4 Steps to Getting a Job at a Start Up
Kara Goldin
Founder, CEO, Board Member Creator of The Kara Goldin Show Author of Undaunted, a WSJ & Amazon Bestseller!
Let’s face it: There’s something inherently alluring about working at a start-up.
Even if you don’t know anyone personally who’s working at a start-up right now, you’ve probably seen movies like “The Social Network” or TV shows like “Silicon Valley” that make the whole thing look creative, fun, fulfilling and wildly lucrative. There's a ton of buzz about working at companies like Hint, or companies we partner with like Stella & Dot, Rent the Runway, and The DryBar.
As the CEO of Hint Water (drinkhint.com), I can honestly say that working at a start-up can be all that—and more. Even before I started and ran my own company, I built my career working at big corporations. And since start-up culture is wildly different compared to a corporate gig, it means you need to tailor your job-hunting strategy accordingly. Start-ups don't hire the same way big corporations do - they don't have big HR departments and often they don't use big head hunter firms. So, to get a job at a start up, you're going to need to approach it differently.
If you want to land at a start-up, follow these tips:
1. Live the brand. This sentiment might be the most dramatic difference between a start-up versus a big company. At a large corporation, networking within your alma matter might help you get an interview. But if you want to get a job at a start-up, you need to not only understand the start-up's core mission—you also need to embrace it. For example, if you’re applying to work at a yoga start-up, you have to actually practice and like yoga. Not being authentic will only backfire on you. Always. Even if you somehow manage to get the job, you’ll end up unhappy in the role because you’re not emotionally invested.
2. Don’t be a stranger. Once you’ve targeted a start-up, reach out for a meeting. Show the hiring manager that you’re a consumer of the product or service first, and a job applicant second. If there are no positions open, ask for an informational interview anyway. It’s not as scary as it sounds. On a regular basis, I meet other entrepreneurs through LinkedIn. I send them a message and explain to them who I am. Then, I ask if they have time for a quick coffee or a 15-minute phone call—relatively easy requests. And if you’re terrified of the cold call, take heart: all the people who I’ve approached this way have been really receptive.
3. Show your value. Once you have your meeting or call, do a little homework. That way, when you finally chat, you are able to articulate what you can bring to the start-up. For example, if you’re vying for a sales job, relay the kind of things you would do in the first 30, 60 and 90 days. Consider this a best practice. That’s how my VP of Marketing and Director of Food Service secured their job offers at Hint. I’ve noticed that the strongest people we’ve interviewed do it.
4. Be yourself. (Really.) Because a start-up often small, personalities matter way more than at massive firms. The good part? Your co-workers are your teammates and become your second family. The not-so-great part? Start-ups also tend to attract big personalities, which means your office experience will be colorful and tight-knit—but more chaotic than a cube farm at a corporation. If you’re adaptable and like being kept your toes, a start-up is the perfect place for you.
Photo: creative commons licensed (BY) flickr photo by Heisenberg Media
Business Insights Manager at Kellydeli
10 年Spot on. I work in a start up, and I can relate with everything.
Business Consultant
10 年4 Steps Not Necessary. It all boils down to like-ability. They like you, you are "in." They don't like you, you're "not it."
CFO with entrepreneurial, high growth and IPO experience
10 年Having spent most of my career with start-ups I can confirm the above is good advice. The reward is being able to "move the needle" in many ways across multiple disciplines that would never be possible in larger organizations. The price you pay for that reward is the ever present uncertainty of both market acceptance and sustainability of the product or concept. Even after initial success, care must be taken to determine whether the success is derived from early adopters or mainstream customers. Success derived only from the former without reaching the latter will be short lived. If you do not have the tolerance for such uncertainty, you don't belong in a start-up.
Retired
10 年This is a pretty good article and I personally feel that start-ups offer more from a career and professional satisfaction perspective than the traditional opportunities. The only caution I would convey to the potential candidate is to fully understand what you are stepping into and make sure your start-up opportunity has the funding to be successful in the arena that they have chosen to compete. Business leaders with experience that participate in start-ups usually walk away with a lot of money but business leaders that participate in underfunded start-ups usually walk away with alot of experience.
Lead Global Technical Recruiter | Connecting Incredible Human Beings | [email protected]
10 年Incredible 'right to the point' article. Start-ups are not for the faint of heart, paycheck collectors or a place where people can hide in the general population. Start-ups are a place where you can be yourself, contribute to shaping the culture, product and your customers. Expect the unexpected and expect to learn more than you ever dreamed possible. On the flip side, don't get too excited about the future; create the future so that you have a job to come to in 3, 6 or 12 months. Spreading yourself too thin or working at a start-up that is all ideas and no execution is not only scary it's very dumb. Make sure the CEO has clear plans for the future so that you don't step in quicksand.