How to get a job at a startup

By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter

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.

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.​

• Entrepreneurial work — Global listings for various positions (engineering, design, marketing, sales, etc.).​

• Ota — Startup job matching site that often showcases early-stage companies with high salaries.​

• WorkInStartups (UK), EU-Startups (Europe) — Geographically organized committees for international searches.

• working nomads — Providing remote-first and digital nomad opportunities to global startups.​

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.

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.​

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?

B. Market position and stability:

• Is this startup solving a real, sizable problem?

• Who are its competitors? How does it stand out? ​

• 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.

Summary of the Best Entrepreneurship Job 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 aren’t for everyone, but for those who crave speed, impact and learning, they offer a truly unique career experience. CV.

Ⓒ Big Game Hunters, Asheville, NC 2025

About big game hunter Jeff Altman

Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter is a coach who has been a recruiter for a hundred years. His work spans career coaching, executive job coaching, job coaching, and interview coaching. He is the producer and former host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 job search podcast on iTunes with over 3,000 episodes.

Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice on more effective networking, how to negotiate an offer, or leadership coaching? Schedule a discovery call on my website, www.TheBigGameHunter.us

My courses can be found on my website www.TheBigGameHunter.us/courses

Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/thebiggamehunter

Watch my videos on YouTube at JobSearchTV.com.

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