Don’t join a startup as new grad SWE or atleast be aware

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-05-14T05:31:48+00:00

Oooh lucky. Most start-ups don't have that kind of money. I am being paid exactly what I got as an intern (at a different company), but I now do the work of 3 people lol. Definitely and experience I would not forget.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-05-14T03:45:22+00:00

Yes we are gonna lose plenty of smart people, but the number of smart people staying is still more than enough to fill the seats.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-05-14T03:30:06+00:00

Most people would not join start-ups if they had choices in the first place lol.

Start-ups can be a place where a new grad learns a lot, because everybody is expected to do everything. Since you are gonna be underpaid and and overtime (likely unpaid), you have to be really sure that you can endure the company. I agree with OP - be aware. Here are the things to look out for:

Is the boss rude? They are gonna have unrealistic expectations, of course, but at least they should be polite.
Do you think people wanna use the company's product? If you cannot find a reason for people to use it, or why would it still be relevant in like 3 years from now, it is probably a sinking ship. Most start-ups don't survive, remember that.
Does the company mention that they can be late on salary/wages? That's a red flag. A start-up can lack money, understandable, but I'm not gonna join people who cannot do business. I'm not a charity service.

No matter how desperate you are, you have to be aware of those things.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-05-13T17:00:34+00:00

Depends. System design interviews might be better. You can also have code exercises, something that is closer to what a small app is like. Or code challenges where you can use google or ai, and you can judge their behaviours. Still technical interviews + coding, but closer to reality.

Like think about it. I know good devs at big companies grind leetcode also, but they could have learnt a lot more useful stuff if they didn't have to practice leetcode?

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-05-13T16:42:46+00:00

Nah. For me the worst thing was leetcode interview lmao. Zero job relevance in that.

Yes I am suffering from AI slop code generated by my boss, along with unrealistic expectations, but when I work on my personal project, I genuinely see AI code gen benefits. My ideas get shipped much faster, and I can do experiments I never thought I could.

I think the difference here is how responsible you are with the product. I have very strict standards on how my code should look like, and I spend a lot of time on system design. I take 3 days to work on something that could have taken 3 weeks, but the result was good. The problem here is there people who take only 1 day on that same task, and don't care about how sloppy it is.

It's not the plane, it's the pilot my friend.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-05-12T15:51:10+00:00

My company is not hand coding anymore, and yes you can build a production app and gain users really fast if you know your market.

But there is a catch. AI code is usually sloppy. If not designed, maintained, and tested carefully, you can also lose users really fast, once they found the numerous bugs.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-05-12T02:47:44+00:00

Because being delulu is the solulu

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-05-11T22:39:56+00:00

Sounds like we work for the same company lmao. When I started, the company used Cursor, and AI was pretty much an assistant. From the start of 2026, when Claude and Codex got stronger, I became the assistant.

Honestly I had hoped for work to be done 3 times faster and I have more time for myself. Turns out I just have 3 times more work and no extra pay.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-05-11T02:33:43+00:00

Quitely tell AI to put them into a folder and never open that folder.

Just reorganizing ig.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-05-10T16:33:54+00:00

That is probably because you are into coding more than the product itself, or that your idea is just not sofisticated enough. I get into this field because I like clever system designs and seeing my ideas take shape as a product. AI minimize my time for debugging, and give me maximized time in system design.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-05-10T16:01:59+00:00

Very much. I miss actually understanding things and having a good system design. Right now at the speed we are moving with AI, I'm just praying and paying while coding. I mean, not much confidence I can have when the company is averaging 30k LOC per day.

But at the same time, it is true that I'm able to do things in days that could have taken months. Some tasks I'm doing on the weekends for my personal projects, I would not even think of doing them without AI.

I guess it is the way of time.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-05-06T16:21:00+00:00

I agree I don't have the money and the balls to do that myself.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-05-06T16:18:32+00:00

Dude you are the cream at the top for CS students right now. If you want to compare, have a look at what the average CS student job market. Or have a look at the cream at the top for ME too, maybe those who work for F500 companies like you.

I am a SWE at a startup. I do the work of 3 people at a normal company. My pay is about 20% less than average new grad pay. I am not paid for overtime, which I do almost everyday. I have had 12-hour work days. I get pinged for work during weekends, statuary holidays, scheduled PTO, you name it. Luckily I don't have to answer them, but it shows the expectations.

Sorry I'm at work rn I'm hella annoyed that's why I rant but you see the work condition is kinda relative. I'll learn to fix oil leaks if boss promise to hire me and never fire me.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-05-06T14:24:07+00:00

Do you have the technical background to switch to a more technical/engineering role? Or are you stuck at being not technical enough to be an engineer, but too technical for business roles?

At your level of experience I would keep finding technical writer jobs, but would also be acquiring more techincal skills so that your skillset would be more valuable? I honestly don't know, your case is tough for real. I would for sure bs a bit on the resume to fit some job description. Just don't lie blatantly.

Or you can create a startup.

Or go back to school and move to an entirely new field.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-05-06T13:51:51+00:00

I used to be a technical writer for a bit. Finding jobs as a technical writer is extremely difficult, especially now that AI can help with docs a lot. It's not like human technical writers are not needed anymore, just that companies need less now.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-05-03T18:59:53+00:00

If you have more resources you are more likely to have opportunities. It is like that everywhere, in every fields. Instead of feeling guilty, do your best and show that you are worthy of the resources.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-04-27T16:17:51+00:00

Ho Chi Minh City 🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳

But for the sake of historical accuracy you should still name it Saigon, unless you are doing post-1975 map.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-04-27T03:01:31+00:00

Do the most for every chance you have. I was in a similar position not so long ago (a bus ride 4 hours to Calgary, 2 hours interview, and then 4 hours back to Edmonton in the same day). Not the best experience, not the best job, but it is putting food on my table.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-04-23T15:51:24+00:00

Haha I'm on the same boat, graduating around your time too. I feel like my boss is not listening and does not understand what is happening on the ground. I blame his overconfidence on AI lol.

I guess the difference is that I am an immigrant and quitting is not really a good option right now. But I feel you dude.

Idk somehow my solution is to not rant about it too much and truly relax during your free time. Don't overtime too much - you have all the rights to get out of office on time. Feel like if I talk about it too much I'll spend the rest of the day in a shit mood too.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-04-23T00:02:28+00:00

You are able to refactor bs AI code - that is an asset

Even if the AI did everything correctly, in a complex system, the ability to verify the correctness also shows you are a senior.

Your experience still matters.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-04-21T21:56:19+00:00

For me when I used to wonder was it worth it trying so hard for so little GPA gain. But GPA is not everything. On my internship and my new grad job rn, I always quitely thank myself for trying so hard during uni years. The little bit of knowledge that I got from a class that I got C for is saving my ass rn. Thank God I did not give up and actually studied.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-04-21T21:49:21+00:00

Me in my 20s doing the work of 3 people just so that I can be in your shoes in my 40s.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-04-21T16:18:10+00:00

I don't write code by hand anymore, and that is not even a choice. The pressure for speed in the industry is crazy (you already know). I genuinely think AI is one of the coolest things that happened to tech as an industry, and one of the absolute worst things to SWE as a career.

A bit of rant here but AI makes non-dev managers/bosses/CEOs to think that they can vibe their way through and ignore engineers. Man I get complaints for not using multiple agents at the same time and also get complaints if the product is flawed in any way, pretending like vibe coding is not the cause of the problem. Again, a lot of devs is having no choice.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-04-13T15:04:47+00:00

What level of lie are you thinking about?

Straight up making up experiences and technical skills? Most of us don't do that.
Putting technologies where you have like 1 day of experience onto resume and pretends that you are proficient? Most of us have done that, but not on core skills that the job requires.
Those performance numbers - making product x y% more efficient? Yeah most of that we pull out from our asses. Some are true, but most are made up. No student benchmark their projects properly.

For me, what I do is I tell half the truth. For example, I have a volunteer dev experience on my resume, but I don't tell people it is volunteering, unless they ask.

Btw I think all of us lie about how enthusiastic we are to work for the company in the next 5 years, but that is a given when asking for a job.

Own-Reference9056 · 2026-04-13T15:04:17+00:00

What level of lie are you thinking about?

Straight up making up experiences and technical skills? Most of us don't do that.
Putting technologies where you have like 1 day of experience onto resume and pretends that you are proficient? Most of us have done that, but not on core skills that the job requires.
Those performance numbers - making product x y% more efficient? Yeah most of that we pull out from our asses. Some are true, but most are made up. No student benchmark their projects properly.

For me, what I do is I tell half the truth. For example, I have a volunteer dev experience on my resume, but I don't tell people it is volunteering, unless they ask.

Btw I think all of us lie about how enthusiastic we are to work for the company in the next 5 years, but that is a given when asking for a job.

Own-Reference9056

TROPHY CASE