Questions

I started 2 companies in the past 10 years both grew to 10+ employees and $1M-$2M in revenue before crashing. Since my last company closed, I've been looking for work at current tech startups but can't seem to get my foot in the door. Seems like I'm competing with younger candidates with less experience but stops at name brand startups. Any suggestions?

You're carrying around a lot of head trash with this self-applied "Failure" label. Even if you do get interviews, you're carrying that in with you, and it'll make you screw the conversation up and give them reasons not to hire you.

Position yourself as the linchpin of the puzzle that the startup NEEDS--the guy who knows what it takes to succeed because he's seen both the good AND the bad. You need to do this in the top third of page one of your resume. People scan. They don't read. They're not going to take their time and saunter through every character of your resume. You have to grab them. Give them a reason to scan (not read) the rest of your resume. Make them curious enough to want to talk to you.

That's the purpose of a resume: to get that conversation. NOT the job. People make this mistake all the time. You do not need to include your life story in your resume. Just enough to create curiosity, "I gotta meet this guy."

You're competing against younger guys because that's who is applying. Sort and separate. Spend your energy carefully. "I'm running into two kinds of startups: those who want young, inexperienced people because they can't afford an experienced professional, and those who understand that to get off the ground they need someone who has been around the block and knows where the potholes are. Which situation are you in?"

Now you know whether to put your energy into this opportunity or not.

Getting a job is a game of sales, marketing and negotiation. You have to approach it as an equal, or you're a lamb to the slaughter. I think you have a long way to go, honestly, before you're ready to be hired.


Answered 10 years ago

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