One man's "job from hell" is another's opportunity
- Job Type:
- Full-time
- Location:
- San Diego
- Submitted by:
- Anonymous
- Date:
- Sat Mar 08 2008
- Overall:
- Job Tasks:
- Social Environment:
- Management:
- Pay/Raises:
- Location:
That being said, this is a great job for entry level workers who are having a hard time getting work experience. I have never learned so much in such a short amount of time. I also never knew I could withstand so much pressure. You will work with a lot of really fun and talented people. The location is sweet too: Downtown San Diego Gaslamp, can't beat that! We had catered lunch and dinners every day. Their health benefits were even better than my current employer's benefits. On Fridays at the end of the day we'd get together and have beers and play games in the office. They also held fun off-site events about once a month; the best one was a scavenger hunt done all over Downtown San Diego.
If you are up to the challenge of working for them, I have the following tips. First, they'll try to low ball you with the pay. Don't be afraid to negotiate your salary to something at least average for San Diego; there are plenty of websites out there to find out what that is for your position. If they offer you a bonus, try to waive the bonus in exchange for more pay. Chances are you won't get the bonus until after several months and rarely does anyone actually get that far. If you have years of experience in your field, then you should negotiate a salary knowing that you'll be working 60 to 80 hours a week.
Second, they'll try to get you to start at the bottom. If this would be a step back for you, negotiate a position that is at least at the current level you are working at.
Sure, the hours suck, but by having this job on my resume I was able to get an even better job at another company later on.
Comments (3)
There's this huge debate going on at techcrunch/37signals about working at startups. SMS.ac is in the area of workaholics but from all these reviews, it doesn't seem that it's much of a company to work for in terms of rewards.
take a look:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/07/calacanis-fires-people-who-have-a-life/
I forgot to mention something. If they do terminate you, DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING. You don't have to sign anything before you leave. Either take the paperwork with you and have a lawyer go over it with you or tell them you will come back to sign it with your lawyer. You have a legal right to do this. Also, they can not withhold your check for not signing paperwork. So if they say something like "sign this and we'll give you your check" don't think that means you HAVE to sign it to get your check. Don't sign anything there, either take it a lawyer or come back and bring a lawyer with you to go over the paperwork.
do they make you sign your soul to the devil?