Startups are now establishing themselves as real competitors to large groups in terms of recruitment. The flexible working environment appeals to many young graduates. If the idea of working in a company on a human scale and in a fun atmosphere interests you, Business Cool gives you all the secrets to get there.
In France, there are around 10,000 startups which are constantly growing. Who says growth, also says mass recruitment. Interviews in small companies are very different from big companies. Entrepreneurs seek above all to fall in love with a candidate and succeed in projecting themselves with them within the startup to help it grow. We always say that the company seeks to know what you will bring to it, this is even more true in these small structures.
The skills must obviously be present and consistent with the position in question. Before applying, we advise you to first find out about the startup spirit and see if it might suit you. Airbnb, Luko, Respire, Blablacar, Mirakl or even Deezer they all have one thing in common: their startup identity. Over time and thanks to the involvement of their employees, these young companies have now become essential companies in their sector.
Which startup do you want to work for?
Before wanting to work in a startup, it is important to have knowledge of the different structures and prioritize those that suit you. It is important to keep in mind that “startup” is a concept that brings together small, young companies that are extremely different, both in terms of maturity and with regard to internal organization.
- The young shoot : at the initial stage of a project, the startup only brings together the founders. You will probably be one of the first interns or employees of the company and you will have the opportunity to participate in a large number of different tasks. The company will have very few customers and will focus at this stage mainly on the development of its product or service.
- The post-seed : startup that has completed some fundraising and therefore has the means to structure itself and create different services and departments (Product/Tech, Sales, Marketing, etc.). This is typically a company with 10 to 20 employees. At this point, a company culture begins to be established. This is generally the best time to join a startup, as you will be able to be affiliated with a department and enjoy the benefits of having new responsibilities. You may also consider continuing with them, given that the startup will evolve quickly.
- The scale-up: it’s a startup that has grown and has more than 50 employees, but is not yet valued at more than a billion dollars. Investors are generally already present and several fundraisings have already been carried out. This startup has even potentially already started working on its internationalization, which offers great opportunities to work abroad or in a multicultural setting.
- The unicorn : this is a startup that is valued at more than a billion dollars. Typically, unicorns have more than 150 employees and are experiencing tremendous growth. The particularity of unicorns is the fact of being innovative and guaranteeing a pleasant working environment.
All of these startups have a certain number of points in common (varied profiles, dynamism, innovation, friendly atmosphere, etc.), but working conditions may vary depending on their stage of development. You must be ready to work in a framework that is different from large companies.
Don’t be surprised if you join an open space within an incubator or in a nursery if the company has just been created. More developed startups, having raised funds and reached a significant level of growth, invest in friendly premises and are keen to establish optimal working conditions: teleworking, free breakfasts, teambuilding, international work, etc. .
Why join a startup?
To join a startup, you must above all be adaptable and equipped with a very strong spirit of creativity and flexibility. In a large group, you will have more need to prove your technical skills. Your managers will expect less adaptation skills from you, unlike startups where change is constant and where it is important to juggle several tasks. Indeed, large groups have many employees and the scope of each person’s tasks is clearly defined. In a startup, you may carry out several different missions and the professions or services may be completely decompartmentalized.
If you are attracted by small structures and you necessarily need flexibility and fewer constraints to be efficient, it may be better for you to opt for a startup. In the same way, if you want to acquire a large number of skills and be as versatile as possible, start-ups are a good place to strengthen your know-how and interpersonal skills. Furthermore, if you also wish, in the near or distant future, to launch your business, moving to a small structure will allow you to learn more about how it works and the secrets to keep in mind.
Secrets to joining a startup
A large number of startups operate in sectors such as tech, digital and artificial intelligence. It is therefore important to be in tune with social networks and have an online presence, particularly on LinkedIn. This means updating all your information and publishing content related to the company’s sector. Furthermore, certain positions relating to communication and marketing can target certain profiles with a large number of subscribers on social networks. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be discriminated against if you don’t have 1 million followers on Instagram.
We also recommend that you take care of your digital footprint and show yourself to your future employers in your best light. It has become a reflex for startup managers to type the names of their candidates into Google and collect information about them. It is therefore important to control this information and put all the chances on your side. If there are any embarrassing photos of you online, we advise you to delete them quickly. If they are indexed on the search engine, you can normally request their deletion from Google and others.
Another crucial point if you want to work in a startup is to learn about the ecosystem and the culture specific to this world. There are certain concepts that you are necessarily supposed to know if you wish to turn to small structures (accelerator, incubator, fundraising, etc.) In the same way, it is obvious that you must learn about the history of the the company, its beginnings, its services and above all does not hesitate to propose some innovative ideas during the interview. This is the sure way for you to earn points and show your motivation and determination.
During the interview, we recommend that you carefully prepare your pitch and include in your speech a passage relating to your passions, technological knowledge and your interest in the company. Don’t hesitate to make connections between these different elements and the fact that you want to join the company.
