Companies such as Uber, Airbnb, Spotify or Facebook started their journey from a startup and made a huge difference in the contemporary world. Would you like to be a part of the team, which implements a new way of thinking and create something that hasn’t yet been done? Are you getting tired of working in a corporation where you don’t have enough freedom and real impact on the things that happen around you? Or are you new to the industry with some experience, but eager for knowledge and quick development? There is nothing better than a Startup!

So if you want to be a part of something that can make a difference read on to find out how to get a job in a startup. First of all, you need to really understand what startup is, therefore you require a brief introduction to the topic.

Job in a startup? Well, what exactly it means?   

Working in a startup isn’t a treadmill job. It is not work from Monday to Friday in regular hours. It is a work that takes up your free time, it is a work to which you want to devote your free time. Actually, it’s not a work, it’s a realisation of a plan, a goal, an idea and in some way a dream that can come true. The startup is not a place where the work is steady and stable, there is a lot of changes and you have to be open to all news which may come up. Nothing is entirely certain, what can give an adrenaline boost, satisfaction and the feeling that you really shape the project. There are also no strict rules, everyone has the right to express their views, theories and opinions and these ideas are taken into account, checked and often implemented.

The startup requires also a lot of learning and continuous improvement of skills. A few months in a startup can develop you at many levels because it is not only working on one specific position is a job designed to achieve the planned goal so you can check yourself in many different areas. In a startup you are a part of a project, you create something with others, implement your own ideas, solutions or improvements. The main assumption of a startup is to experiment, create something new, come up with innovative solutions, and the next step is to implement these things. The startup is created by people with similar passions and beliefs. So it’s a job with people who have the same aims and who share a common desire to create something they really believe in. If all this sounds like a dream job for you, discover how to find a job in a startup.

Startup Jobs? You can find them here!

There are many ways to find a job in a startup, you just need to know where to look for it, so below we present four points that will introduce you to the world of startups.

1. Job Sites

The startup is a specific work environment and therefore you will not find job offers on standard platforms with job advertisements. To find a good startup that you will identify with, you need to search on specialised platforms such as:

• AngelList
• GitHub Jobs
• CrunchBase
• CoFoundersLab
• Jobbatical
• Workinstartups
• Indeed

There are many of these on the Internet, so finding the platform itself is not a difficult task, the problem starts when you have to find a startup that will amaze and fascinate you. It is also worth mentioning that many of a startups do not have a standard HR department so the interviews are often conducted by team members or your potential colleagues. It is worth to show initiative and do something more than just send a resume. Maybe it is worth to explore a particular startup and find its weaknesses which you could probably improve.

2. Social Media

Another way to find work in a startup is to keep up with social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or Tweeter. You can use them to get information about the projects you are interested in, or to learn about new initiatives through thematic groups or selected communities. You can also use these platforms to advertise yourself as a creative person who wants to work in a startup. You can describe your strengths, aspirations, achievements, as well as introduce yourself to the world. Maybe by accident or intentionally someone who shares the same enthusiasm and ideas will find you. Be visible on the Internet because most projects work independently there.

3. Conferences, meetings, events

Knowledge of the industry is key to finding an interesting startup and therefore participation in national or international conferences, meetings, courses or events can result in finding a perfect job. During such happenings, there is a lot going on and many important people are on the run so it is worth to prepare your elevator pitch and present both yourself and your ideas to someone who can be helpful to you. It is worth to improve your presentation to be able to present yourself to other people in a few words and make a good impression on them, running with a resume is not a good idea, be yourself and show others what really fascinates you and this may result in an amazing job offer.

4. Networking

Sometimes it happens that certain job offers are never advertised and particular team members find each other through friends, their friends or other friends. This complex network connects people with similar passions that allow you to create something unusual. That’s why it’s worth meeting people and refreshing old contacts. You never know who knows who, and who is looking for someone for a new exciting startup. However, if you are new in the industry and you don’t know many people, maybe finding someone through the platform such as meetup.com will be the right option for you. But you should remember that working in a startup does not necessarily involve a stable salary and a huge number of benefits. It’s hard work, with many sleepless nights, but it gives a lot of satisfaction and fulfilment.

What phase of a startup should you choose?

If you are convinced that you want to work in a startup, have you decided at what phase of its development?

• -If you want to participate in every aspect of the company’s activity, you have the enthusiasm and determination to create a project from scratch – choose a startup that is at an early phase of development
• -If you prefer a more stable and less risky job – choose a startup in the growth phase
• -If you are looking for a company with an established position on the market, where you could develop your skills – choose a startup in the developed phase which can accelerate your career path.

Last but not least … How experience in the programming courses can help you to work in a startup?

Programming courses will not only introduce you to the IT industry, but it will also teach you many useful skills that you may need to work in a startup. It is worth mentioning that working in a startup is really a very autonomous job and very often you have to do a lot of things by yourself. While working in a startup you do not have one job and one task only, so there are no separate programmers who deal with only one specific task. Startup often also cuts costs, resulting in the lack of a certain number of people, which encourages the whole team to learn various things that they have not done so far, such as creating applications, writing software, creating a company website, writing games and for all this you will be ideally prepared by taking part in a programming course where you will learn a bit of everything. Moreover, that kind of courses will significantly increase your chance to get a job in an interesting startup. During the interview, your commitment and passion will surely be noticed and appreciated. A startup needs this kind of people! People full of enthusiasm and willingness to create something amazing. Additionally, if I would like to create a startup on your own, thanks to the programming courses you can gather a group of your friends from the course to make something extraordinary or maybe during the course you will come up with an idea that just needs to be realized. Programming bootcamp will inspire you to become a part of something really meaningful and will give you a tool to turn this excitement into a real idea.

If you know where to look, finding a job in a startup is not a hard task. However, before you start looking for a job, you should clearly define yourself and consider the pros and cons. Startups have many advantages, which include continued development, many opportunities, a great deal of creativity, freedom, flexible working hours, various activities and the abile in the project at the beginning of your career in a particular industry without the need to graduate with a specialised degree. Nonetheless, the disadvantages include long hours of work on the project, which may turn out to be unprofitable, unstable working conditions because you never know if the idea will be successful. So this is not the place for people who are unsure, don’t like to make quick decisions or have trouble getting into a new environment quickly. A startup is a perfect place for those who are determined, full of passion, dedication and confidence in the intended purpose. It is a very exciting work, requiring concentration and creativity, but at the same time very time-consuming. It is worth considering it carefully before starting the work in a startup, however, it is worth remembering that the experience gained while working in a startup is highly valued by employers and extremely helps people who are just starting their journey with the IT industry.