Have you been in a similar situation? Did you choose your dream or your dream job? Do you have any regrets?
I applied for a job at company X, at Facebook, at Google, and I also applied to YC. After interviewing at company X, I thought this is the best job ever, I would love to do this.
I then got YC, so cancelled the Google and Facebook interviews. I told company X, who took it well. So well they offered me the job anyway---to take in the likely event of my startup failing. They also started my visa paperwork---an $8-15K expense---and said they'd just absorb the loss if my company worked out.
There isn't really a point to this, except that maybe you can have your cake and eat it. Also, if you find an amazing company, maybe they'll prove to be even more amazing than you thought.
I haven't been in this situation before but I think what George Patton said applies.
If you like it, you can also start you own business, maybe a bit later, but with enough experience and an established partnership behind your back, if the two is not competing with each other.
On the other hand, you may discover that your dream job isn't what you really thought it was. Then you can move on starting your own business with greater commitment, either full time or on the side.
You should also evaluate your reasons for wanting to start your own business. Being a partner in a business that you love could actually fulfill all or most of those goals, without some of the risks and downsides of entrepreneurship.
That being said, if it's your "dream job", and they can provide you with some safety, I say go for it. Use your free time to work on your own business.
If you ever get to a point where keeping the two is too much work, that will be a good sign, and you can choose between the two.
could you give an example of a dream that you cannot pursue because you were taking your dream job? it seems like any reasonable non-work-related dream can be pursued while you are working at your dream job. or maybe not, i dunno, i'm confused.
I'm curious, at what age did other HNers feel that they had figured out what they wanted to do job-wise (even if they weren't doing it yet)?
"Happy those who dream dreams and are whiling to pay the price to make them come true." (From an old skydiving movie)
Also, what kind of a place interviews on Christmas day?
We don't have the Christmas holiday (I'm Turkish) although we have other holidays to more than make up for it.