Job-Hunt Intelligence - Landing a Job with a Startup

Published: Tue, 02/07/17

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Smart Email: How to Use Email Like a C-Suite Executive

By Neil Patrick​​​​​​​

When it comes to getting hired by a startup, almost everything you know about job search is probably wrong. And the major difference is that this is a hunting expedition, not target practice.

You will almost never get hired by a startup by applying to a job posting. You will get hired if you know the right people already.

In my time, I’ve hired dozens of people for startups that I’ve been involved with. But it’s hard. Startups rarely have the time or money to recruit people in the same way established businesses can and do.

How Startups Hire

My experience reveals what you need to know about how to get hired by a startup:

1. Don't expect the usual recruiting process

When I was hiring for startups, I always had the same problem. The people I knew and wanted were not always available. And I quickly ran out of people I knew that I could call.

However, one person’s problem is another person’s opportunity. Despite having publicity about our business in the local media, hardly anyone would reach out to us. Those who did had a very high chance of getting hired because we were in a hurry, and we didn’t have time to mess about with the sort of protracted procedures that big HR teams use.


READ MORE

 
Sample Job Interview Thank You Email

By Debra Wheatman

Is your goal to get in on the ground floor with a start-up company? If so, be prepared to perform some research on the company's credibility and viability.

With good research, you can reduce your risk of being left with stock options worth less than the paper on which they are printed. If this is the next big thing, then you will need your research results to help you edge out the competition to book the interview.

Researching a start-up is a bit more challenging than researching an established company.

Follow these tips to help you on your research gathering expedition:

Company web site

Here you will see the company through their filter. You will be able to gather all the basics, including product information, market information, executive team and advisory board bios, investor information, and press releases.

If the site has a search tool, search for the people with whom you'll be meeting in an initial interview (if you have an interview set).

You can also get a good sense of the company culture through pictures and descriptions of what it is like to work there.
 
Making Email Work for Your Job Search

Where's the Money? Researching Private Companies​​​​​​​

By Parmelee Eastman

All the advice about reading between the lines of public companies applies to private firms. The issue is finding the financial information to analyze.

Finding this information will range from easy to impossible.

Some private organizations publish financial information on their websites in the interests of being transparent. Some provide pieces that you will have to put together.

Do enough research to answer the question, “Is this firm a good place to work from a financial viewpoint?” But do not spend too much time re-creating a private company’s financial statements.

Researching the Large Private US Companies

Don't assume that all private companies are small neighborhood stores and restaurants which won't be interested in hiring someone like you.

Pivate companies come in many sizes and do as wide a variety of things as public companies.

Many private companies have hundreds of thousands of employees scattered across the US and the world.

The US has some very large private for-profit firms such as:

  • Cargill, which produces and distributes many food and agricultural products

READ MORE​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Editor’s Choice
Joining a startup which satisfies the three evaluation criteria described in this article is a sound decision. They may not be able to pay you top dollar. They may not be around in a year or even six months, but, and this is important, the time you spend there will deliver know-how, experience, and contacts which will make you an infinitely more valuable and sought after person in future.
A stakeholder's perspective will help you ask what problems could exist at this company so you don't get forced into another job search sooner than you want to be. As a prospective employee, the stakeholder perspective can provide you with new insights into potential employers that can be very helpful to you in your interviews and other interaction with the employer.
When you are in a job search, LinkedIn is a very essential tool in your job search toolkit, but, if you are employed, don't announce your job search goals in your LinkedIn Profile. Being active in LinkedIn can demonstrate you are a savvy business person, leveraging current technology to improve your ability to do your existing job better, through better networking, and learning new skills. That activity will also make you more visible and interesting to another employer.

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