5 tips to find a startup job
So, I’m a 20-something Jane-of-all-Trades, that loves the tech and startup industry (but isn’t an engineer) and wants to find a new job in this field.
The pros? The tech industry itself (by definition) is at the grasp of your digital hands - by using a few keywords and knowing what platforms to search on, you can quickly find the right offers. It’s all there!
The cons? In the same way you have to dig through thrift stores to find the perfect diamond-in-the-rough type of clothes, it takes a little digging to figure out the right opportunities for you — specially if you’re looking (like me) for a non-coding position, which are the minority. It’s time-consuming. Frustrating.
So, how to go about it in a smarter way?
1. Identify your keywords
Odds are, there are companies looking for exactly you. Pick a few keywords that match either your ideal position (remote, strong culture, lead generation) or your profile (work well under pressure, organized, Spanish proficiency… you get the idea) to help segment the job offers online.
2. Get a picture ready
Most job search platforms let you publish a profile picture — and while the tendency in HR is more and more geared towards not asking for these (given possible discrimination complaints) — my personal opinion is that it’s a great way to further communicate your personality. Use a high quality picture, make it standout, make it colorful. Wear a hat, have an interesting background, include your dog. It all depends on your profile and the type of job you’re looking for.
3. Have a ready-to-go paragraph about yourself
Frequent scenario: you fill out the experience and education fields and then get to the “optional message” box, where you get stumped:
While it’s a good idea to use the little extra “oompfs” you can add when submitting your resume (like the above) it’s usually baffling and frustrating to create these on the spot.
Think in advance about your best qualities and have a few good 300-character excerpts about yourself on hand. I like to keep mine on Evernote, so they’re accessible anywhere. These short paragraphs help convey your personality and increase the amount of information you can send your prospective employer. Plus, it shows you actually give a damn and put some effort into applying. Of course, make good use of the keywords you’ve outlined for yourself.
4. Spruce up your online presence
This goes without saying: make sure that all your digital profiles (yes, including Pinterest) mirror your personality and keywords. I don’t believe in the need to look like a workaholic and have all your profiles stocked with Inbound.org articles or pins about the best startup marketing strategies, but weed out any public posts that can distract from your current job search goals — and all your beer-pong pics, obvs.
Pro Tip: Use the “View As” feature on Facebook and LinkedIn to see what a prospective employer can find on your profiles at first glance. Trust me, they will look you up on all these.
Another good idea is to use the same profile pic you’re using on all your digital networks. It creates consistency and helps your future boss find you faster.
While LinkedIn profiles are a must, another good idea is to have a specific, personalized page that speaks directly to potential employees — About.me is a good platform to create an interesting profile that helps communicate your unique personality and traits. Most HR nowadays are equally interested in hiring smart employees who are also good people, great team players. Express that you’re a rounded out individual, rather than a list of skills.
5. Set up alerts
Now that you have your keywords selected, make the Internet work for you.
Go to Google Alerts and set up daily email notifications when your selected keywords above match with any new posts. This will probably initially flood your inbox with some unwanted content, but you can tailor the notifications as they come in to make them match your intended search results.
Angel List is also a great place to search for startup and remote jobs. If you don’t already have a profile, go ahead and build one ASAP. Create filters here as well to keep track of new job offers with your keywords of preference.
There you go! These are just a few tips that can help organize your job search, but I’ve love to hear about any of your own that you might add.
Happy hunting!
