Introduction
When it comes to convincing a developer to join your startup. It can be a tough sell. Due to the demands of many companies ...
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I like your comments on company culture & remote work, but maybe the search that a startup is doing should be flexible, while focused on the culture.
For background, I'm a senior dev, and to use your words - expensive (paid above the market average rate for a senior in my area). That said, I could survive a 75% paycut with no real change in our lifestyle, if the rest of the deal is right.
That's really awesome Dave your one of the rare breed of people I know that is able to take a pay cut of 75% for the right culture for a startup. I would prefer to be realistic and help to address startup founders' perception in choosing a senior developer as a first option. Instead, focus on attracting the right developer who might be diamond in the rough to create their own team of avengers.
Never the less most of what I wrote does relate to the culture of the company and startup founders in cultivating the right culture. To attract the right developers to join them in what they are doing for their ethos, values, vision & traditions in the startup to solve problems for their customers.
Most Senior's that I talk to, and are in my age bracket (mid-career) are in a similar financial situation. One that I talked to recently was talking about quitting IT all-together & going to stack shelves, mostly to get away from the stress of the role he was in.
Startup's don't have deep pockets, but they can still attract developers away from high paying salaries, just by offering the right extras. Things like more time working from home don't cost the company anything, things like stock in the startup instead of bonus means that seniors will be more invested in the long term success of the company.
I've even seen some startups that offer stock as a signing bonus, let alone the annual one.
Yeah... I do have some qualms with that part regarding stock options. Especially if there is the usual vesting applied to your stock options.
I do understand that senior developer in your age bracket and experience. Might be seeking for something else instead of just pay & benefits. I would love to talk to you through a 5 - 10 mins zoom call to listen on your point of view further.
I've just followed you back to enable the chat feature on here. Feel free to get in touch there to set something up if you want a quick chat.
For info, I'll be working approx 5am-4pm GMT during the week, that's probably the best time to find me at a laptop (to be able to use Zoom etc).
Great, which GMT timezone so that I align with yours to setup up a chat.
I'm in UK, so currently BST (aka GMT+1)
Really great points Max! You nailed it 👏
Thanks a lot :) I really appreciate your compliments.
Then there's this video about motivating people:
youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc
Based on an MIT study.
Yup, I read Daniel H Pink's book called "Drive", which he covers in detail about motivating someone that is working in the workplace. I totally agree with focusing on paying a market rate salary for the developer with the autonomy built-in as a bare minimum & as a form of respect of the person.