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Startups can be intimidating, especially if you're coming from a more traditional, corporate environment. They can also be an incredible learning experience with lots of opportunity for growth. Whether you're right out of school or looking for a culture change, getting a job at a startup isn't an impossible feat.
We caught up with the guys from Technical Integrity, a professional placement firm, and learned what it takes to break into the Colorado tech scene. Their CEO, Dave Mayer, talked us through some common questions and concerns newbies have about breaking into the startup scene. Here’s what he had to say:
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BICO: I have never worked in a startup, but I really want to get into the community. How do I show that I have what it takes?
Dave Mayer: You want to show enthusiasm, drive and demonstrate that you have startup DNA. You want to show you can thrive, and not just keep up in a fast paced environment. Ultimately you want to show that you can bring new ideas to the table.
BICO: Ok, so I found the perfect startup, one I desperately want to work for, but they don’t actually have a job listed that’s a good fit for me. What should I do?
Dave Mayer: Polite persistence wins the day in this scenario. Create any and every opportunity you can think of to stay in front of the organization. Show enthusiasm for their product or service, and demonstrate that you can make a difference on their team. You really want to be persistent until you have the opportunity to talk to somebody who’s a decision maker. Then, even if the interview doesn’t work out in your favor, you should stay in touch with them for six months to a year. New opportunities may come about later.
BICO: Let’s say I have found a job that I’d be really good at, but I’m not really passionate about the company. It’s a cool company, but it’s not really my thing. Should I take the position or hold out for something I’d actually be passionate about doing?
Dave Mayer: I think it’s a big no-no to do anything you’re not passionate about. Life is way too short to do just any job. Just because it’s a cool startup doesn’t mean it’s a good fit for you. Listen to your gut and spend as long as it takes to figure out what’s important in a position to you. Write a pros and cons list. Talk to people in the community. If you’re not sure, then you need to do some more homework.
BICO: There’s a stereotype that there are two types of startups -- those with ping pong tables and those without. At the first one you’d spend 12 hours a day at work, but you’d be hanging out with colleagues and goofing off some of the time. At the one without a ping pong table you’d come in and crush it for 8 hours a day and then go home. Is there any truth to that?
Dave Mayer: I think it’s a hyperbole for sure. There are some startups that are hyper focused on culture, but maybe there’s no work/life balance. That’s something you need to figure out if it’s important to you. If you have a young family at home, maybe working at a company with no work/life balance is not even an option. But if you’re young, and you have time in your life to dedicate 12 hours a day to a company that you’re passionate about, then absolutely, go do it. You need to understand that there are a multitude of opportunities, and you need to carefully consider what’s important to you. What a company is doing and how they're doing it has to align with your values.
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