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Comment by zests | Hacker News Reader

I’m about to leave my extremely safe job for a tiny startup. I have to put in notice by the end of the week.

The startup seems to still want to hire me and is showing no signs of pulling the offer. I think they planned on getting more funding at the end of the year.

I’m at a loss for what to do. I’m excited about the opportunity but am not sure that now is the right time to leave. I plan on calling and asking for more information about the financials and/or maybe asking for a start date push back.

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4 red flag assumptions: - "you think" - "they planned" - "getting more funding" - "end of the year"

Indeed, funding is going to be frozen for a while.

I don't know anything about your situation, but unless you have 9+ months of living expenses saved up, joining a startup sounds like it might be a bad idea. If you _do_ have that kind of runway for yourself, there might be other opportunities with that cash that come up as the market tanks. As always in a downturn, cash is king.

IMO this seems like an absolutely insane move. Now is not the time to take on piles of risk. Just stay safe and look around again when the world normalizes.

Be careful. Considering recent developments, it is absolutely not strange at all to reevaluate or ask for more time.

I would strongly advise you to reverse this course immediately if possible. Even if you dislike your current job, I’d stick it out until this recession has passed. We don’t know how bad it’s going to get and this startup could go bust in a month and there may not be another job to even apply to at that time.

While I agree with most of the responses to your situation, I'd also suggest this.

How much do you believe in the start-up?

How much do you want to work there?

Personally, I'd have a VERY frank discussion with the founders about the current situation. They should respect what you are giving up, and be concerned about putting you in a difficult situation.

Who knows, they may suggest that you hang onto your current position and circle back in a few months once they have funding. Maybe they offer you more equity for greater risk. Maybe they're flippant about the effect this change may have on you and ignore the risks.

Whatever the result, you'll get a better feel for where they are at, and get some answers to your current questions.

If they can't be open and honest with you now, or you feel they aren't being, would you still feel safe with the move?

Now would be about the worst time to join 99% of startups. Unless you are financially set and looking for an adventure, stick it out at the safe gig.

Advice: stay where you are now in the cushy job

Definitely push the start date back - too risky to be stuck without a seat. Try pushing it back a few weeks, continually, until you feel it's safe to move.

Yikes! Clearly I only know what you just told me, but I would be extremely careful about taking that job at the tiny startup. Winter is coming.

If you can weather 2 years of no income, probably makes sense to take the risk.

Just don't. They will lie about financials by giving empty promises.

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