Interning at a bootstrapped profitable Fintech startup but...
Stipend is low af. I am a product designer, fresh out of college ( technically still in my final sem), had been following the company for a while. Turns out understanding and admiring sustainable and profitable business doesn’t equal good pay which is competitive. It’s around 20k for 3 months and their full time offer would be around 5-6lpa. But it’s completely work from home. Has very experienced people , easy to talk to and approachable. Is this a good move to start my journey here ? Got offered a role more of a generalist starting with marketing to understand the work. Most major banks are a client.
On the other hand there's this startup , that's offering the same pay but would onboard me as their founding designer, with 2 of my friends working there already.
Not everything needs to be decided on logic alone. Sometimes it’s about where you’ll grow more as a person and designer. This requires patience which is not a skill that can be taught. Surely can be learnt.
Ask yourself truthfully:
Where will you be mentored more deeply?
Where will your voice matter more?
Which team will push your boundaries, not just tick boxes?
A highly performing coach once shared: If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. Working with seasoned folks early on is like skipping design school and heading straight to the masters. You’ll absorb mindset, process and nuance that no tutorial can teach.
Founding designer = chaos + ownership + creative freedom and anything you would want.
Generalist at a mature startup = structure + focused ethics + steady climb.
Both are valid. But only one aligns with the version of you you're aiming to become. This is a key part of your lifestyle design. Deep down, you already know where you see yourself.
Rooting for you @GOATLORD. You'll figure it out.
Man this hit, in a good way. Thanks
Confusion hi confusion hai solution toh pta nahi
