Bird in the hand or three in the tree?
Need a sanity check.
I have a Director offer from a Series A startup in a technical B2G space that is very close to my background and genuinely aligned with what I care about professionally. We're looking at $170k base / $120k variable, so $290k OTE.
The startup has legit momentum, a big recent customer validation event, and the market seems to be moving in their direction. More importantly, the work is much closer to my actual passion and expertise. My background, network, and domain experience line up really well with what they’re trying to build. I’d likely have real influence over GTM, partnerships, and early revenue motion.
At the same time, I’m also interviewing with Salesforce for a specialized public sector vertical. They’re considering me for both:
Strategic AE: $400k OTE, 50/50
RVP: $500k OTE, 50/50, plus a 6-figure equity grant
Salesforce would be less directly aligned with my niche expertise and what I’m most passionate about, but the comp, brand, and resume value are obviously huge. The RVP role would be a major career step.
Problem is timing. Startup wants an answer by end of week. Salesforce would likely take a few more weeks, and I don’t have an offer yet, just strong interest after multiple interviews.
Would you take the real Series A Director offer if the final terms are good enough, especially if it’s much closer to your passion and you’re uniquely aligned to the market?
Or would you risk it for a possible Salesforce AE/RVP offer?