I put my girlfriend stuff in my blog if anyone is interested in that too much, it’s sorta OT.

I agree that there’s almost certainly better out there that i might be shorting myself out of. But unless this offer REALLY sucks, i’m talking like, they only give me a part time or internship position for <50k salary, then i think this seems like an okay starting point.

I just really hate this interviewing process so nailing something on my 2nd try is super appealing to my laziness. Plus i dont even know what i want and really, really liked my professor (the owner). And I really dont wanna spend another summer at my current job.

So basically if it has a decent salary i’m down. I have a feeling they might move me into a position where i’m dealing with compilers Because they told me in the interview they have a strong need for that right now and it’s definitely a strength of mine as far as what i’ve studied the most.

I am worried about the shuffling around but i think they just liked me as a candidate overall but not for the exact position they were trying to hire for so the delay makes sense sort of. I’m kind of confused about why they took so long - maybe my prof saw my final score in his class? The grades just were posted yesterday. Idk.

J,

Did you interview at blizzard?

Honestly I think if they extend you anything close to a reasonable offer, you should fist pump take it.

The hardest job is the first so you will be making your next job search exponentially easier.

But ultimately I think your mental health will be so greatly improved that you owe it to yourself to take the job.

Nope just two applications total, about 4 interviews altogether

I know it isnt optimal

Ok here’s a question - what will constitute “reasonable?”

Go on salary search sites like Glassdoor and search for salary range for that job in that market.

In no way should the compensation be related to your captain's salary.

Anything more than 50k and a position that doesn't start with "intern"?

Ok good that’s exactly what I was thinking.

Dont ignore the non salary portion of compensation either. 401k match, health coverage, equity, profit sharing, etc...

If its 20 people, salary likely wont be as big as large corp but there should be some equity to try to make up for that.

Their product is really, really cool. I’d be stoked with any equity.

j,

I retract my earlier post. You seem much more excited about this than I realized. If the product, management, and opportunity for personal and professional growth are there (and the offer isn't trash) I think you should take it, be happy, and not worry about other potential opportunities. You're making it seem like a much above average outcome based on how happy you are with very tangible pieces.

Larry,

I agree with you that j should prob take it.

I completely disagree with you about getting the first job being the hardest. For someone with a CS degree from a legit university, getting the first job is about the easiest.

And I was thinking more like 80k, not 50k.

I’m really happy i got something and won’t be at the milk carton job this summer unless i want to be.

Given that I’m sort of running out the clock until I get my inheritance, money isnt super important, and i’m somewhat desperate to find out if this is the career for me it seems like it’s a good opportunity.

This.

Don't forget, salary is one component of an overall compensation package, which is, in turn, one component of a work environment. I understand you're just starting out, so salary is likely of high importance, but don't go to somewhere you're going to be miserable just for money.

(Not trying to say this place would be that. Sounds like you know the product, owner, and are excited to go there. Just advice for down the road, or anyone else reading.)

The point is, know what's important to you, and negotiate that. In a small organization, they're often willing to be more flexible on things like time off/work culture, maybe throw some equity your way.

Another strategy is to say, "Sure, I'll take that, but let's have a follow-up in X months to see how I'm doing." The expectation, of course, is that you'll do a kick-ass job and can justify a raise a little while down the road.

On the interviewing post-acceptance, I'd say no. It's been my experience that when someone accepts an offer, the company is already ready to go (i.e., start tomorrow or next Monday or something), so that makes new interviews problematic.

However, it is completely understandable if you have interviews already scheduled to go to them in the interim until you actually start at new place.

Also o.k. to call other places you've interviewed and let them know you've gotten another offer. They may simply congratulate you, or may also offer. If the former, I imagine they'd appreciate knowing they can stop putting energy into you as part of their process.

If #2 offers, I'd say don't mention any details of package #1. Seems more ethical to let them make whatever offer they're going to make (i.e., without knowing "what they have to beat") to me.

Good ideas,

What are your thoughts as to why they took so long?

My thinking is I was either a strong candidate that didnt fit the position, and given they’re a small company looking to grow they dont wanna pass on strong candidates.

Or i was second best candidate and they dont want to let me go for similar reasons.

Either one of your ideas is plausible. Also likely that in a small company, people are so busy trying to do their work, they (ironically?) don't make time to tend to the hiring of others which will ease their workload.

Another possibility is they're simply not very organized. I've been talking off-and-on with a company since January now. They disappear for a while, then come back (hey, are you still interested?). Phone interview in Feb, disappear, in-person in March.

The in-person went really well, one of the people told me they'd be in touch in a couple weeks. That came and went, I gave a follow-up call. HR guy asked around, emailed later that they still hadn't gotten through the first round of interviews, and one of the people wasn't in the office this week. So, it will be at least next week.

Seems like a lack of organization. Fortunately, that's something I can help with. I liked the people and work, so it's still a possibility, if we can ever push through this period, and I haven't taken something else beforehand.

You never know. I wouldn't give it much thought. I've seen time frames all over the place.

It doesn't help to think about why they took so long. Who cares.

Better to focus your attention on something you can control, such as getting as many other offers as you can before your acceptance deadline.

There’s no way that’s gonna happen

Before you got the call, you thought you struck out everywhere even though from the actual breakdown of your interview, things seemed fine.

At least let the other companies that you interviewed with know that you got an offer and ask for a status update.

I interviewed with 1 other company and i never followed up because they seemed terrible and i didnt like the lead developer

You might not want to work there but getting another offer as leverage is not a bad thing.

Very much disagree with this. Unless you own the company or have meaningful equity, you should never stop being willing to interview at other places.

The company you work for does not care about you. It feels no loyalty to you. Your relationship to the company is not personal. It is business. Always remember that.

dude seriously. and I havent followed your blog so I know nothing about her. but dump her.

well ya, considering his situation but for Cali I think he should get nearly twice that.