How to get a job at a startup if you aren’t a developer
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How to get a job at a startup if you aren’t a developer
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Re: How to get a job at a startup if you aren’t a developer
#2I imagine this his how non-devs feel when reading a lot of articles here. I have absolutely no idea what non-developers do at startups, and if I were having a dream where I was suddenly hired on in this position, it would feel like your average "showed up to class with no pants for final you didn't study for" nightmare.
Re: How to get a job at a startup if you aren’t a developer
#3Good article, especially #4 -- offer a concrete skill.
A good friend is applying for fashion retail jobs, and I've told her that showing your passion isn't enough. Everyone is passionate about fashion--the goal is to shape your experience so teams can understand why you're better than everyone else.
Related to #4: what are some good books on online analytics?
Re: How to get a job at a startup if you aren’t a developer
#4Great post, incredibly helpful.
Especially number seven on the list. I get the feeling that any online job posting decreases your chances of getting noticed by a significant amount. I know in my company we only post stuff online because we feel obligated, we don't give those applicants nearly as much credence as we would someone who is referred by someone in our network.
Re: How to get a job at a startup if you aren’t a developer
#5“Any startup job you find on a job board will be one you don’t want.”
I wonder if this is true in areas where startups are not the in thing, like Houston Tx. There are some reasons why I think it may not apply, such as how conservative and big business the area is. But, I also know that I look to my network for partners and employees, so I am left uncertain on this point.
Re: How to get a job at a startup if you aren’t a developer
#6I imagine this his how non-devs feel when reading a lot of articles here. I have absolutely no idea what non-developers do at startups, and if I were having a dream where I was suddenly hired on in this position, it would feel like your average "showed up to class with no pants for final you didn't study for" nightmare.
The site _is_ called "Hacker News," not "Biz Guy News"...
...hmm, actually.
Re: How to get a job at a startup if you aren’t a developer
#7Great post, incredibly helpful. Especially number seven on the list. I get the feeling that any online job posting decreases your chances of getting noticed by a significant amount. I know in my company we only post stuff online because we feel obligated, we don't give those applicants nearly as much credence as we would someone who is referred by someone in our network.
Which I'd hope you would state openly in the job posting. There is nothing more defeating for an applicant than to spend the time and energy putting together cover letters and tweaking the resume for your company, only to be disregarded from the start.
Re: How to get a job at a startup if you aren’t a developer
#8I imagine this his how non-devs feel when reading a lot of articles here. I have absolutely no idea what non-developers do at startups, and if I were having a dream where I was suddenly hired on in this position, it would feel like your average "showed up to class with no pants for final you didn't study for" nightmare.
"I have absolutely no idea what non-developers do at startups"
Disclaimer: developer at technology companies.
Well, they'd better know how to sell, and sell well, if they want to get a job in a lean business that simply doesn't have room for people who aren't contributing directly to the bottom line. Another position is that of business development. Soft skill, but really necessary to provide pre and post sales support when the company becomes large enough that the CEO/COO can no longer handhold each partner/client/vendor.
In my experience, marketing/hr/low-level product are always promotions given to the poor bastard who spent a year faking it as the office manager.
Re: How to get a job at a startup if you aren’t a developer
#9If you're not a developer, you should still learn how to code. At least showing that you're willing to learn goes a long way so you can help with even the little things, such as fixing pixels or checking in small bugs. Think of it another way: would you join a renewable energy startup if you didn't know some engineering (materials, chemistry, mechanical, electrical, et al) fundamentals? How do you think you would do if put into an interview?
Re: How to get a job at a startup if you aren’t a developer
#10A non-developer needs to have some skill, which can't be automated by a computer. Such things include: design, writing, managing people, talking to customers, investors, money and relationships. If AI becomes capable of automating such tasks, their job may become obsolete.