What experiences have HN readers had as finance professionals at rapid growth companies like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Dropbox or any other rapid growth companies? (This is a throwaway. I have another account that I have used for over 3 years on HN with over 2000 points)
- I’m currently 31 and live outside California in a major city
- I work in finance (in a buy side position) in a very well known, prestigious firm
- I could stick with finance for 3 to 5 more years and move from $150k to $200k-$500k, with a very small probability of making more 10+ years out as a portfolio manager.
- Prior to my current firm I did a short stint at a major, but slow growing technology company at low level corp finance, then an MBA and MSB, now I work where I work now.
- And while the pay is great, I really want more out of life. I want to go back to working in technology. I want to working with people building something, including learning to code, but I don’t want coding to be my primary job function.
So my question to HN is:
Has anyone made the transition from buy side finance to corporate finance at a rapid growth company? What is it like working at the top technology companies? Do you feel like you have impact? What are the best places to look if you have capital markets experience? How do you manage the job search? I like networking, and I’m working on it now, but most of my contacts are at large public companies and in my mind (not sure if I’m right) I feel like companies before they go IPO would be more interesting.
- I’m currently 31 and live outside California in a major city
- I work in finance (in a buy side position) in a very well known, prestigious firm
- I could stick with finance for 3 to 5 more years and move from $150k to $200k-$500k, with a very small probability of making more 10+ years out as a portfolio manager.
- Prior to my current firm I did a short stint at a major, but slow growing technology company at low level corp finance, then an MBA and MSB, now I work where I work now.
- And while the pay is great, I really want more out of life. I want to go back to working in technology. I want to working with people building something, including learning to code, but I don’t want coding to be my primary job function.
So my question to HN is:
Has anyone made the transition from buy side finance to corporate finance at a rapid growth company? What is it like working at the top technology companies? Do you feel like you have impact? What are the best places to look if you have capital markets experience? How do you manage the job search? I like networking, and I’m working on it now, but most of my contacts are at large public companies and in my mind (not sure if I’m right) I feel like companies before they go IPO would be more interesting.
Any other suggestions?