How To Find A Job In Startup Company

Start-up-er (stärt- əp- ər): An private passionate about working with small, driven groups of entrepreneurs, who loves the thought of wearing multiple hats and working long hours to consummate a goal. She thrives in an innovative environment, eagerly accepts challenges, and finds joy in non knowing what's effectually the corner.

Then, you've deemed yourself a start-up-er, just oasis't landed your dream start-upwards job yet. It's not an like shooting fish in a barrel chore—how do you find a job at companies that may only have five squad members and no recruiting budget to speak of? Well, I'll say this one time: If you're looking at the large chore boards—terminate. The start-up job hunt looks much, much unlike than a typical search.

To bring you the scoop, I consulted with one of the best start-upwardly recruiters I know, Keith Cline, who non merely spends his days recruiting for first-ups, he runs one himself: The thought leadership and job search site VentureFizz. We put our heads together and came up with this guide for a successful start-upward job search.

Networking (Must. Start. Here.)

I often hear my entrepreneur friends say, "I don't take time to mail service jobs." Or, they don't know how to go their jobs noticed online or in forepart of the right audience, or they lack the funds needed to post jobs frequently.

And so to fill their open positions, they default to the most affordable option: Using their connections. They rely heavily on the people they know, the people their friends recommend, and the people they see at events—a.k.a., their network.

Which means, your start-upwardly job search should be less near resumes and applications and more (actually, mostly) about networking. I know information technology's tough, particularly because yous probably won't go immediate results. Merely if you lot keep at information technology, it will eventually pb to the right connection. Afterward all, being a first-up-er is all about initiative and drive!

If you're not sure where to start, here are a few ideas.

1. Seek Out First-up Events

While New York City, Boston, and Silicon Valley are well-known start-upwardly hubs, at that place'southward a community of entrepreneurs in almost every city across the U.Due south. With a little inquiry, you can notice innovation labs, networking groups, and mentoring programs, all focused on commencement-upwardly companies.

In fact, I simply Googled "Omaha, Nebraska" (a identify I've never been) and "start-upward group," and came up with pages of fantastic beginning-upwardly networking opportunities. Do the aforementioned for your city, and you'll have a agenda full of events in no time. After yous attend a few and meet some people, you can inquire for referrals to other worthwhile events, likewise.

You can likewise search on Meetup to find outset-up-oriented events almost you lot. If you lot're looking for a specific type of role (similar social media guru), detect a specific group for social media professionals, and start attention their events. Fifty-fifty if they're non all entrepreneurs themselves, they may be able to innovate you to some. And as a bonus, the grouping will help you hone your skills and continue up with the most recent industry action, making you a more desirable candidate.

two. Connect with "Offset-up People" in Your Expanse

As you lot attend more networking events, y'all'll hear some central names mentioned every bit great resources once more and again—these are major "first-upwards-ers" that yous should connect with. Whether they're advisors or board members of electric current starting time-ups, or even venture capitalists, these people have likely get known as cracking resources because they're intimately involved in the start-upward community.

With that in mind, seek out one (or a few) of these people and ask for xv minutes of time to do an informational interview. Offer to purchase java in render for his or her seasoned advice about how to navigate the start-up community and find the company that's the best fit for yous. Information technology sounds intimidating, but it works—in fact, most people I know who accept landed their dream beginning-up job got there this mode.

3. Befriend a Showtime-up Recruiter

Some recruiters deem themselves "start-upward-ers," too. Apply LinkedIn to find them, or enquire the people y'all meet at networking events—these recruiters are typically well-known in the commencement-up community. As industry insiders, they'll take a finger on the pulse of what companies are hot, who'due south hiring, and the people you should be talking to. Build a solid relationship with a great recruiter, and he or she could lead you to your dream first-up job.

4. Target Start-ups Directly

Try compiling a list of get-go-ups in your city by looking in a local business journal or searching online. If you alive in a larger city, y'all can likewise look on AreaStartups. Do some research to learn about each company'south history, values, and purpose.

Once you observe a few you're really excited near, reach out to the leaders of those companies straight. Explicate why you're interested in connecting with them and why you'd be a great fit for the company. (Note: You must tell them why.) Start-ups love hearing from people who are passionate most their mission, and will be much more probable to continue you lot on the radar for future job openings if they've met yous face-to-face up.

In add-on to networking, you can also use starting time-upward-specific job search websites, like Startuply, Startuphire, VentureFizz, or Ventureloop (or bank check out the start-ups hiring on The Muse!). Venture capital websites besides commonly list open positions in their portfolio companies. On their own, these websites are non about as effective as networking, simply tin can aid yous pinpoint specific companies and position types you're interested in, which can be a cracking starting indicate.

There's plenty more to share well-nigh the application and interview process for first-up companies, so stay tuned for the next part of this series. Until and then, get searching!