How to Get a Job at a Startup

What Employers Are Looking For

When working at a startup, you should expect to start contributing fully on your first day. Companies are looking for people who have intrinsic motivation and a proven track record of learning things on their own time.

You need to be self-motivated because the startup will not have the established processes that larger companies have. There may not be an HR manager to welcome you or a manager telling you exactly what to do. Candidates should also be collaborative in team settings, but they need to be able to work independently when required. Learning marketing or a new programming language, for example, would indicate that you meet those criteria. Share the skills you have developed with the hiring manager during interviews.

Information About Startup Salaries

Startup compensation can consist of several components. There may be a fixed salary, or part of the compensation may be in the form of equity in the company in addition to the salary. To get an idea of potential compensation, use Angel’s Startup Salary and Equity tool to see what you could earn. Specify a role, location, and skill or market to view salary and equity data for thousands of startups.

Work-Life Balance

When it comes to balancing your professional and personal life, don’t expect a typical work schedule from 9 AM to 4 PM every day and weekends off, but you may be able to work on a flexible schedule from home, and the perks can be incredible, and you’ll have the opportunity to grow with the company.

Where to Find Startup Jobs

Use job boards: AngelList is the best resource for startup jobs. You can apply directly to over 74,000 jobs with one application. You’ll also be able to view salary and equity details for each employer. When registering on the site, you’ll create a profile containing your work experience and skills. You can share your profile publicly or keep it private if you want to search for a job discreetly.

Also search GitHub jobs by title, location, company, and benefits. If you are looking for a co-founder and want to join at the early stage, CoFoundersLab is a site where potential entrepreneurs look for founding partners. Search Indeed and other leading job sites using “startup” as a keyword. If you have a specific location in mind or are looking for remote work, add those terms to your query. You’ll get a list of opportunities to explore.

Reach out to companies directly: Review lists of the best startups to find companies that match your skills and interests. Many startups are small, and it may take sending an email or reaching out through LinkedIn to connect with a decision-maker. Crafting a cold outreach cover letter is a good way to grab attention to your credentials. Use your network connections: One of the best ways to find a job at a startup is through networking. Who do you know? Search Crunchbase by person (and company) to see which organizations your connections are involved with. You can also search by school to see if any founders are graduates of your college. Check if your career services office can connect you with alumni of the companies you’re interested in. Also browse your LinkedIn connections. Meet startups: Knowing which companies operate in local coworking spaces can be good for identifying startups in your area. Attend as many tech conferences and events as you have time for. You’ll be able to meet potential employers in a group or one-on-one setting to learn about opportunities. Many employers participate in tech job fairs. Attend as many as possible and note that a startup job fair may have a different format than a traditional job fair. Use social media: Follow the companies you’re interested in on all their social media channels. You might find your next job by reading a tweet or LinkedIn post mentioning that the company is hiring. Respond promptly, and you may be able to expedite the hiring process.

Check

The Company

Companies vary in terms of their work quality, so take some time to research the work environment ratings for startups. In some cases, new companies have ratings on Glassdoor. Do the necessary research and look for the founders to learn more about the startups they have been involved with in the past and whether there are any reports on how it is to work there. This can be a good indicator of what you can expect if you accept a job with them.

Prepare for the Interview

The hiring process can be quick, with fewer formalities compared to interviewing with a traditional employer. Be prepared for a phone interview, video call, or informal meeting on short notice. The interview attire at startups is usually more casual compared to what you would wear in a formal job interview, but you should still look polite and professional. As in any job interview, take the time to follow up with a thank-you note or email.

Tips for Evaluating a Job Offer

When you receive a job offer, it is important to carefully evaluate the compensation package. In addition to reviewing the salary and benefits, it is important to understand how the equity package works. Understanding how stock options work and how they are taxed is crucial, as it can be a surprise when it comes time to exercise those options. The check may be less than you expected, and you may not have realized that you have to pay out of pocket to buy the shares.

A simple way to look at this is to consider the equity portion of the compensation as 0. Unless the startup is extremely successful, it is likely that you will not see anything from those options. So, if you treat it as 0, and you are likely to earn less on the salary side, you should look at other benefits before accepting. Are you working in a burgeoning field that helps advance your career (AI, self-driving cars, blockchain technology, etc.)? Will you be in a position to learn valuable and marketable skills? Can you leverage this position for greater things in the future? Have the founders started a startup before, and can you tie your future to theirs at some point in your career? Are you considering becoming an entrepreneur and want to gain the skills needed to run your own business?

Consider all the factors that will make this next step the best in your career when making your decision, keeping in mind that your time at an IT company does not have to be forever. Even if this is one of those startups that does not last long, you will have the opportunity to expand your skill set, build your resume, and gain valuable professional experience in the tech industry.

Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/how-to-get-a-job-at-a-startup-4158600