No BS Career Advice: November 2, 2025

americanftwr November 3, 2025

0 1 7 minutes read

By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter

Without that leap of imagination or dream, we lose the excitement of possibility. After all, dreams are a form of planning”. —Gloria Steinem

My son called while he was in New York with friends this week. He lives in Vermont and works at a resort called Twin Ranch. He is 25 years old and is training to be a sommelier. He has passed his first test and wanted to share his experience during his visit to New York. He knew that I had lived in the city for a long time and had many friends in the restaurant industry. Now he is summarizing his experience and wants to share it with me. It was great to have that connection with him.

People hire me for no-BS job coaching because I make finding a job easier. I don’t write resumes, although I will criticize resumes. I leave that to the experts in this area. I am someone who has helped tens of thousands of people find jobs. You can order resume reviews at: job search community.

I can also get free information at: job search community. Scroll down to receive my Wednesday email with job search advice. Becoming an Insider at any level gives you access to all of my video courses, books, and job search guides, the ability to ask me questions, and if you choose the option above the minimum level, you can also get job search coaching from me.

The recent death of my brother made me realize that I might not have as much time left as I thought, so I accelerated my writing schedule. I’ve published a number of books about job hunting (and cooking), and I decided to start a new series on Amazon, The No-Bullshit Job Search Handbook. This week, I released the first book in my new series, The No-Bullshit Job Search Handbook: How Recruiting Works , on Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook.

I’m sure it will help a lot of people and is priced so that it won’t burn a hole in people’s pockets.

Landing a job at a startup can be an exciting avenue for career growth, creativity, and impact. But because startups are very different from established companies, your approach must be targeted and smart. This is a comprehensive guide (800-1,000 words) on how to navigate your search, discover the best sources of job leads, and conduct the necessary research to ensure a good fit.

How to get a job at a startup

If you know where to look and how to prepare, landing a job at a startup can provide the opportunity to grow quickly, work on innovative ideas, and make a real impact. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the workforce, this article will guide you through how to source startup job leads, research companies, and stand out in the hiring process.

1. Understand the entrepreneurial environment

Startups are organizations designed to expand rapidly, often operating in fast-paced innovative fields. While the job title may sound familiar, the responsibilities and day-to-day tasks may be significantly different from roles at more established companies. You may be required to “wear many hats,” work longer hours, and deal with frequent changes in direction. In exchange, you may experience a greater sense of contribution, opportunities for accelerated learning, and maybe even receive equity or an early bonus. nomadvisamalta

Before you dive in, think about what excites you about startups:

Do you like building from scratch?
Are you willing to accept risks and learn quickly?
Can you thrive with minimal structure?

Startups value adaptability and real-world results over a traditional resume, so adjust your mindset first.

2. Where to find startup job opportunities

Universal job search platform May be flooded with non-launch posts so best to follow Niche Entrepreneurship Working Committee Lists the most attractive positions in emerging companies.

Top Startup Hiring Boards:

Wellfound (formerly AngelList Talent) — Provides listings of all startup industries, salary/equity transparency, and detailed company data.
Y Combinator Jobs — Y Combinator funds some of the most promising early-stage businesses; their job board highlights rapidly scaling startups.
compression board — Focuses on technology and product-driven startups and allows filtering by discipline.
built-in — An introduction to tech jobs in the U.S. and detailed company profiles; great for researching company culture before applying. nocodeinstitute
Entrepreneurial work — Global listings for various positions (engineering, design, marketing, sales, etc.). Start-up company
Ota — Startup job matching site that often showcases early-stage companies with high salaries. reddit
WorkInStartups (UK), EU-Startups (Europe) — Geographically organized committees for international searches.
working nomads — Remote-first and digital nomad opportunities for global startups. nocodeinstitute

Other resources to look out for include:

LinkedIn and indeed Typically features startup roles, but you’ll need a specific search (“startup” plus your role/title).
Venture Capital Firm Recruitment Committee (e.g. Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz) often have exclusive listings associated with the companies they fund. careerhub.students.duke
Reddit community Sites like r/startups, r/cscareerquestions, and r/jobs often share obscure lists and tips. reddit+1

3. Network – your secret weapon

networking Still the fastest way to get a startup job, many positions are never advertised. Leverage:

Entrepreneurship events and conferences (online and in-person)
LinkedIn promotes to founders and employees
Alumni Networking, Hackathons and Accelerator Demo Days
Social media communities focused on technology and entrepreneurship (X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Discord)

Tip: Sending a personalized cold email or LinkedIn message to the founder or hiring manager can greatly increase your chances—explain what attracted you to the company and how your skills directly fit their needs.jamesbuckhouse.substack

4. Research startups before applying

Not all startups are created equal. To avoid pitfalls, do Thorough due diligence For any company you are considering:

A. Company website: Start by looking at the About, Team, and Careers pages. What does the company do? Are their values and mission clear? Does the product or service resonate with you? Is the team profile page transparent and trustworthy? novoresume+1

B. Market position and stability:

Is this startup solving a real, sizable problem?
Who are its competitors and how does it stand out? coastalrecruiting
What is its funding stage (Seed, Series A, etc.)? Is it backed by reputable venture capital firms?
Check out news stories and reviews on sites like TechCrunch, Crunchbase, or PitchBook.

C. Culture and Growth:

Read company reviews on Glassdoor or Blind for cultural insights.
Are there signs of healthy growth (hirings, positive news) or red flags (frequent layoffs, negative comments)?
Find team members on LinkedIn – are employees staying and growing, or is there high turnover?

D. Interview preparation:

Prepare questions about runway, management style, and recent milestones.
Ask about remote work options, learning and development programs, and growth paths.
Come up with real product use cases or recommendations to demonstrate your engagement.

5. How to stand out during the application process

Portfolio and results: Provide proof of your skills – a project, GitHub repository, design example, or product demo. Startups value practical results over pretty games.
Tailored resume and cover letter: Emphasize impact, broad skill set, and alignment with the startup’s mission.
Demonstrate adaptability: Interviewers will be looking for your willingness to learn quickly, take initiative, and manage ambiguity.

6. Final Tips

Be persistent; your job search may have a slower initial response, but networking can shorten the process.
Be open to internships or contract positions – they often convert to full-time positions.
Keep learning – subscribe to startup newsletters, follow founders on social media, and join online communities.

Startup hiring boards and research resources:

Wellfound (wellfound.com)
Y Combinator jobs (ycombinator.com/jobs)
CrunchBoard (techcrunch.com/jobs)
Builtin(builtin.com/jobs)
Start jobs (startup.jobs)
Otta (otta.com)
Venture Capital Website (for Portfolio Roles)
Glassdoor, Blind (for company culture)
Crunchbase, PitchBook (for funding history and journalism)
LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Reddit Startup Communities

By combining smart job board use, diligent research, and creative networking, you’ll maximize your chances of finding and landing a job at a startup that suits your ambitions and risk tolerance. Startups are not for everyone But for those who crave speed, impact and learning, they offer a truly unique career experience.

Last week I posted more, including:

How recruiters steal your best talent: Managers don’t conduct retention interviews

Stop applying, start planting: The executive job paradox

Who is responsible for your career?

How Anne got noticed by recruiters—and how you can too

Feeling like your career is in trouble? 16 Ways to Find Clarity and Explore New Opportunities

Layoff Posts: Your Secret Weapon on LinkedIn

Changing jobs and starting a new one can be scary https://wp.me/p4aIk1-lS6

Stop Asking to Meet for Coffee: How to Build Trust and Get Recommendations

Don’t wait for layoffs! 3 tools to stay market-ready, just in case

Scary Things Job Seekers Do: Halloween Episode

Creepy leadership and management mistakes that will scare away your employees

3 Steps to Effective Networking You May Not Be Doing

How to Succeed in a Job Interview

Handling job rejections

Trick Questions Recruiters Always Ask and Send Messages to

Preparing for a Job Search: Clarify Your Goals

Why Most Job Seekers Fail (The Secret of Resilience)

How should I answer “What are your salary expectations?”

Are you a job search failure? stop wasting time

How executives win some executive jobs: The unfiltered playbook

Connect to companies you want to work for

Negotiate your executive offer

Is one-click application suitable for you?

How should I answer “What are your salary expectations?”

Success is not permanent

No BS Career Advice: October 26, 2025

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Your network is not the 500+ contacts you never talk to on LinkedIn

Schedule a free discovery call with me: www.TheBigGameHunter.us/schedule Discuss my guidance for you during your job search and beyond. I tend to work with more senior talent rather than individual contributors.

Subscribe to the BS-free job search advice broadcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen or watch podcasts. I’ll be posting new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

become an insider job search community Get your questions answered, get mentored by me, and access all of my video courses, books, and guides.

#BeGreat

Jeff Altman, MSW, CCTC Author

People hire me worldwide to provide no-nonsense job search guidance and career advice because I make your job search and success in your new job easier | 5x LinkedIn Top Voices | Career Coach | Former Recruiter | job search community