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Ask HN: How do I write a resume after five years of a startup?

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Re: Ask HN: How do I write a resume after five years of a startup?

#81

Post by tener »

cableshaft wrote: post #28
lloyd-christmas wrote: post #4

> So, how does one communicate that they are hirable after running a semi-successful startup for years The fact that you've held a job for more than just 6 month stints is enough to push you all the way to the front of the line. Most applicants we see just do 6 months here and there. I refuse to hire anyone that hasn't stayed at a company at least 2 years (excluding new grads). 4 years is pretty much a unicorn nowada…

Here's what the last 6 years of my resume look like: * 1.5 years - Startup I joined crashed and burned * 0.5 years - Contract work for web design firm while I went back to university, they couldn't get their clients to pay their invoices * 1.0 years - Worked for the university while I finished my degree * 1.0 years - Startup I joined crashed and burned * 1.5 years - Small company that was doing well, but proceeded to…

Just short the stock of your current company, profit will come :)

Re: Ask HN: How do I write a resume after five years of a startup?

#82

Post by eru »

lloyd-christmas wrote: post #4

> So, how does one communicate that they are hirable after running a semi-successful startup for years The fact that you've held a job for more than just 6 month stints is enough to push you all the way to the front of the line. Most applicants we see just do 6 months here and there. I refuse to hire anyone that hasn't stayed at a company at least 2 years (excluding new grads). 4 years is pretty much a unicorn nowada…

I'd stay longer at companies, if they were as eager to increase my compensation while staying as they are for when I am switching.

Re: Ask HN: How do I write a resume after five years of a startup?

#83

Post by eru »

ep103 wrote: post #18
lloyd-christmas wrote: post #4

> So, how does one communicate that they are hirable after running a semi-successful startup for years The fact that you've held a job for more than just 6 month stints is enough to push you all the way to the front of the line. Most applicants we see just do 6 months here and there. I refuse to hire anyone that hasn't stayed at a company at least 2 years (excluding new grads). 4 years is pretty much a unicorn nowada…

Heh, I've yet to work for a company where management stayed stabled for 2 years, 4 would be a pipe dream.

Google seems stable enough.

Re: Ask HN: How do I write a resume after five years of a startup?

#84

Post by eru »

derefr wrote: post #80
eropple wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This feels to me like a rationale for trying to get something for nothing, to be honest. Why would a quality engineer with an understanding of their worth stay at a company for two years when the next company's offering 20% more after twelve months? "Make hay while the sun shines."

Boy, what I'd give for a career trajectory that looks like that. But I'm not moving to the US any time soon (my family is quite happy here), and my local market caps out at ~$110k for "senior" devs. It's annoyingly hard to find remote jobs working for US firms that pay US salaries.

Apparently you wouldn't give enough..

I'm not in the US, and not an American citizen, but I got a similar trajectory from moving around globally.

(Not a criticism of you, just saying that you made your choice.)

Re: Ask HN: How do I write a resume after five years of a startup?

#85

Post by chaostheory »

otoburb wrote: post #3

Do not fixate on job title progression alone; your co-founder titles are impressive enough. Outline your area(s) of responsibility on each project, especially if you all rotated roles once in a while. Focus on growth of both top and bottom lines, and highlight margin improvements over the 4 years and 4 projects. Try to quantify your accomplishments in dollar figures since they stand out more. Statements such as "Grew…

Looks like I'm 11 hours late to the party =(

Totally agree with otoburb and I'd like to add to the conversation.

boxcardavin, you bring up a common problem: traditional resumes and LinkedIn are mainly all about focusing on your tenure: the company you worked for and your job title. As you mentioned, it doesn't cater to your work history. What if we make your work front and center and push the job titles to the side? Instead of just typing, I'd like to show you what I mean:

http://www.theymadethat.com/people/p04ubn/david-hansen

boxcardavin, feel free to give me feedback. If you have a lot feedback, we can take this outside of HN.

Re: Ask HN: How do I write a resume after five years of a startup?

#86

Post by piva00 »

angryasian wrote: post #75
quantumhobbit wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've seen two types who fit the six month pattern: 1 Devs who simply can't code and get fired/managed out/not contract renewed 2 Unlucky people who don't put up with crappy work environments The first groups should be easy to weed out with decent interviews. The second are a goldmine as long as your company isn't as dysfunctional as the companies that drove them away previously.

I don't get this at all. As developers we should always be looking out for our best interests. If you think you can find something better for more money do it. The whole idea of company loyalty is bs in my opinion. They generally aren't loyal to you.

I kinda agree with you on that but there's also another point: when a company hires you it takes some time for you to be really productive, in the meantime you must be a "loss" or just a tad bit of breaking even. From my previous job as a tech lead I've seen this ramp up time taking from 1 month (for a very well defined position with the perfect match) up to 6 months (someone who was curious about a new line of work and had to learn a lot but was a very intelligent person).

So of course, company loyalty is bullshit but there's also a point where your contribution almost didn't pay off their effort and money, those are the people I'd avoid hiring.

Anywhere after 1 to 1.5 years at the same job and I'd not bat an eye, many experiences lesser than an year would not put me off instantly just by looking at a CV but I'd definitely take more time to discover what happened.

Re: Ask HN: How do I write a resume after five years of a startup?

#87

Post by eru »

curiouslurker wrote: post #70
lintiwen wrote: post #66

You don't need that. Anyone with basic understanding of how business works will know that you have far more profound experiences than most corporate ladder climbers.

Not true. To most corporate recruiters 'doing a startup' for a couple of years is almost the same as being unemployed. I faced this myself after years of slogging away at an unsuccessful project and then trying to get back into the job market.

Depends which country/place the recruiter is in. Eg in SF Bay Area they would probably not treat you as equivalent to unemployed.

Or where are you?

Re: Ask HN: How do I write a resume after five years of a startup?

#88

Post by tapanmittal »

I was in the same boat 1 year back. I had very diverse work experience across my 10 yr career, none very deep, none very relevant to my desired target industry (ecommerce)- I had worked majorly in manufacturing and finance. In my 30's, family and toddler to support, bootstrapped hardware startup failed after 2 yrs.

For the resume I focused on the journey's small wins, just bulleted. I had no revenue numbers to share, so just highlighted what was achieved in what time.

It was very hard, but what I figured quickly was that the resume mattered way less than the people i pushed it to.

What worked:

1. Sent linkedIn connects to a crazy number of startup founders (50-100 daily), apart from the usual HR connects. side note : i bought linkedIn premium subscription at about $40 a month to cover my search limits.

2. Whoever connected back (10-15%), I shot them a crisp email telling them I'd like to meet for startup advice and/or opportunities with a one liner.

3. Whoever responded with 'No', I politely asked if they could recommend someone they knew who'd like to connect.

4. Whoever responded with maybe/Yes (5-10% of the connects), immediately tried to set up a time within the next 2/3 days. Could be a call/meeting/skype/anything.

Note: the eMail always

a) had a touch of personalisation.

b) was no more than 3 lines

c) included my product snapshot as an attachment

d) ofc, had resume attached and contacts+linked in profile link included in signature.

Met great people along the way, will surely help in future. And met one of the best founders in my country - he made me join his company Nearbuy (Groupon India). The hunt took me 6 months, partly because I had 2 hard filters a) not going to wear a suit to office..so consulting/finance was out b) no politics..so most corporate jobs were out.

Takeaways: Seek help like crazy. Your passion and hardwork at your startup is your resume, nothing else will matter.

Re: Ask HN: How do I write a resume after five years of a startup?

#89

Post by TempleOSV409 »

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Re: Ask HN: How do I write a resume after five years of a startup?

#90

Post by somberi »

I have started startups before and now, am in a senior role in a large corporate. My gentle suggestion is that don't sweat it and just reflect what you have built in your resume.

Your work will speak for you, and discerning employers will find you.

More and more large corporates value what you have, and in cases, are willing to pay a premium for startup skills. They are also sophisticated enough to separate the company's failure from your skill.

Really, don't sweat it.

All the best.

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