How long should I stay in a startup that is a career path I don't intend to pursue?

I recently graduated from college and got a job in a startup. As part of my compensation I got equity that vests over 5 years. Our company has done well and seems to have cornered the market and will continue to do so for the next 5+ years. As a result, many private investors have given funds, and I am fairly confident that if I hold out for 5 years, the equity will be the equivalent of me working 5-6.5 years at my current salary. As a young engineer, this is obviously huge and can return investments in the future. However, there is trouble in paradise. Currently, I don't feel mentored. While the company has become more mid-sized rather than startup, our team is young. While young people like myself can learn quickly, it's different from learning from industry experts, and I am personally worried that we lack expertise. Secondly, I am worried I am taking on an increasing risk the longer I stay. I don't have specialized background for this industry and as a result, I haven't made much of an impression with my boss in the year I have worked for him. More importantly, I think I am most interested in in an industry/area that shares some skills with my current job, but am worried that as specialization sets in, after 2-3 years, I will no longer be a good candidate for job(s) I am looking for. If I continue, I will be forced to specialize in a field I don't necessarily want to pursue, and will be forgoing the time to be able to hone my skills towards the career I am most interested in. Given this, how long should I stay with company? Should I stay 0 years, 2-3, or perhaps 5 or more? My biggest worry is that if I stay and cash out, I will pay an even bigger price of missed opportunity, or be a bad fit for the industries I want to go into even more. How long can I remain with this company without significantly jeopardizing my career? #career #engineering #required-skills #job #equity

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