For those interviewed with a startup, how did the compensation convo go? Just interviewed with one, who refused to provide range, citing the need to be secretive as they are in stealth mode, after having me sign an NDA. Is this common?

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It is common. Startup pay - if that's your decision metric - is not going to be too exciting. Startups are typically funded by investors who hope the product or service behind the NDA succeeds. Your job stability will depend on whether new rounds of funding come through, often from one quarter to the next. They may supplement salary offers with shares that are currently worth nothing and may or may not ever be worth something, if you work there long enough for them to vest, and no one sues them for a establishing a competing company (thus, stealth mode). A best case scenario is that they get acquired (hopefully not by Deloitte, if you're trying to get out), and shares get paid out. Startups are considered startups for many years if they are not profitable. Source: I've worked at several, in technology and biotech.

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Everything D1 says is right; I would just add that in my opinion too many people accept abysmal compensation because they assume a startup can’t do better.

Whatever you could make in the market, you should make more, not less, at the startup, to compensate you for exponentially higher career risk. If they can’t pay in cash, you should get a pay increase schedule in writing and/or a significant amount of stock.

Unless you are on the founding team or employee <5, you can’t rely on the growth of the company automatically compensating you with promotion and pay increase opportunities. And even if you are on the founding team, the company may fail. You should study your market value and be prepared to walk away from an offer that doesn’t compensate you properly.

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Solid advice.

D1, B1, thank you for the responses. Very insightful! I appreciate it. What were the motivations that drove you to startups and are you glad you went for it or do you have any regret?

Love it D1, and you ended up back at Deloitte, which makes me think that there is something special about the company as well. Many say that small practices within deloitte are run much like startups, that has merit, although usually they have a prove product/model

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