10 No-Brainers for Landing a Job at a Startup

QUESTION: In 140 characters or less, tell us what makes you unique. Catch our eye.ANSWER: …Yes, this is a real answer on a real job application submitted to Updater. Interestingly enough, the candidate was qualified for the job and had relevant experience – an interview was nearly guaranteed. So, why not just answer the question?While I believe it’s easier than ever for candidates to stand out in today’s market, it’s also easier than ever to fall short. See above.Aside from sifting through candidates who’ve already marked themselves with a big, fat “L” for lazy like our friend above, recruiting is tough because not all candidates put in the effort to stand out. We put in the effort to make our companies rewarding, energizing places to work, so we hope that candidates put their best foot forward as well.In an effort to prevent hiring managers from ever seeing “…” again, here are my personal top ten no-brainer tips for landing a job at a startup.In chronological order…10. Answer all the questions on the application. So simple. Child’s play. Really – answer every one.9. “Wow” me with a relevant resume. I really hate to be the bearer of bad news, but startup hiring managers are not particularly moved by your long-term personal painting or culinary goals; we need to believe that you will help our company meet its goals, you’ll do it successfully because you’ve done it before, and you’ll be a huge asset to us. Your resume should reflect that.8. Understand every line in the job description. Understand every line of the job description (yes, I mean every one) before clicking “Apply.” Believe me, your interviewer will know within a few minutes if you are qualified for the job or not. If you truly understand and excel at every task outlined in the description, it’ll save you and the interviewer time – and potential disappointment – down the line.7. Front-load your message. Figure out what’s relevant to your interviewer, and front-load your message so we quickly grasp what you bring to the table. This is applicable to your resume (accomplishments at the top) and in the interview (bring your A-game within the first 30 seconds).6. Have a clean online personality. You have a personality, and then you have an online personality. Make sure that your LinkedIn profile supports what you state on your resume, you have an online portfolio if you’re a creative, and you don’t have half-naked or drunken photos easily accessible through a simple Google search.5. Prepare for the interview. It seems so obvious, but you’d be surprised how many candidates walk into an office not knowing anything about the company (and in more extreme cases, who they’re meeting with). If you’re lucky enough to score the interview, invest the time to prepare for it. Read the company’s website (especially any section that’s relevant to the position), check out the company’s blog and social profiles to read what’s timely, test the product if you can, and go ahead, look at my LinkedIn profile. You can bet that I’ve already looked at yours.4. Practice portion control in the interview. I’m referring to what exactly you say during the interview. Your words will define you. You have limited time with the interviewer, and you must consciously choose words that put only your best foot forward. There are three main ways to do this: Avoid over-sharing, know (in advance) which stories best prove your experience, and, again, front-load your message.3. Leave an idea in the suggestion box. Impress us during the interview with your knowledge of our product by sharing something that could make it better. An idea, a suggestion, a new feature, a new avenue for success – show us that you’re already thinking like you have the job.2. Send a thank you note. Be thoughtful and honest – don’t be generic. If something piqued your interest from our interview (which we hope it would), mention that you’d like to learn more about that topic. Ask a question. Show that you’re curious. We want to know that you enjoyed the interview and want to work for our company. It’s also worth noting that in startup-land, it’s typically appropriate to send a thank you email; though, hand-written notes are always appreciated!1. Prove that you’re willing to hustle. Startups face unique challenges – we often have limited time to prove ourselves, limited money to overcome our obstacles, limited talent to hit all of our goals, etc. Therefore, we need hustlers. We need utility players. Can you be our next LeBron James? Prove that you’re willing to hustle, show us that you’ve hustled in the past, demonstrate that you share our passion and prove that you know how to execute.-----Jenna Weinerman is the Marketing Director for Updater. Updater builds technology that makes moving easier for the 17 million households that relocate every year throughout the United States. Follow her on Twitter.