For most people, the new year brings a blank slate, along with a fresh opportunity to reinvent oneself. If your 2017 resolution involves landing the startup job of your dreams, we've got you covered.
Here is the best advice we heard for anyone looking to start their career in tech this year:
1. Find out what makes recruiters tick.
The ability to write a great resume is a coveted skill that few job seekers ever completely master, but it’s important to know the dos and don’ts when applying for a job.
Earlier this year, we sat down with four New York tech recruiters to learn the worst mistakes they’ve ever seen on resumes (in the hopes that future applicants might learn a few common pitfalls to avoid). From keeping it brief to listing full education details to giving the right contact information, it turns out there’s a lot of factors that can make or break your resume.
“A recruiter is passing along your resume after your initial chat as a way to 'sell' you to a hiring manager,” said Leahy. “It's important to put your best foot forward.”
Read more about the worst mistakes you can make on your resumes.
2. Immerse yourself in the local tech community
If you want to get a job in New York’s tech scene, there’s no better way than to immerse yourself fully in the local startup community. Do your research on major companies and influencers and start signing up for events sooner rather than later.
When you launch yourself into the middle of the action, you'll find that the New York tech community is a collaborative, community-driven group, and that it’s actually easy to become involved.
Read more about how best to navigate New York’s tech scene.
3. Nail your interview.
You’ve done your research, sent in your application and landed a job interview at a fast-growing startup. The interview process is one of the most important, and hardest, aspects of the job application process, and as such, it’s important to ask the right questions.
Not only does it show you’re genuinely interested in the job, but you’ll also be able to get a sense of if the role, and company, is right for you. This year, we caught up with New York tech companies to find out what they think are the best questions a candidate can ask during an interview.
“It's crucial that candidates ask questions during an interview for several reasons. For one, it shows the interviewer they have interest in the role, and really thought about what they wanted to say before meeting (the passion they have for the role lies within the questions they ask). They should be interviewing us just as much as we are interviewing them.”
Read more on the best questions you could ask in a job interview at a tech company.
Know of a company that deserves coverage? Let us know or tweet us @builtinnewyork.
