:: Net-Worth ::

At this day and age, when software developers are worth their weight in gold, it is not enough to know the intricacies of MFC and DCOM, you actually have be part economist, part accountant, part taxation expert, part lawyer and of course – part investment expert.

Joining a new start-up company, you get offered an elaborate contract (not to mention that NDA you had to sign) with small letters. Lets say you have a law student friend who can explain you that you’re going to be slave.

Fine.

Next – You get the stock option plan. This is when things get complicated. Are the stocks issued in Israel or in the US? Are they given according to section 102 of the taxation code? How much are those stock options really worth?

Tough questions to handle.

They’re even tougher in the Wadi. Why? Because when you have an Israeli founder, you just can’t be sure he’s not trying to throw you a curved ball. “The Kombina” - It’s just the Israeli way.

So – How will you know how much you’re worth?

TheStandard.com have recently started a service called “Vester Tester” which allows you to evaluate the true value of your compensation package. The Tester (a java applet, if you must know) takes into account something like 20 variables, and the main problem is that it’s riddled with technical accounting jargon.

So, We’ll just stick with the old (yet brilliant) Suck article, which evaluates the start-up you’re working in.

Very funny, Very true.

Wadi Writer #3 (Maroon)

WadiList@Mail.com

Links:

Vester Tester - www.thestandard.com/people/recruitment/calculator.html/?epr=v2nl

Suck’s “Know Your Options” - www.suck.com/daily/99/07/19/