Is It a Good Time to Apply to Twitter as an Engineer?

Deciding whether to apply to Twitter as an engineer depends on various factors, including your risk tolerance and your career goals. This article explores both pro and con scenarios to help you make an informed decision.

Pro Scenarios

Working for a Pioneering Company: Twitter is known for its well-considered engineering team working on challenging and innovative projects. This exposure can significantly enhance your resume, especially if you haven't yet worked for a big tech giant. Your contributions could have a substantial impact on the product, potentially making an individual the most powerful influencer in the world.

Potential Acquisition and Stock Grant: If you are granted stock options and Twitter is acquired sometime in the near future, there's a possibility of a premium of 25-50%. Given recent news, there's a good chance of this happening as Twitter continues to attract significant attention and interest from potential buyers.

Joining a Cool Company After Acquisition: If Twitter is acquired by a reputable company like Google, Facebook, or any other major tech firm, you'll have the opportunity to work for another exciting and innovative organization, broadening your professional experience.

Con Scenarios

Acquisition by a Lame Company: Based on current news, there's a possibility that Twitter might be acquired by a less appealing company like Verizon, which could dampen the value of your stock options and future prospects.

Competitor Gains and Irrelevance: As other social media companies like Facebook continue to make gains, Twitter could become irrelevant. This could lead to a significant drop in stock value, rendering your investment worthless over the long term.

Conclusion and Personal Perspective

The decision ultimately depends on your level of risk tolerance and your career aspirations. If you are a risk-taker and believe in the potential long-term success of Twitter, now might be the best time to apply.

Negotiate Stock Options: Make sure to negotiate for stock options based on current pricing. Given the many unknowns surrounding Twitter's future, this negotiation could provide you with significant leverage.

Future Prospects: Personally, I don't see any social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook disappearing anytime soon. Both companies continually improve their algorithms and data analysis capabilities. They play a crucial role in various industries, including marketing, healthcare, and finance.

If you are a software engineer or data scientist, working for Twitter could be a valuable addition to your career. It allows you to stay at the forefront of technological advancements and contribute to cutting-edge projects. While there are risks, the potential benefits make it an intriguing opportunity.