Anyone work for a US start-up? Totally freaking

[Blessedbethefruitz]

Looking for help with new job please!!

I was made redundant early this year. A US tech startup (although with series A funding and 200 staff across US, Germany and UK) has hired me to start in June. Contract is 45 hours minimum (fine), but importantly they said fully remote (hybrid 2 days in london advertised) and straight up offered above their top salary range. Im used to being basically on call until I go to sleep, but for half the pay... Im not used to not having to negotiate at offer, and they've already delivered top of the line hardware.

My experience is working with people globally (US, Africa, Asia, Europe), so I'm kind of wondering what the catch is? What will be a culture shock, what am I missing? It's a too good to be true thing for us as a family, I don't trust it. I have signed contracts and the role is brand new - high expectations from forbes 30 under 30 mit people.

I am not in the same league, i think they hired me for my niche stem phd and 10+ years adjacent experience. Have been on jsa for 3 months, shitting myself about the mortgage. I'm freaking out now the ridiculously expensive laptop is here 😅

I guess it’s the fact that a lot of start ups don’t succeed.

Well worst case scenario it’s better than nothing and the laptops appearance is promising.

I think you need a mentor. Someone who knows your industry and can see what they have seen in you. They want you; what if they’re right?

Get an employment lawyer to look at your contract. But if something goes wrong, assume they will be operating on US norms not UK law; get legal advice soon and often; expect a payout.

45 hours is well above a normal full time role but you said that’s fine.
Other than that, take it for what it is. Be visible and keen, be innovative and enjoy the autonomy.

A lot better than nothing! More pay and more flexibility!

The startup world is wild, particularly anything US-based with US founders. There's probably loads of books you need to read. Maybe start with the Elon Musk biography, the one by Walter ?. Listen to podcasts; there's one on Tesla. It's going to probably be a huge culture shock. Have you met the founders? It's worth understanding what their backgrounds and goals are for the culture of the company. Try and understand the company values. A startup that's retained that many people within a short period of time likely doesn't have the infrastructure that you're going to assume it has. It's a great opportunity. Take the money while it lasts. Enjoy the ride.

Can you negotiate 40 hours? I guess being remote helps with that though.

Have you made sure your contract has the right holiday pay? Sickness etc. as it’s a US company.

Culture shock could be them being shocked you want to take all your holiday - and that it’s the law!

I do. US employment law and UK employment law are wildly different. Generally speaking US employment is 'at will' so you can be let go at any time with no notice, provided you're not being let go because of a protected characteristic (e.g. sex, race, disability etc.)

At will employees don't have contracts, so if you have signed a contract I'm assuming you will be governed by UK employement law. That is fine - preferable even - but the issue might be whether a start up of this size has enough HR folks that will understand UK law. I'd also question how many UK employees they have because if it's just you, it could be easy for them to withdraw from the country if they feel it's too expensive to operate in the UK.

I wouldn't worry about the salary being high; US tech salaries tend to be higher, partly because that's the market and partly because of high costs of living in places where there are a lot of tech jobs.

Things to keep an eye on are funding rounds, run rate, and who the investors are and what their track record is.

I am by no means an expert but I don't think this sounds too good to be true and also you DO sound in their league - niche Phd and experience, clearly they need your expertise! You have nothing to lose really so enjoy it and don't do yourself down.

Methinks you have imposter syndrome! Go for it and stop worrying! The worst they can do is fire you after a couple of months. Believe in yourself and give it your all!

My contract complies with UK law. 1 month notice both ways, 25+bank holidays. Pension contributions etc. I've met 2 out of 3 founders, they're scientists/engineers like me. About 50 UK employees and a London office. By start-up, they're 10 years or so, contracts with most of the big pharma and chemical companies. Glassdoor is excellent, 4.8 from around 40 people.

It's just a bit mind boggling!

Salary is higher because it is higher risk. Don't be surprised if you are micromanaged.

Every job I've had for an American company, my boss has involved themselves in every tiny detail. It can be very annoying.

Set clear hours and red lines, and don't answer the phone after your 45 hours.

Good luck.

A mentor is an excellent idea, but how do you get one? I'm a grown woman with kids! I help younger people trying to make their way in industry, but I don't know any startup people!

Thanks. They've been pretty clear they want someone to just get on and do. Weekly 10 minute check in with CEO because VP of my area is on maternity. I've just come out of 3 years of micromanagment, it's soul destroying.

If you are working in the UK the US company doesn't get to decide their laws apply

Congratulations! This sounds very real, but you’ll have to change your European mindset on hours and lunch breaks etc. There will be a culture - deliberately so - of work more than anything else. That’s why it’s 45hrs minimum, not maximum. Partly start-up culture, partly American. Nobody will be interested in you clocking in/out or guarding your family time for yourself. These roles tend to be good for two or three years, it’ll look great on your CV. But unsustainable long term, unless you have equity. Good luck - have lots of fun!

They’ll be hoping for a lot of hours. It’s likely to be a bit of a mess. They’ll be a lack of systems, processes, knowledge management and probably leadership. It’s my specialist subject! They’ll pay a lot because they’ll struggle with retention. Do they have any HR?

Yes they have HR and Head of People etc. I'm building from scratch, lots of tools and expertise. I've done it before, but in a different setting.

In what universe is that a start up? Genuinely, what about the business means it’s qualified as a start up? 10 years?? Huge contracts?? Hundreds or
employees across the globe..

No idea! Google says it's a venture capital backed startup, 30 million raised in series a last year. These kind of definitions are not my area.

Well this all sounds very encouraging!

I wouldn't worry about being micromanaged, sounds like they want you for your experience and want you to just crack on, so micromanaging you wouldn't make any sense.

Sounds similar (size, not mission) to the US ‘startup’ I work for.

Honestly, you’ll be fine. I had a bigger culture shock going from public sector to private sector, then I did big corporate to startup.

The tradeoffs for more money tend to be stability (lots of redundancies around, even when the company is doing well), some chaos, long hours. That being said, because my hours don’t overlap much with the US anyway it gives me a huge amount of flexibility within my day for parenting/life stuff. Money wise, when I started working for a startup (the one before the one I’m at now!) I intentionally put a big chunk of the increase in pay towards a bigger emergency fund, knowing a redundancy will happen at some point.

Good luck!

One last thing OP, if it is a start up, ask for share options.

Hi OP - congratulations! There doesn't seem to be anything negative in what you've posted; sounds like you've been snapped up by a successful and growing company and paid well for your specialist skills. Later stage startups aren't necessarily riskier than big companies - big companies also run into problems, have rounds of redundancies, changes of leadership, etc. What you've said about salary suggests that your expectations may have a been a bit low for your industry (or you're particularly strong), so you may want to keep an eye on that and negotiate at your next pay review.

Keep your eyes open for mentors and ask around. Do you have any kind of network? Book club, school gate, professional association, conferences? An older person who’s seen a few things is a good idea. I suppose I automatically think you should have a female mentor but that may not be the case.

I’ve worked in start ups (inc had my own) and US biotech.

This is par for the course. You’ll be worked hard, no one will care that it’s 3am in London, and your UK employment contract will serve you well when it comes to a settlement but day to day expect it to be largely ignored.

The upside is salaries are high and if you’ve got RSUs as part of your package you’re gambling that the $100k of stock you get each year at $2 a share becomes worth $100 a share in next ten years.

There’s a passage in Careless People where Sarah Wynn-Williams talks about all the early Facebook millionaires created through stock, and people in minor roles with engagement rings so large they could no longer type. This is totally aligned with my experience.

If you get in early enough the riches are obscene. The “catch” is you might spend a decade cycling through a merry go round of failed start ups and imo you need to be a type. I love it.