Also, check to see if your career services office can connect you to Most startups begin small, so you’ll find many location-dependent opportunities. As you attend more networking events, you’ll hear some key names mentioned as great resources again and again—these are major “start-up-ers” that you should connect with. There may not be a human resources manager to onboard you or a manager telling you exactly what to do. When you get a job offer, it’s important to carefully evaluate the compensation package. Until then, get searching!Director of Talent and Culture by day, fast-n-furious networker by night, Marie Burns is currently parked at We want your feedback | Win a $50 Amazon gift card | Startup interview attire is typically more casual than what you’d wear to a formal job interview, but you should still look polished and professional. One simple way to look at it is to consider the equity portion of the compensation as 0. The Balance Careers uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. 500 Startups is a venture company which finds and supports talented startup companies and seed businesses that are believed to have long-term growth potential around the world in order to thrive in the global ecosystem. Search Crunchbase by person (and company) to find out what organizations your connections are affiliated with. Share the skills you have developed with the hiring manager at interviews. So, if you are treating them as 0, and you are most likely going to make less on the salary side, you need to consider the other benefits before you accept.

Startup compensation can be comprised of several components. You can start by identifying startups that match your career goals and interests. Well, I’ll say this once: If you’re looking at the big job boards—stop. The hiring process may be a quick one, with fewer formalities than if you were interviewing with a traditional corporate employer. Even if this is one of the startups that doesn’t make it long-term, you’ll have an opportunity to expand your skillset, build your resume, and acquire valuable professional experience in the tech industry. Unless the startup up is highly successful, the chances are that you won’t see anything from those options. When it comes to balancing your career and your life, don’t expect 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. hours and every evening and weekend off, but you may be able to work a flexible schedule from home, the

Working for a startup can be an excellent career move. As with any job interview, take the time to follow up with a thank-you note or email. Right now, 500.co is one of the most active venture capital firms worldwide. Alison Doyle is the job search expert for The Balance Careers, and one of the industry's most highly-regarded job search and career experts.10 Questions to Ask to Discover If an Employer Is Right for YouHere Are Some Solid Career Options for English Majors to ConsiderFind the Best Startup Company to Kickstart Your CareerHow to Answer: "Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?"

Explain why you’re interested in connecting with them and why you’d be a great fit for the company. I know If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few ideas.While New York City, Boston, and Silicon Valley are well-known start-up hubs, there’s a community of entrepreneurs in almost every city across the U.S. With a little research, you can find innovation labs, networking groups, andIn fact, I just Googled “Omaha, Nebraska” (a place I’ve never been) and “start-up group,” and came up with pages of fantastic start-up networking opportunities. By using The Balance Careers, you accept our Consider all the factors that will make this the next best step in your career when making a decision, remembering that your tenure at a tech company doesn’t have to be forever. You need to be self-motivated because a startup will not have the processes setup that a large company has. Candidates also need to be team-oriented, but be able to work on their own when they need to. If you live in a larger city, you can also look on Once you find a few you’re really excited about, reach out to the leaders of those companies directly. We all dreamed of leaving the traditional corporate world and working for a great startup that turns out to be the next Uber or Airbnb. You may be paid a straight salary, or there may be an equity component of your compensation in addition to your paycheck. In some cases, even new companies have reviews on Glassdoor. Be prepared for a phone interview, a video call, or an informal meeting on short notice. To get an idea of potential compensation, use Angel’s Startup Salary and Equity Tool to get a sense of what you can earn. To bring you the scoop, I consulted with one of the best start-up recruiters I know, Keith Cline, who not only spends his days recruiting for start-ups, he runs one himself: The thought leadership and job search site I often hear my entrepreneur friends say, “I don’t have time to post jobs.” Or, they don’t know how to get their jobs noticed online or in front of the right audience, or they lack the funds needed to post jobs frequently.Which means, your start-up job search should be less about resumes and applications and more (actually, mostly) about networking.

Some recruiters deem themselves “start-up-ers,” too. Befriend a Start-up Recruiter. You can also search by school to see which founders are alumni of your college. Use LinkedIn to find them, or ask the people you meet at networking events—these recruiters are typically well-known in the start-up community. As industry insiders, they’ll have a finger on the pulse of what companies are hot, who’s hiring, and the people you should be talking to. Use Your Networking Connections: One of the best ways to find a job at a startup is through networking.