Fancy A Date With A Rockstar?
I have seen a recurring trend in the type of profiles showing up in my inbox – MBA graduates – and when I read some of the more proactive emails I noticed an approach that is, you might say, a little bland.
So I thought it might be useful to share some advice on how people can make themselves more attractive for a start-up in the disruptive economy.
So you want a backstage pass?
Admittingly we are all curious in nature and would all like to go backstage, but let’s be abundantly clear – trying to date a Rockstar or join a start-up, in my opinion, is equally tough. More so if you come from a non-tech banking/consulting background.
The harsh reality is that there is no golden ticket to get access backstage. It’s hard, but never impossible.
What do the concert security folks, like myself, screen for before even giving you a chance to sell yourself or talk to us? Matheus Riolfi, a co-founder and CEO, shared some good advice on this topic, which I wanted to elaborate on further.
He reckons start-ups tend to hire for specialised skills. They are careful with hiring as mistakes are costly, and recruitment can be ad-hoc so it’s not always easy to see what roles are available. Sometimes business schools are not always best placed to help as they tend to nurture the MNC relationship more.
Ask Yourself Why?
Before embarking on trying to join a start-up ask yourself the following question – “Why do you want to work for a start-up?”
The answer to this question will influence your next steps. On the other hand if you have come up with any of the following answers, you might be doing it for the wrong reasons.
I can get rich very fast
Start-ups are fun
I’ll have fewer working hours
Of course there are numerous reasons why start-ups might be right for you, but you need to find them and articulate them.
In my case, I really enjoy working at a start-up because….
My work has a meaningful impact on local communities in Southeast Asia.
I enjoy working on projects that haven’t been delivered before and that’s rewarding.
My work will be recognized, but so will my failures. I have never learned as fast.
I’ve realised that hard work, creative thinking, and tenacity are worth a whole lot.
I am surrounded my innovative people with a pioneering mindset.
Calibration
If you are still interested in joining a start-up and have identified the reasons “why” you want to join one, you now need to figure out what type of start-up you want to work for.
Take note though as there are no one-size-fits-all start-ups out there. Many start-ups, even if they operate in the same industry, can have very different operating cultures – take Amazon and Alibaba as an example.
Here are some questions you could ask yourself. What does that company look like today – business stage, scalability, financial backing and leadership team? What’s the right opportunity that exists within that company that could be a good fit for my current set of skills and experiences? What value could I bring to that company immediately and what will allow me to grow in a certain way?
You could also list and rank all of the attributes (culture, compensation, leadership, product, impact, and role) that are important to you in a new job and compare them to each other. This approach should allow you to see clearly how each opportunity compares to your ideal role and help you prioritise your efforts to land you a dream job in a start-up.
Adding New Skills
So you might be able to identify the right start-up that really floats your boat in the right sector and geography, but you might feel that you don’t have the right skills.
You could intern at a start-up, get some entrepreneurial qualifications (modular online executive courses), start writing and market your own online blog on a particular tech disruptive subject, work with an incubator and learn from working on a project from concept to delivery, or write an independent paper in partnership with a business school, which could give you access to start-ups.
Approaching start-ups
So you have packed your backpack* for the rock concert with your reasons why you want to join a start-up or go backstage, you have identified which type of start-up might appeal the most to you and along the way you have acquired some unique new skills that will help differentiate yourself and show your commitment.
*I know, nobody cool goes to a rock concert with a backpack, but what’s wrong with taking a blanket, first aid kit, water bottle, battery pack, cucumber sandwiches and a book for while you wait for the band?
Who to approach though, and how? Well, unlike large companies, most start-ups don’t generally recruit on-site (for MBA profiles mostly) as they don’t have structured recruiting program. As such the best way is to reach out to your network, because teams are small and referrals have a strong weight, especially as cultural fit is so important.
Alternatively don’t shy away from approaching start-ups directly, but don’t look for a Head of HR, they are extinct, look for the Chief People Officer instead.
Finally – interviewing with start-ups
For this part I like the advice I read from Alison Johnston Rue. Interviewing for any position is a two-way process. The interviewer is trying to figure out if you’re right for the job, and you’re trying to figure out if you want to spend 50+ hours each week working for the company.
This is true for any interview, but it’s extra important when meeting with a start-up. Your interviewer wants to know how much you can contribute in two days, three months, and one year. He or she also wants to know how you’re going to fit in with a small team.
On your end, you need to figure out whether you’re going to enjoy working there enough to want to put in long hours. You also need to gauge how likely you think the company is to succeed. Will your options be worth millions in four years, or will you be job hunting in 6 months?
It’s quite the balancing act according to Tammy Han.
Do all your homework and lots of research
This is just common sense, but this step is often skipped. Don’t ask anything of your prospective employer that you could have easily researched yourself.
Demonstrate a growth mindset
Great candidates don’t just have the capacity to do the job – they also prove they’re willing to be coached so they can get better at it.
Be super excited
There are many advantages to working for a start-up over an established company, including more responsibilities and more opportunities for upward mobility. Candidates who show that they’re willing to hustle, improvise, and find a way to move the needle have a better chance of getting hired.
Share your ideas
Think of how great you’ll look if you’re able to mention a problem (through your research) the company’s been dealing with or a gap in their service, and then (humbly) show you’re actively been coming up with solutions, which you can share during your interview process.
Honestly assess whether your values matches the start-up’s values
For candidates, demonstrating value alignment is definitely important, so you want to prepare personal examples that speak to it. Just don’t try to fake it. Honestly appraise your values and see whether they fit into the company’s.
Paparazzi or corner office?
Hopefully this short post will have given you an idea on how best to approach start-ups in the disruptive economy and make yourself attractive to them – or perhaps the idea of giving up a corner office is just too hard?
As for me I made it backstage two years ago and am enjoying it tremendously. Although my chances of ever meeting a Rockstar are zero, as I am never giving up my “geek’ backpack….
