A Unique Win Win Way to Get A Job At A Startup

Often, I get approached by people wanting to work at a “startup”. Perhaps they are sick of the corporate/consulting grind. Maybe they are looking to renew themselves. Maybe they really like to build stuff from the ground up and want to be involved with a startup.

It’s pretty easy to point them in the direction of a website like Built In Chicago or a VC website. Scan portfolio companies and ask the VC for a warm intro. Or, just cold email them if the job you want is posted. Or, network into a conversation. Maybe there is even a head hunter that is working for the company or VC that you can find.

Want to know a better way?

Put your entrepreneur hat on. What are you concerned about?

• Lack of resources
• Next round or first round of funding (do you need, want it or do you have to get some?)
• Top line revenue
• Burn rate
• Pleasing existing customers

This is a short laundry list.  I am sure if the CEO of a startup reads this she/he could write an entire blogpost in the comment section about what their concerns are.

Given the above knowledge, what is a unique win/win way to create an opportunity for yourself?  How about create a job for yourself.  If you are going to do this, it should be something meaningful.  No disrespect, but social media mavens are a dime a dozen.  What’s not a dime a dozen?

• Engineers and developers
• Sales
• Operating officers (sometimes)

Startups are always on the lookout for talent.  Engineers and developers are hard to find.  I included it just because.  If you are one of those people you might find a startup that you are just passionate about and you want to help them build the mission.

Operations are tough too because it’s hard to know what’s going on inside the firm.  Generally, COO’s are hired after Series A or B.  A great COO can bring discipline to the mission and get stuff done faster.

Sales is the easiest to figure out and it also helps you figure out if the firm might have legs or not.  Go find some potential target customers and talk to them about the startup.  See if they are interested and make an intro.  Don’t intro one at a time if you want a gig.  Bring a book of business.

That’s being scrappy and startups are all about being scrappy.

That will make the conversation go a lot easier with Ms/Mr CEO.  They know the best way to get funding and to increase bottom line revenue is increase top line revenue.  At the very least, you will know if this is a go/no go for you.