I remember the first time I applied to a startup — I made every possible mistake. Today, after working at a few, I want to share some things that can help you through the hiring process.
Hiring at startups
Many startups have complex hiring processes. They don’t just look at the technical side — a very important part is whether you fit into the culture.
First, on the technical side, you’re generally evaluated with a test where you build a small project, followed by an interview with one or several team members.
Second, the interview to see if you fit the culture is usually conducted by a Senior Manager (often a founder) and they’re trying to see if you’ll align with the company’s values.
These processes are quite interesting, and honestly the best way to get to know them is to try. I want to tell you about four things I really consider important.
1. Are you really full stack?
Many of the applications that come in are from profiles labeled full stack, with impressive resumes showing a ton of experience across a ton of areas. While this isn’t necessarily good or bad, there are other things to consider.
Being a full stack profile is complicated. Each branch on its own (frontend, backend, QA, etc.) is pretty vast, and the reality is often that you know one area well and only the basics of the others.
Startups build complex products that require you to know your role really well. Presenting yourself as full stack won’t give you more opportunities, but applying for a specific role with strong knowledge in that area can give you a real advantage.
2. Show what you know in the test
An important part of the process is the technical test you’ll need to complete. It’s a small project designed to measure your knowledge, and often it also tries to gauge how quickly you learn.
The reality is that this test is where the most mistakes can happen, from not following the instructions to not really understanding the goal of the test.
When tackling this test, keep in mind that you have limited time, and using more tools won’t make it better. You can invest that time in finishing a solid project that meets all the requirements.
If you have extra time, add things that show you know how to work on a team — things like tests, documentation, code style, etc.
3. Show that you love what you do
During the interviews, a lot of things will be evaluated. One of the main things you need to demonstrate is that you genuinely enjoy what you do. Having a degree alone isn’t enough for that.
It’ll be really valuable if you have personal projects, if you can show that you’ve been learning and studying something recently — these are the things that reveal your genuine interest in what you do.
4. Be yourself, highlighting what makes you unique
There’s really little advice I can give you for the culture interviews, mainly because it’s better for both sides if you just be yourself. If you’ve made it to this stage, you already have a great chance of getting in.
But it’s important that you talk with the person interviewing you, understand the company’s values, what matters to them. Think of this interview as a conversation that’s trying to figure out if you’d really fit in at the company, and if it would be a great thing for everyone.
Working at a startup might be one of the most challenging things you can do, but it’s also one of those experiences that helps you grow every single day.
These are some of the things I’ve learned working at startups and that I think are important to keep in mind throughout the entire process.
If you don’t feel like you’re at the right level to apply for a position at a startup, silence those thoughts and apply anyway. Many startups also have positions for junior roles that are perfect for getting started.
And don’t hesitate to tell me how it goes!