5 Essential Things to remember in a Startup-Interview
If you're considering a startup job, make sure you know what you want out of the role. Weigh the pros and cons before making your decision.
Although it may be difficult to find public information on a startup, there are still ways to research them. It can be tough to compare opportunities between companies at different stages, like Series A versus Series D. There are certain types of questions that I'm commonly asked in interviews, regardless of the series.
Display previously worked on projects.
This is to show the interviewer that I can code, and am able to fulfill their technical needs.
A coding valuation.
These companies want to know if you can think on your feet and solve problems quickly. Therefore they often ask hard questions to see if you know what you are talking about.
Discussing system design.
I have reviewed resources like Alex Xu’s system design to make sure I am capable of building the kind of product the startup is focused on. My approach to building a large app is based on discussions with experts, which is always a good idea.
After interviewing with startups of many kinds, here's what I look for and some things to consider.
5 THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN INTERVIEWING WITH A STARTUP
- Was the hiring process exact?
- Do I have the most experience?
- Who are the founders?
- Is the product going to sell?
- Weighing the pros and cons of startups versus large companies.
1. Was the hiring process exact?
Your coworkers will have had the same kind of interviews you did. Judging from that you can derive their skills compared to your own.
If the questions asked during the interview seemed like simpler, university-level coding problems, I would worry that the startup was desperate for engineers.
The interview process can help you understand what the company is looking for in new talent, and you need to decide if that's the right fit for you and your career goals.
2. Do I have the most experience?
Getting to know your team early is vital. If they are all junior developers, you might end up spending more time teaching them basic skills than building up your own skills. The upside about it is that being a mentor can be humbling and a great experience as well.
Having another engineer on the team would help me validate my choices and ensure that we're making the right decisions. If you’re choosing a startup over a large technology company, you may miss out on the opportunity to learn from knowledgeable engineers and get industry-standard training.
3. Who are the founders?
Knowing the founders and their values is the most important factor in the succeeding of a startup. They have the most power in deciding who gets hired, which customer segments to focus on, and how they want to pitch their startup for more funding. It's important to me to work with a team that feels like family.
It's also important to look into the backgrounds of the people running the company. This can give you some insight into whether or not they are likely to be successful. Do your research on the team as well. You want to make sure that you're investing in a team that has a good track record and knows what they're doing.
4. Is the product going to sell?
If you're not working on something people need, you're wasting your time.
Validate your ideas by researching your users- just like Zappos founder Nick Swimmurn did when he posted shoe pictures on the internet. Uncertainty is always an issue for early-stage startups.
5. Weighing the pros and cons of startups versus large companies.
You'll have to be very analytical to figure out if the startup is worth your time over the long haul. An offer of 1 percent equity of a 100 million dollar valuation company that IPOs in 10 years is $100,000 a year. If the risks and rewards of working at a small company like a startup are similar, the choice is up to you!
Calculate and decide if the risk you're taking is worth it. If you find yourself answering these questions comfortably, take the opportunity with the startup.
