"According to your resume, you graduated at 26, entered Sequoia Capital, stayed there for six years, and were promoted to Department Team Leader, but you chose to resign from Sequoia last year."
Zhou Xing looked at Deng Haoyang.
"That's right."
Deng Haoyang nodded.
"Can you tell me why?"
Deng Haoyang was silent for a moment, then looked up and said, "CEO Zhou, I am thirty-three this year."
"When a person reaches middle age, they inevitably harbor some dissatisfaction."
Deng Haoyang had a somewhat self-deprecating smile on his face: "Actually, only reaching the position of Team Leader in six years can be considered a failure for me."
"When I first entered school, after studying finance thoroughly, I was full of anticipation, hoping to finance companies with potential, much like the autobiographies of famous investors, and then watch them grow. That sense of accomplishment is unparalleled."
"But after I joined Sequoia, the situation was completely different from what I had imagined. As a newcomer, I simply didn't have the ability or the qualification to decide which company to invest in. Even after reaching the position of Team Leader, I could only offer some guiding opinions on projects."
Deng Haoyang took a deep breath: "Other than that, I had no other choice, so at that point, I knew I had to leave."
"While I am still relatively young and still have a chance."
A smile appeared on Deng Haoyang's face: "I want to be willful and take a shot. As the saying goes, people strive for higher ground, water flows to lower levels. I wasn't willing to stay at Sequoia, so I was constantly seeking a new company, and then I saw your company, CEO Zhou."
"With 2 billion in paid-in capital, this scale and strength are very appealing to me."
"So I wanted to come and try it out, not for anything else... just hoping to have the opportunity to invest personally."
Zhou Xing nodded with a calm expression.
The venture capital industry does not experience the mid-life crisis of Programmers.
On the contrary, the longer you stay in this line of work, the more it proves your capability and the more seasoned your experience is.
The number of successful investment cases under one's belt will only increase.
High-education, high-IQ individuals like Deng Haoyang are destined not to settle for mediocrity.
He entered Sequoia Capital but couldn't realize his dreams.
Then leaving was only a matter of time.
"What position are you applying for?"
Zhou Xing asked.
"I wonder if your esteemed company has already selected someone for the General Manager position?"
Deng Haoyang asked.
"Not yet."
"My personal wish is to serve as General Manager. I am only thirty-three, right at the peak of my vitality, and I believe I have the ability and energy to excel in the General Manager role."
Deng Haoyang nominated himself without any hesitation.
"General Manager..."
Zhou Xing picked up his cup, glanced at Deng Haoyang, and then smiled: "But you just mentioned yourself that you didn't really lead investments while you were at Sequoia. Your experience is insufficient, so how can I confidently hand the General Manager position to you?"
"But I have accumulated six years of experience, and the amount of investment I participated in totals over a billion. Several of those companies have already pursued IPOs and successfully listed, bringing huge returns."
Deng Haoyang explained: "Although I didn't have the authority to lead investments, my market insight and keen ability to capture economic trends are in no way inferior to others."
"Just this... is not enough."
Zhou Xing shook his head.
"Still not enough..."
Hearing this, Deng Haoyang muttered to himself for a moment, then suddenly gritted his teeth and said, "I can sign a long-term contract with your company, a minimum of five years, during which I will not resign. This can be written into the contract."
"I can choose not to take a salary."
"All my wages will be tied to the company's performance."
Zhou Xing stared at Deng Haoyang for a moment, then suddenly stood up, smiled, and extended his hand, saying, "Welcome to Nile Crocodile Venture Capital."
Originally, among the five candidates' resumes, he was already leaning towards Deng Haoyang.
After all, he was the oldest, had the most extensive qualifications, and had spent six years at Sequoia as a Department Team Leader.
Not having experience leading investments didn't matter at all.
Because Zhou Xing already had a plan in mind; they just needed to follow his steps.
His education and resume were nearly flawless.
Zhou Xing would never choose to let go of such high-end talent.
Earlier, he was just trying to push the price down slightly.
He just hadn't expected... Deng Haoyang to be so willing to sacrifice, which immediately made him feel a little guilty.
Was he being too much of a capitalist?
Deng Haoyang was stunned, then stood up with barely suppressed joy: "Thank you for CEO Zhou's recognition."
"When can you start working?"
Zhou Xing released his hand and asked.
"Anytime."
Deng Haoyang felt a long-lost passion surge within him; he couldn't wait to jump into work immediately.
"Alright, signing the contract shortly and starting immediately shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Zhou Xing nodded.
"Absolutely no problem."
Zhou Xing immediately had Zhang Yan print out two copies of the contract. After confirming everything was correct, Deng Haoyang signed his name, and Zhang Yan stamped the Company Seal on the contract on behalf of Zhou Xing.
"Of course, I can't treat you too unfairly. It's impossible for you to take zero annual salary. For now, your annual salary is tentatively set at 500,000 yuan. Subsequent raises, stock dividends, and company revenue bonuses will depend on your own efforts."
Zhou Xing patted Deng Haoyang's shoulder and said.
Pressing the price was to achieve a reasonable rate. He was rich, but not a sucker.
But likewise, if he wasn't generous to his subordinates, the company was destined not to go far.
"CEO Zhou, please rest assured, I will definitely do my absolute best."
Deng Haoyang was touched by these words. He had been the one to proactively suggest taking no salary, with all compensation dependent on future company revenue.
This was essentially a performance wager.
After working in this industry for a long time, one deeply feels the ruthlessness of capital.
But while capital is ruthless, the boss is very compassionate.
He had no other thoughts now; he only wanted to perform well as General Manager, realizing his grand ambitions while running the company successfully, so as not to let down Zhou Xing's generous treatment.
"Now I'm giving you a task: you have one week to staff up the company. Once the company is on track, it will be your time to shine."
Zhou Xing laughed. High-end talent had been absorbed, but mid-level and foundational staff were also needed.
Neither could be lacking.
Troops cannot function without a general, and a general without troops cannot move an inch.
"Understood."
Deng Haoyang naturally had no objection to this.
This was his duty... "CEO Zhou, the interviewees have arrived."
Zhang Yan knocked on the door again and ushered in two people.
They were Liu Wentian and Zhang Qiang, whom they had just contacted.
Zhou Xing was happy to accept both of them. Although he didn't give them the General Manager position, he promised them the position of Department Manager.
As for which department, that would naturally be planned once the company was running smoothly.
What he needed to do now was collect as much talent as possible.
After considering it for a moment, Liu Wentian and Zhang Qiang chose to join the company.
Around eleven o'clock.
Xu Yanglin also arrived at the company.
It was just a shame that his goal was also the General Manager position.
Unless he could be given the General Manager position, he would not choose to join Nile Crocodile Venture Capital.
Zhou Xing chose to see him out.
Although he lacked talent, there was no need to force the issue.
He confirmed the company's Articles of Association with Deng Haoyang at the company.
It wasn't until twelve o'clock... that the last interviewee finally arrived.