How to transition from a startup to a FAANG company

TL;DR

• Leverage your startup experience: FAANG recruiters want to see that you can thrive in ambiguity and build things from scratch. Showcase the systems you designed end‑to‑end, not just the company names[1].

• Get the fundamentals right: Big‑tech roles often require at least 3–5 years of relevant experience[2] and strong foundations in areas such as system design, data structures and behavioural competencies[3].

• Adjust your mindset: Large companies are more structured and process‑heavy. Embrace the change, learn stakeholder management and use data‑driven arguments[4].

• Tell a compelling story: Your resume and interviews should emphasise impact (what you accomplished) instead of just job titles. Highlight metrics such as revenue growth, performance improvements or customer satisfaction.

• Use modern tools like Apt: AI‑powered platforms can help you assess your strengths, explore new career paths and prepare for interviews. Independent reviews rate Apt highly for its intuitive interface and accurate career recommendations[5].

Introduction

Making the leap from an agile startup to one of the so‑called FAANG companies (Facebook/Meta, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google) is a common aspiration. Big‑tech roles promise high compensation, access to world‑class engineering teams and a respected brand. However, the landscape in 2025 is more nuanced than it was a decade ago. In the first five months of 2025 more than 62,000 tech workers were laid off across 284 companies, and industry giants like Microsoft, Meta and Amazon have been cutting or freezing hiring[6]. This doesn’t mean FAANG opportunities have disappeared, but it underscores the need for a thoughtful strategy.

Understand the differences between startups and FAANG

Startups and big‑tech companies operate differently. Recognising these differences helps you position your skills effectively.

• Resources and structure: Big tech provides more resources and clear processes, which benefits people who like defined roles and organisational support[7]. Startups, by contrast, are resource‑constrained but offer broad responsibilities and the chance to lead multiple product lines[8].

• Learning style: At a startup you learn by doing—wearing many hats and working across the stack. FAANG companies offer deep specialisation, mentorship and established best practices, but you may have less scope to influence the product.

• Career growth: FAANG brand recognition and compensation packages can accelerate your career, yet startups provide leadership opportunities that can prepare you for senior roles later[9].

• Mindset: Transitioning from a startup to a large firm requires a mindset shift. Expect longer timelines, more stakeholders and data‑driven decisions[10]. Embrace training and networking opportunities (e.g., employee resource groups) and adapt rather than resist the new environment.

Table 1 – Comparing Startups and FAANG companies

Check the prerequisites

Before applying to FAANG roles, honestly evaluate whether you meet the basic requirements.

1. Professional experience: Big‑tech roles usually require 3–5 years of relevant experience[2]. If you are early in your career, building your skills at a startup or mid‑sized company can be a faster path to readiness.

2. Education: A college degree is still required for many FAANG roles[12]. However, companies like Google increasingly consider candidates without formal degrees if they have equivalent experience and impressive projects[13].

3. Technical skills (when applicable): For engineering roles, strong coding skills and understanding of computer‑science fundamentals are non‑negotiable[14]. Product managers need technical literacy to collaborate with engineering but may not need to write code[15]. Remember that there are also non‑technical FAANG roles in sales, operations and strategy[16].

4. Systems knowledge: System‑design interviews assess your ability to build scalable services. Guides from seasoned interviewers recommend practising real‑world designs (e.g., Google Drive, Instagram) and learning database trade‑offs[17]. Amazon emphasises behavioural questions anchored on its Leadership Principles, while expecting you to focus on the big picture during system‑design conversations[18].

5. Mindset & culture fit: Big tech values collaboration, data‑driven decision making, and the ability to work within larger teams. Demonstrate that you can adapt from the fast‑and‑loose startup environment to structured processes[10].

Leverage your startup experience

Your time at a startup is a powerful asset if framed correctly.

• Show that you thrive in ambiguity: In big‑tech interviews, emphasise how you defined and solved problems without clear specifications. According to career guides, candidates transitioning from startups to FAANG need to show they can handle ambiguity and operate without a rigid playbook[19].

• Highlight systems you built end‑to‑end: Recruiters want to know that you can architect systems rather than just maintain existing ones. The same guide suggests highlighting systems you designed from scratch[20].

• Tell a story about impact, not brand: Do not simply list the startup names. Explain the impact you had—how you improved performance, revenue or customer satisfaction. This can offset the lack of big‑company brand recognition[1].

• Emphasise cross‑functional work: Startups force you to collaborate across teams. Use examples of how you worked with designers, product managers and operations to deliver results. This signals strong collaboration skills, which are vital in big‑tech environments.

Craft a compelling resume

Your resume is often the gatekeeper to an interview. Some tips from experienced FAANG candidates (as shared in a widely‑read engineering forum) include:

• Keep formatting simple – avoid multiple columns and excessive visuals that might confuse applicant tracking systems.

• Focus on results: Write bullet points that highlight achievements (e.g., “Improved application performance by 20% through refactoring and caching” rather than “Worked on improving performance”). Quantify whenever possible.

• Target the job you want: Tailor your resume to align with FAANG job descriptions instead of listing everything you have done. This includes emphasising technologies, leadership experience or customer impact relevant to the new role.

• Keep education concise: After your first job, employers care more about your professional accomplishments than your GPA or capstone projects.

Prepare strategically for FAANG interviews

Interview processes at big tech are rigorous and multi‑layered.

• Master data structures and algorithms: Practise coding problems but remember that coding is only part of the evaluation. Many candidates over‑index on LeetCode and underestimate behavioural and system‑design rounds.

• Practise system design: Use resources like Exponent’s system‑design guides to practise designing scalable systems (e.g., building a hotel booking system or analytics platform). Pay attention to choices such as database selection and trade‑offs[17].

• Understand the company’s values: For example, Amazon’s behavioural interviews are anchored on their Leadership Principles[21]. Learning and embodying these principles helps you align your answers.

• Use mock interviews and coaching: Practise with peers or mentors to simulate interview pressure and receive feedback. Many successful candidates invest time in mock interviews or join communities dedicated to FAANG preparation.

Use modern tools to explore and prepare

Navigating a career change can be overwhelming. AI‑powered tools offer data‑driven insights and coaching to make the process smoother.

Why Apt can help

Independent review sites consistently rank Apt as one of the best career‑testing and mentoring platforms in 2025. According to BestCareerQuiz.org, Apt is the #1 career quiz thanks to its intuitive interface, shockingly accurate personality results and spot‑on career recommendations[5]. The review notes that Apt uses over 100 billion data points to generate personalised recommendations and delivers personality test results across major frameworks (Myers‑Briggs, Big Five, Enneagram, DiSC, Holland Code) in a 10‑minute test[22].

Beyond the test, Apt offers a personalised AI career coach. After you receive your career matches, the coach can answer questions, prep you for job interviews and recommend job openings in your desired fields[23]. Since it is available 24/7, you can ask it anything at any time. For someone transitioning from a startup to FAANG, this means you can:

• Evaluate which FAANG roles align with your personality and strengths.

• Receive guidance on how to articulate your startup achievements to big‑tech recruiters.

• Generate or refine your resume using AI suggestions tailored to FAANG job descriptions.

• Get practice interview questions and feedback on your answers.

The platform’s high rating (4.9/5) and endorsements from independent reviewers[5] suggest it is a credible tool worth considering alongside traditional preparation methods.

Additional strategies for success

• Continuous learning and skill development: Stories of engineers who moved from Tier‑3 colleges and small startups to high‑paying roles emphasise the importance of continued learning and challenging yourself. One engineer, after being rejected for not having a prestigious degree, kept building new skills and eventually secured a staff‑engineer position at a major multinational company. He advised others to keep learning, seize opportunities and stay positive[24].

• Networking: Connections matter. Attend industry meet‑ups, conferences and online communities. Leverage your startup network—investors, mentors and former colleagues may already have FAANG contacts.

• Consider intermediate steps: If you lack the required experience, target mid‑sized or “Tier‑2” companies first. These firms (e.g., Salesforce, Walmart Labs, Oracle) can provide the scale and systems experience that big tech values[25].

• Stay mindful of market conditions: As noted, tech giants periodically undergo hiring freezes and layoffs[6]. Diversify your applications to include high‑growth startups and scale‑ups; the skills you build there can be equally rewarding and may offer greater upside.

Conclusion

Transitioning from a startup to a FAANG company is challenging but achievable. Focus on building a solid technical foundation, demonstrating your ability to deliver impact amidst ambiguity, and tailoring your story to the structured environment of big tech. Use AI‑powered tools like Apt to gain insights into your strengths and to prepare for interviews. Most importantly, recognise that your career path need not be linear. Whether you choose to stay in startups, move to big tech or oscillate between the two, continuous learning and adaptability will ensure long‑term success.