Comments on: So You Want a Job at a Startup?

By: Pratishthachhetri

Pratishthachhetri — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:02:00 +0000

know if you are ready to work in a start up. check out our blog http://creativaindia.co.in/blog/meant-work-startup/
you can learn more than you give,literally!

By: Kathy Ver Eecke

Kathy Ver Eecke — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 19:52:00 +0000

Hey Adam: Great post.

My entire career has been working with startups (other than one excruciatingly calm year at a Fortune 100). I agree all of your points, in particular loving the people in the company. You’re going to be with them day and night, so you better be comfortable being cozy with them.

For some other tips for Amanda on finding the job, Lewis Howes (the LinkedIn guru guy) has a great interview with Charlie Hoehn on how he landed jobs with several entrepreneurs and bestselling authors (including Seth Godin). That interview can be found here: http://bit.ly/pHrfh4

I wrote a post about that interview and other tips for landing a job with a startup on my blog (shameful plug, but the blog’s sole focus is working in a startup, so seems to fit!) The post is Work for A Startup: Get a Job with an Entrepreneur. http://t.co/tevzjp0 .

Amanda, hope you find it useful!
Kathy

By: DanaLeavy

DanaLeavy — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:16:00 +0000

Great article Adam!

By: Scott Schumann DDS

Scott Schumann DDS — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 23:29:00 +0000

Of course everybody looks at life through their own lens and my lens is via the filter of being a dentist in grove city Ohio so when you take into consideration that most start up businesses don’t offer much as far as benefits, but my perspective is that you should not let that dissuade you from opportunity because you can usually work out some type of financial arrangements to get your dental care.

By: Hkurwa

Hkurwa — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:08:00 +0000

Adam, funny u mentioned the FourSquare example.. apparently the lowercase isnt as crucial as expected… http://justtristan.com/

By: Adam Zuckerman

Adam Zuckerman — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:51:00 +0000

Katie, how did you find your job?

By: Adam Zuckerman

Adam Zuckerman — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:50:00 +0000

Amanda, good question. It’s really a factor of figuring out where you want to be and what you want to do. For the smaller startups (which often have more risk), word of mouth and getting to know the founders (so you can express interest) is likely best. For more established and venture backed companies, traditional job boards (e.g.; http://www.startuphire.com) as well as posts on the VC websites can help. Good luck!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:55:00 +0000

I’d love to work for a start up, but traditional job hunting sites only seem to recruit for larger companies. Do you have any suggestions on how to find these startups that may be looking to hire?

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:14:00 +0000

6. Figure out which one has the best mascot

Odds are you’re gonna be given a boatload of stickers, hats and other memorabilia that you’re gonna have to wear to work and at social events, or else be accused of not drinking enough Kool-Aid (speaking of which, branded kool-aid cozies are making a comeback). Therefore, if you pick a start-up with a color-tone that doesn’t match your complexion, or one with a lame mascot (imagine having to wear t-shirts with wallets on them, Geraldine), then you’ll be sorry.

Ideal for men – neutral or blue tones, whimsical or tough mascots that you can pass off as your college football teams.

Ideal for women, yellow, pink or bright greens, the more japanese-seeming the mascot the better (e.g. http://www.slideshare.net/yongfook/japanese-mascots-give-your-startup-personality-1546642)

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:24:00 +0000

Even though the company I currently work for has been around for a few years, the direction they’re going is brand spankin’ new, so I really do consider it a startup. And I’m the only “office” employee. It’s stressful, and it’s a lot of responsibility, but when I think about the big picture, and how far I can really help this place go, it’s very exciting.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:01:00 +0000

Great tips here–especially the point about all start ups being different. I’ve worked at several and you’re so right; they were completely different from each other. The level of excitement, creativity, and drive was the same, though, and made it so worth it!