with Mustafa Suleyman for the Product-Led AI podcast, and we highlight some exciting portfolio news and updates.
