Despite all the layoffs happening, there are many companies that are still hiring in this economic climate. If you are looking to find a job at a startup or break into tech there has never been a better time. They key to a successful search is to keep moving. I call it the “do something principle”! Instead of reading the doom and gloom feed on social media, get moving with your search.
What most articles will tell you is the generic “brush up that resume” advice, which usually doesn’t go anywhere. What is needed is that you have to be specific about the desired role and where you can add value as no one likes to guess where you can fit in. Let’s explore some unconventional tips and resources to help you to find that dream job at a startup.
1. Try out the startup product.
This one is a given, but most candidates miss this. If you’re applying a job at a startup, have you tried out their product? If it’s an app, have tried to download it? What about their blog and content? By signing up when it’s possible you show that you care and are interested in the opportunity. This will be huge differentiator from all the other candidates that will go through the interview.
2. Sign up on modern recruiting platforms.
Remember that time you signed you signed up for say a marketing job but ended up getting trucking jobs? Those days are gone. There are many job boards out there, but sifting through thousands of job posts doesn’t work. This is why modern recruiting platforms such as HiredHippo are changing the game in this space with AI to better match the candidate profile with the companies. They bring you personalized opportunities that are closely match to your interest. This is radically different than most sites as you will only get opportunities that you will like.
3. Work with a great recruiting firm.
Jamie Savage is the founder at The Leadership Agency
There are plenty of recruiting firms at out there, but not all are the same. Check out firms such as The Leadership Agency as they have the best team and resources to support your search with landing a job at a startup. They also have matched hundreds of candidates with some of the fastest growing startups in North America. Jamie Savage who is the founder of The Leadership Agency, recently appeared in Canadian Broadcast television to talk about getting hired in these market conditions.
4. Plugin into startup community.
One of the best ways to start your search is get involved with your startup community. If your local startup scene sucks look into global online communities as these communities are flooded with opportunities on a weekly basis. As an example, check out FoundersBeta job listing. Communities are also a good opportunity to meet the founders! Reach out and get involved.
5. Get active with startup events.
Check out sites such as FoundersBeta events, Eventbrite, Meetup, and Facebook to get the event listing. We also list startup events on our weekly newsletter where you can check out the latest startup events. Some events can help you get matched with startups, or find a cofounder. While others are more topic-based such as growing a startup. These events are a great way to grow your network without the hassle of going out and paying for parking.
6. Twitter is a great way to land a job.
Believe or not besides Linkedin, Twitter would be the second social media platform to get hired. There are many founders and tech folks that hangout there and share their opportunities. Be sure to make an account and get started with content that is relevant to your desired industry. If you’re not sure who to follow, I wrote an article previously on Top Founders to Follow on Twitter.
7. Showcase your expertise via a blog.
This sounds super boring, but it’s one of the best ways to stand out. You can literally blog your way to that dream job as many hiring managers and founders check out online portfolios more as supposed to resumes. Startups are incredibly hands-on and there’s no fluff as you have to execute.
8. Cold outreach tactics that doesn’t ask “let me pick your brain”!
Startup founders get so many Linkedin invites on a daily basis, but majority get deleted because it doesn’t have a personalized message. If you’re reaching out, you want to be sure to personalize your message. The worst thing to ask is the typical “let me pick your brain!” for a coffee session. Instead, reach out and offer the following:
– Offer product feedback to the startup
– Showing the founder a new way to win customers. They will love this win!
– Offering to write a guest blog post for the blog. Make sure the content is exclusive to their site!
9. Sign up for startup newsletters.
Startup newsletters are a great way to stay in the loop for the best opportunities. You don’t need to spend hours searching on the web when you can get the best opportunities via email. Wondering where you find the best newsletters? We got the full list of Top Startup Newsletters for you here.
10. Check out venture capital portfolio companies.
Venture capital firms have a feed of startup jobs and it’s a good idea to check it out. You can also check out their feeds on Twitter as they share those opportunities.
11. Check out startup accelerators and incubators.
Demo days and conferences are a good way to meet the startups and find suitable opportunities. Some local startup accelerators have their job listings and have to check their website individually.
As you continue to go about your search just remember in any given economy there’s always room for talent in any given economy.
