Ask HN: Are startups friendly to new grads?

#1

Post by coygui » Thu, Feb 02, 2017, 7:49 PM UTC

graduate in may

I have sent emails to some startups asking if they will hire new grads, but none of them say "yes"; they are more interested in senior developers...

Indeed, on their websites, there're no positions available for new grads, but they also suggest if you are interested in our company, please contact us. That' why I sent the emails. Does this imply they only need senior developers who are interested in their company?

Re: Ask HN: Are startups friendly to new grads?

#2

Post by fapi1974 » Thu, Feb 02, 2017, 8:17 PM UTC

Here is what all startups are interested in: passion. All startups will hire a passionate new grad. So don't send 50 resumes! Don't ask if they are willing! Pick the one you want and focus. Make a video. Write a case study on their industry. Invite every single person in the startup out to coffee. Physically show up at their office. If you do even a fraction of these things they will hire you, really.

Re: Ask HN: Are startups friendly to new grads?

#3

Post by PaulHoule » Thu, Feb 02, 2017, 8:41 PM UTC

For one thing it is a bad idea for a hiring manager to advertise that the company wants a new grad because it can be perceived as age discrimination; they could get sued. What they can say is that the position is "entry level".

Startups often like to hire young people for various reasons but in a company that has 2 or 3 employees, everyone has to carry their own weight -- they usually cannot give you a lot of on the job training.

One trends I have seen is companies who hire young people to make cold calls; often these people have a PMA and some sales skills, but they don't understand the offerings they are selling well and don't have a complete set of sales skills.

An established company with name recognition and a well-worn playbook can get away with that, but I see many small (Don't ask "do you hire new grads?" because the real question is "will you hire me?" which can have a different answer if you communicate that you can bring something special.