Freshers - 5 tips to get yourselves noticed and bag your dream startup job
So you are a fresher looking for a job. You’ve asked yourself the 3 questions that freshers looking to work for a startup should ask themselves. And you are convinced that a startup is definitely the right place to start your career. Now what? How do you catch the attention of startups and bag your dream job? Here are 5 tips:
Target your dream startup(s)
Having a finger in every pie may seem like a great way to start your startup job hunt. After all, as they say – “Kahin na kahin se kuchh to milega.” But this is an approach I would highly warn against. In my article on the 3 questions, I had shared how it is important to know what kind of startup you want to join – Early stage, Seed stage, Series A or Series B – Pre IPO. I take this a step further – identify startups in the specific areas of work/ technology that you want to target. As you will see in the tips that follow, startup job hunting for freshers needs dedicated focus and preparation. It also needs conviction and you must have a convincing story of why you want to join each company that you target. Study more about the kind of companies that you would like to join and then shortlist not more than 4-5 that excite you most.
Grab every opportunity
It is not that startups don’t want to employ freshers. But let’s be practical - the number of freshers applying to startups outweighs the number of such job opportunities manifold. Those working at a startup, especially the founders, are an incredibly busy lot. While most startups have a careers section on their website, it is highly unlikely that posting your cv on their careers section in itself will bear much fruit. Use the careers section to understand what kind of jobs the startup is looking to recruit for, what they pride about working for them and that’s all. You need to grab every opportunity to get through to startups and those taking their hiring decisions. Look out for entrepreneurship events, conferences and seminars where your targeted startups are participating. Short of actually stalking the startup team, do everything you can to grab that opportunity to get their attention.
Get yourself noticed
Entrepreneurs are egoistic... And why shouldn’t they be? They have taken a plunge that few dare to take and are genuinely creating value – be it in terms of jobs created or financial returns generated. Their startups are akin to their own children – to nurture, to cherish, to showcase and to be proud of. Use this to your advantage. Nothing will get their attention more than you openly praising their startup in an open forum. But be specific. You should have done enough research on the latest happenings at the startup and pick on points that they will be particularly proud of – a new product launch, winning a new customer, an award or even a round of investment. Ask a question about this or make a comment. This way, when you approach them directly, they will remember you. The reverse strategy – pointing out a flaw or giving constructive advice could also work – but be careful. What you are saying should be truly meaningful and put across in a manner that doesn’t antagonize them.
Elevator pitch in fast forward mode
If entrepreneurs need an elevator pitch to grab mindshare of a busy investor, a fresher should think of an opportunity to speak to the startup founders as a stop on the (in)famous Mumbai local trains. The opportunity is brief, the crowd is huge and talking to you is far from being their first priority. It may seem harsh but unless you are from a really premier institute, don’t even bother with to mention that you are from XYZ Institute of Information Technology and Management – that’s 5 seconds of zero value ad! As Shrinath V mentioned in his article on 5 Tips to get you jobs as a fresher, “talk about projects that you have done.” Mention what’s really cool about your profile that will differentiate you from the crowd. Don’t just ask for a job. Say something like – “I would love to work for your startup; what makes for a successful employee at your company?”
Follow up; perseverance is key
If you have got yourself noticed, have made your pitch to the startup and think that your job is done, you are sadly mistaken. Even if the entrepreneur really liked you, chances are that once he/ she gets back to work, your profile will get lost in the deluge of work that will engulf them. Don’t put too much gap between your last interaction and the follow up. Strike the iron when it’s hot! Make sure that apart from the founder(s), you have met at least one more person from the startup team. They are usually easier to catch than the founders. Stay connected with these people. Obviously, they will have much greater access to the hiring decision makers than you ever will. Remind them of your interactions with the founder(s); ask them how to proceed and get an interview. Lack of response may frustrate you but remember that perseverance is key. Importantly, don’t feel embarrassed about following up. Have the belief in your capability; all you are asking for is a chance to showcase it!
It is unfortunate that as a fresher, getting a startup job will be a struggle. Everyone will seem to want experience and how will you get that if nobody gives you a job in the first place! Don’t let it bog you down. If you have the right conviction, the necessary dedication and the right approach, that startup job will be yours soon...