On Hire

5 Tips for Surviving a Startup Interview

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ost start-up companies that I know are not looking for "typical" employees, because they have much more at stake than established companies. While most established companies focus on expansion, most start-up companies are struggling just to survive. It is all about sustenance and growth. They are always on a look out for highly-skilled self-starters, who take ownership of projects, wear many hats, work long hours, play well with the team and take the company to the next level. Sounds Interesting? Then you should read on, I have come up with 5 points for cracking startup interview:

Resume: Make sure your resume is clear, concise and to-the-point. Clearly mention your past roles and responsibilities, a KRA section really helps. If you are a techie then make sure that you only mention skills you are really good at; don't bombard your resume with skills and technology that you are only aware of and only know the basic structure. Startup folks are the smartest people around and they can easily tell when a person is blustering. Do a spell check on your resume and get it proof read by an expert. Avoid fields like fathers name, fathers occupation etc; we are hiring you - not your dad.

Dress code: Usually startups don’t have a dress code, but I recommend you dress formally/semi formally for the interview. A striped shirt with a plain jeans fits really well for the occasion. Don't wear faded/rustic/torn denims; keep them in your wardrobe for after you are through the interview. Avoid a tie; trust me in my 3 years of startup career I haven't seen anyone wear a tie to work. In our office, whenever people walk in for interviews , they are formally dressed and we are always in our three-fourths and sandals. It’s kind of funny. Female candidate should avoid real short skirts or clothes that attract undue attention, not that am complaining, you might just get hired but for all the wrong reasons.

Preparation: It would be wise to research the company's business plans, revenue model, founding team, funding info, competition, and profit potential . Go through the press releases and the media coverage the company has received, it will give you an outsiders view to the company. It's a good idea to research these things for any company you have applied to, but more so for a start-up, as the chances of the company going kaput are much high.

Interview: Don't be surprised if you land up in a small shop or a garage for the interview, some of the best companies in this world have bootstrapped in a garage (read Google, Microsoft, FaceBook, Motorola and the list just goes on). Try to present yourself as an entrepreneurial employee, startups need an Intrapreneur rather than an employee. Be natural, mostly you will be interviewed by people same as your age or may be couple of years senior to you. Instead of having a formal interview be more conversational, be truthful and avoid bluffing, If you don’t know something convey it to interviewer. If you have any question about the company ask the same and clear it out during the interview. Startups are always looking for feedback, if you have any do tell them. It helps you build a strong case for yourself.

Salary Negotiations: Many folks have this misconception that startups don’t pay really well, which is completely false. Most Startups offer a combination of salary+bonus+equity, which at end of the day is much better than compensation offered by established companies .As for the salary, negotiate a reasonable amount for your skills, but don't try to make a killing. They probably can't afford it. Startups are not the place where you work for 6 month make a quick buck and move, they need people for the long run who can sail them through good and bad winds. Don't expect too much in terms of employee benefit like insurance, cafeteria, recreational centre, pickup-drops etc. Startups are your playground, classroom, second home , temple - "your kind of place" where you can be yourself.

You can not follow any of the rules above and still crack an interview - the key is to be natural and be the start-up guy that all of us are looking for.

Startups are a one-of-a-kind place to work at, no matter how much information you gather about the company, you will never be sure whether it’s worth the risk.

But, that's the thing about start-ups. Nobody knows for sure. It’s a mans vision which is brought to life by a team. If you are the kind of person who can run a team to bring a dream to life, then a startup is where you should be. You must decide if you want to gamble. Sounds a bit clichéd, but trust me, the potential risk and rewards haven't changed .If you are convinced then you know which is your next stop: Sutrajobs.com. It showcases best opportunities at some of the finest startups.

Waqar Azmi - Founder and CEO of Sutra Services Pvt. Ltd.

A full services People Consulting firm which offers a unique partnering model with Digital, Mobile and Internet startups.