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Comment by slow_donkey | Hacker News Reader

Why wouldn't you be obtaining the equivalent amount of options at the next job?

Let's say your vesting schedule is 4 years w/ 1 year cliff, it's only necessary to stay 1 year. Thereafter you're not 'losing' options by leaving.

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You're forgetting the options gain value as the company grows (due to your own hard work which is the whole point!)

You're awarded $100k but then it grows to $200k by the time you start cashing it in. When you switch company you get $100k again, not the $200k you threw away.

Do the vast majority of jobs in these companies actually give you stock options?

Most places I know of do not

Consider it similar to diversifying your stock portfolio. By switching jobs every year, you're effectively hedging your portfolio. You're increasing your lottery chances of a unicorn exit, which is where the Big Money is.

That's a fair point, we'd have to compare projected growth vs. expected salary of new job. Certainly the benefit of working at large tech companies or rocketships.

My experience with smaller startups, was that it's impossible to determine if the options would be worth $0 or $$$.

Ah right - I'm used to public companies where stock options are cold hard cash as soon as they vest.

Sure, but likely, more of those $100k options will be worth $0 than $200k. If you spread it around, you're more likely to hit big.

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