I have two offers for similar product analyst roles at distributed companies. One pays $12,000 more in base salary but has a small annual bonus and no equity; the other has a lower base, a larger target bonus, and stock options with a four-year vesting schedule. I would prefer the second company’s work, but I cannot tell how much value to assign to options from a private employer. What questions or calculations should I use before choosing?
2 Answers
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The four-year vest matters less than the company’s expected exit timeline and your ability to exercise after leaving. Ask for the post-termination exercise window and model the options at zero, then treat any upside as a bonus; can your budget absorb the $12,000 gap for two years?
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If the base-pay gap affects your budget, choose higher base. Otherwise, ask for option count, strike price, latest valuation, and dilution before deciding.
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