When it comes to launching your career after college, the debate between joining a startup or a Big Tech company can be daunting. According to Janvi Kalra, an engineer at OpenAI, the best approach is to sample both worlds.

In a recent episode of The Pragmatic Engineer podcast, Kalra emphasized the importance of diversifying experiences. She recommends students undertake internships at both Big Tech giants and startups to gain a comprehensive understanding of their career options.

With a background that includes stints at Microsoft and Google, followed by a role at the productivity startup Coda, Kalra knows firsthand the advantages and challenges of both paths. She highlights a crucial benefit of Big Tech: the opportunity to learn how to build scalable, reliable software. "It's one thing to create something functional, but entirely different to ensure it can handle millions of requests simultaneously," she explained.

Kalra also pointed out that working at Big Tech often allows for experimentation on long-term projects that aren't under immediate pressure to succeed. "You get involved in moonshot initiatives that, while innovative, don’t have the constant existential threat that startups face," she noted.

Let's not forget the tangible benefits of Big Tech, including higher salaries and faster green card processes for international workers. Her honest perspective? Roles at established firms like Google often carry more weight in hiring decisions.

However, Kalra argues passionately for the startup route as well, citing the intense hands-on experience. "In startups, you end up shipping a lot of code because there are often more challenges than team members to tackle them. This offers unique opportunities to engage in projects that handle everything from growth hacking to infrastructure development—gaining skills across multiple domains," she explained.

Moreover, Kalra stresses that startups provide greater responsibility and a chance to influence the company's direction. "In a startup, you have the freedom to propose and execute impactful ideas," she asserted.

Ultimately, Kalra encourages new graduates to gain exposure to both environments early in their careers. "Experiencing both a startup and a Big Tech company gives you a well-rounded understanding of the tech landscape and better prepares you for future paths," she concluded.

By taking this balanced approach, fresh graduates can equip themselves with a toolkit of skills and insights that will be invaluable throughout their careers.