FRAMINGHAM (02/07/2000) - Should you work for an Internet startup? Sure, if the notion of working like a dog suits you. But a few years of indentured servitude at a high-risk dot-com may well be worth it: If part of your compensation includes startup stock and the company does well, you could spend the rest of your life on a beach in Tahiti.
Here, we profile an information technology veteran who has cast her lot with an Internet startup, to discover what it takes to work for a new dot-com. Her story might help you determine whether such a working environment is right for you.
Name and title: Beverly L. Seyfert, chief technology officer.
Employer: The Serious Collector Inc. (www.seriouscollector.com) in San Francisco, a company that sells and auctions fine antiques, collectibles and art over the Web.
Nature of her work: Seyfert implements, manages and supports the company's e-commerce Web site and oversees software development and internal office systems.
Skills and experience she brings to the job: Seyfert was previously a vice president at Irving, Texas-based GTE Internetworking. There, she oversaw a business unit responsible for implementing e-commerce and custom Web-hosting services for U.S. and international clients.
"I've got a strong background in management, project management, networking and Internet technologies," she says. "I've got to be able to wear both an executive hat and a technical hat." Presentation skills are also important, Seyfert adds.
Her impact: No Seyfert, no company. "I am the IT organization. I work with our vendors to manage and maintain the site. I oversee software development and write code myself. I research and implement new technologies."
Why it's interesting: "We're building a community site where professional art and antique collectors can avoid Beanie Babies or garage-sale items. We also need to continually evaluate our customers' requirements and expand our services, which means constantly enhancing the site."
Skills and experience required: Seyfert has a strong background in networking and Internet technologies, "and that's something I use every day," she says.
"I've got many years of managerial experience, and I put it all to use here.
Project management is critical."
Salary, bonuses and perks: At the moment, the salary is "minimal," though she expects that rounds of venture funding will change that. Seyfert says she enjoys being able to walk to work.
Toughest challenge: It can be difficult working with a minimal budget, and there's always the fear that the company might be beaten out by competition.
Greatest reward: "For me, the greatest draw is the equity - the chance to get in on the beginning of a company that could make me a millionaire."
Future opportunities: Boundless. "Working for a very small company gives you the chance to work in other areas that you may not have been exposed to in the past - like marketing and advertising. That sort of broadening is valuable wherever you work."
Advice: "To succeed in this sort of company, you've got to be a risk-taker.
There's no safety net - if the company folds, you're out on the street."
Fryer is a freelance writer in Santa Cruz, Calif.