Startup Work 2 - Start Talking
People love to talk about themselves.
They may be busy and difficult to get on the phone. But once you get them started, they are delighted to tell their life story.
Use that to your advantage.
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If you haven't worked at a startup before, you probably have some idea in your head of what the experience will be like.
You might list jobs that you'd like to do ("chief strategy officer", "lead dealmaker", "special advisor to the CEO").
Don't create dream jobs in your head. Talk to people and find out what is actually out there!
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Whether exploring startups or other gigs, "informational interviewing" is not interviewing for a specific job.
Instead, you ask people for the opportunity to ask them questions about their jobs so you can better understand what their job is like.
(Implicit is that they may "put in a good word for you" if you do end up applying for something at their company.)
Particularly for people early in their careers, this is a one of the best ways to gain an understanding of what certain jobs and companies are like. What is actually out there, not just the fantasy in your head.
Lean on your network (high school and college alumni, friends of friends, friends of your family) and cast a wide net.
Most people will understand the request - and they are likely to accept if you make it about THEM and not YOU.
Don't:
-Here are a few jobs I'd like to do.
-Can I pick your brain?
-What advice do you have?
Do:
-What's it like to work at COMPANY?
-How did JOB1 prepare you for JOB5?
-What roles at COMPANY would you be interested in if in my shoes?
-Is your job role what you expected?