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Ask HN: Startup to enterprise and back to startups – how?

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Re: Ask HN: Startup to enterprise and back to startups – how?

#11

Post by ryanSrich »

This is one of the harder parts of hiring for a startup. Where I've struggled in the past is finding the right balance between someone hungry enough to work at a startup (let's be honest, a lot of people just want a 9-5 with a steady paycheck, and there's nothing wrong with that) and someone with enough structured background to help improve process/efficiency.

It sounds like you might have this mix. The more you can show that you are a "startup" person, the better. The best way to do this is by researching the startup and playing to the hiring manager's needs.

Of course, this is entirely dependent on the type of startup you want to work for. Pre-PMF startups are incredibly fun, but require a very specific type of person. If you're looking at startups with $10+mm in ARR then your enterprise experience is going to be much more well received.

Re: Ask HN: Startup to enterprise and back to startups – how?

#12

Post by jtchang »

throwaway41441 wrote: post #3
rajjalan wrote: post #2

May be you are talking to the wrong startups? We are a startup and we love to hire with such a mix of experience. Experience working at large and medium enterprises is really valuable(in addition to working at a startup). Did you get that feedback from multiple companies or is that something you are assuming based on not getting foot in the door?

Got direct feedback from one that I lacked skills in fast growing startups and two feedbacks that I wasn't a fit (even though I had all requirements in the job description). So that got me wondering what I could improve. I think I'm competing with fresh graduates. I applied at startups with 20-200 employees initially. Really looking for that experience of taking something of the ground and scaling. I know we shouldn'…

I'd be glad to do a quick mock interview and try to give you some advice. I've done a lot of hiring with various startups.

Re: Ask HN: Startup to enterprise and back to startups – how?

#13

Post by dvtrn »

jtchang wrote: post #12
throwaway41441 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Got direct feedback from one that I lacked skills in fast growing startups and two feedbacks that I wasn't a fit (even though I had all requirements in the job description). So that got me wondering what I could improve. I think I'm competing with fresh graduates. I applied at startups with 20-200 employees initially. Really looking for that experience of taking something of the ground and scaling. I know we shouldn'…

I'd be glad to do a quick mock interview and try to give you some advice. I've done a lot of hiring with various startups.

Can others take you up on this?

Re: Ask HN: Startup to enterprise and back to startups – how?

#14

Post by icebraining »

If by startup you mean the "rocket ship" type, why not try a third alternative, specifically a small software shop? You may find them more open to people who don't fit the mold of the recent graduate willing to work 16h days, yet they're still small enough that everyone knows everyone and bureaucracy is still minimal.

Re: Ask HN: Startup to enterprise and back to startups – how?

#15

Post by sharemywin »

throwaway41441 wrote: post #3
rajjalan wrote: post #2

May be you are talking to the wrong startups? We are a startup and we love to hire with such a mix of experience. Experience working at large and medium enterprises is really valuable(in addition to working at a startup). Did you get that feedback from multiple companies or is that something you are assuming based on not getting foot in the door?

Got direct feedback from one that I lacked skills in fast growing startups and two feedbacks that I wasn't a fit (even though I had all requirements in the job description). So that got me wondering what I could improve. I think I'm competing with fresh graduates. I applied at startups with 20-200 employees initially. Really looking for that experience of taking something of the ground and scaling. I know we shouldn'…

You might be asking for too much money.

Re: Ask HN: Startup to enterprise and back to startups – how?

#16

Post by nathanwallace »

Career change is often best one variable at a time. For example, change company size but stay in the same industry. Double jumps are generally harder.

Perhaps, focus on startups that reduce the number of change variables. For example, startups focused on satisfying the needs of enterprise IT customers should value your inside knowledge of the pain points.

Keep looking - the right thing will be out there. (For example, my company, Turbot, is actively seeking remote employees with enterprise experience and a pent up hunger to get stuff done.)

Re: Ask HN: Startup to enterprise and back to startups – how?

#18

Post by lynnetye »

throwaway41441 wrote: post #3
rajjalan wrote: post #2

May be you are talking to the wrong startups? We are a startup and we love to hire with such a mix of experience. Experience working at large and medium enterprises is really valuable(in addition to working at a startup). Did you get that feedback from multiple companies or is that something you are assuming based on not getting foot in the door?

Got direct feedback from one that I lacked skills in fast growing startups and two feedbacks that I wasn't a fit (even though I had all requirements in the job description). So that got me wondering what I could improve. I think I'm competing with fresh graduates. I applied at startups with 20-200 employees initially. Really looking for that experience of taking something of the ground and scaling. I know we shouldn'…

Without even knowing you, I want to say that you're probably not too picky. You may have overestimated your skills though, or maybe you've just forgotten which of your skills are most appealing to startups. My full-time job is connecting with, talking to, and helping startups hire software developers. It varies from company to company (and from department to department), but I wouldn't say that fresh graduates are the top choice from an employer's perspective.

Feel free to reach out to me by email if you think I can offer more specific advice/help/resources.

Re: Ask HN: Startup to enterprise and back to startups – how?

#19

Post by karthikb »

amirathi wrote: post #6

> What could I do now to make myself more employable at startups? Startup hiring is a fuzzy science at best. Apart from abilities it's a lot about what impression you make in the first few interactions with the team. Before talking to the team, invest a good amount of time researching on the space the company is operating in. The problem space, adjacencies, incumbents in that space and their offering, know what's uni…

And the first impression does not have to be made by you! With several years of experience, you probably have a strong personal network. An introduction with a few sentences recommendation can go a long ways.

Re: Ask HN: Startup to enterprise and back to startups – how?

#20

Post by zerkten »

Where are your former startup colleagues these days? If they are still working close to the startup field, it'd be good to talk with them, even if you you aren't looking for a direct referral. If you can get candid feedback from them it may help. Their gap analysis might be quite scary at first, but they can likely suggest ways for you close the gaps. And the gaps might only be at an appearance level. You've done the startup thing, I'm sure you can do it again if you persist.
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