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How to get a job at a kick-ass startup (for programmers)

nathanmarz.com

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Re: How to get a job at a kick-ass startup (for programmers)

#21

Post by johnnyn »

robobenjie wrote: post #18
johnnyn wrote: post #2

Great list. I would add that if a resume is required, a well designed resume is important especially if it's a front-end or generalist engineering role. Kick ass startups look through hundreds of resumes, and first impressions are a big deal.

A resume is good but a portfolio of cool projects is way better. We are trying to hire here at Anybots (jobs@anybots.com, fyi) and all of our want adds say to include a portfolio of cool things you have build and we receive very few. Make it easy on the employer to see how talented you are. Since cover letters are now always cover emails there is no excuse for not linking to a site that explains your previous project…

Totally agree here. I prefer startups to ask for projects instead of a resume. For my job (YC startup), I believe my resume design caught their attention, and my side-projects got me an interview.

Re: How to get a job at a kick-ass startup (for programmers)

#22

Post by pjscott »

timr wrote: post #19
leftnode wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Use doors for desks (a huge door desk might cost you $50 and 2 hours a Saturday afternoon) and spent a lot of money on chairs.

As someone who has bad wrists from working on shitty desks, I can assure you that it matters. A good desk a fraction of an employee's annual cost. If you can't afford a desk, you can't afford to hire.

Damn right. Everybody who hasn't had a problem yet, take it from me: you need to worry about this stuff before you get an RSI. Please.

Re: How to get a job at a kick-ass startup (for programmers)

#24

Post by gaius »

mahmud wrote: post #11
sahillavingia wrote: post #3

Caution: only works if you're a kick-ass programmer. Strive to be that and getting a job becomes magnitudes easier. Sweet, successful side projects are the staple of a kick-ass guy. Glad I got some under my belt :)

Not just kick-ass programmers. I have consulted with a lady who ran a small, posh web-shop; she met me at the door and hushed me to tip-toe past a bunch of interns fiddling with photoshop and drupal. Those kids got more respect working for school credit, doing nothing but theming, than most of us get in higher positions with other companies. She also made it a point to "take them to the ATM" on Fridays as well. OTOH,…

She also made it a point to "take them to the ATM" on Fridays as well

Raised eyebrow...

Re: How to get a job at a kick-ass startup (for programmers)

#25

Post by dschobel »

ivankirigin wrote: post #16

It's amazing how symmetric but decoupled the problem is with good people looking for great companies and great companies looking for good people. Adam Wiggins from Heroku described it like dating sites: in theory, there are plenty of people of all sexes looking for other people to date, copulate, or marry -- but in practice getting to a match is quite hard. We might have been talking about startup financing at the ti…

whoa, when did you leave FB? congratulations, either way.

Re: How to get a job at a kick-ass startup (for programmers)

#26

Post by prodigal_erik »

timr wrote: post #19
leftnode wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Use doors for desks (a huge door desk might cost you $50 and 2 hours a Saturday afternoon) and spent a lot of money on chairs.

As someone who has bad wrists from working on shitty desks, I can assure you that it matters. A good desk a fraction of an employee's annual cost. If you can't afford a desk, you can't afford to hire.

A desk is just a sturdy flat thing, how can that go wrong? Did you have chairs that didn't adjust to its height?

Re: How to get a job at a kick-ass startup (for programmers)

#27

Post by darwinGod »

nathanmarz wrote: post #10
bananaandapple wrote: post #9

Not wanting to sound too negative, but sometimes it's better not to have a job at a kcik-ass startup. The author also commented/wrote in the past that he endured burn out multiple times and is constantly working >10 hours a day.

I work a lot by choice. And getting burnt out was a problem of learning to use my time effectively. Now that I have more self-discipline and force myself to take breaks on a regular schedule (and not work when I'm not feeling it), I don't burn out anymore.

Could you shed more light on aspects of your self-discipline while being an early employee at a startup?

Re: How to get a job at a kick-ass startup (for programmers)

#28

Post by mahmud »

gaius wrote: post #24
mahmud wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not just kick-ass programmers. I have consulted with a lady who ran a small, posh web-shop; she met me at the door and hushed me to tip-toe past a bunch of interns fiddling with photoshop and drupal. Those kids got more respect working for school credit, doing nothing but theming, than most of us get in higher positions with other companies. She also made it a point to "take them to the ATM" on Fridays as well. OTOH,…

She also made it a point to "take them to the ATM" on Fridays as well Raised eyebrow...

It's widely understood that you don't pay interns. It interferes with their learning experience, and undermines our institutional right to youth slavery.

Re: How to get a job at a kick-ass startup (for programmers)

#29

Post by ivankirigin »

dschobel wrote: post #25
ivankirigin wrote: post #16

It's amazing how symmetric but decoupled the problem is with good people looking for great companies and great companies looking for good people. Adam Wiggins from Heroku described it like dating sites: in theory, there are plenty of people of all sexes looking for other people to date, copulate, or marry -- but in practice getting to a match is quite hard. We might have been talking about startup financing at the ti…

whoa, when did you leave FB? congratulations, either way.

Yeah, thanks. Dropbox kicks some serious ass.

Re: How to get a job at a kick-ass startup (for programmers)

#30

Post by wahnfrieden »

prodigal_erik wrote: post #26
timr wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone who has bad wrists from working on shitty desks, I can assure you that it matters. A good desk a fraction of an employee's annual cost. If you can't afford a desk, you can't afford to hire.

A desk is just a sturdy flat thing, how can that go wrong? Did you have chairs that didn't adjust to its height?

Most chairs don't adjust high enough to achieve a 90degree elbow bend with the average non-adjustable desk.
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