If you’re ready to make the leap, the next step is actually getting the job offer. Jobs at startups can be extremely competitive, especially if they’re getting a lot of attention from investors. So what’s the key to getting one of these coveted roles? We were lucky enough to speak with employees and employers in the startup world about the best ways to get the much sought-after call back. Although their answers were different, the common denominator was confidence. Check out the three ways confidence can land you your next startup gig.
Admit You Don’t Know Everything
Brandon, who now runs Seattle Organic SEO Marketing, has gotten his fair share of jobs in an unconventional way. One of his tricks is saying “I don’t know.” How does admitting you don’t know something help with a job application? By admitting that somethings are over your head, employers will trust that you do know what you’re talking about. It also takes confidence in your knowledge to be able to admit when you don’t know something. Startups want confidence, honesty and integrity – all demonstrated by a simple, ‘I don’t know – but I’d be happy to find out.”
Show Your Skills
Although it’s great to admit when you don’t know something, it’s also critical to be able to sell the skills you have with ‘ping pong confidence’. So what’s ping pong confidence? It’s being so confident in your skills that you’re willing to prove it, even if it’s right in the middle of an interview. Sebastien Dupéré, President and CEO of Dupray, shared this startup interview story. Job seekers can often be too meek or mild in an interview, saying they’re adept at certain skills but not ready to prove it. It almost never fails that it a candidate brings their skills ready to show off (aka portfolio) they get the offer. Having common interests and an engaging personality never hurts either.
Dress For The Job You Want
Ever heard of ‘dressing to impress’ at a new job? It is a tried and true approach in the business world. But why then do some candidates rock the sweatshirt and jeans and still get the job? Jamal Asskoumi, Owner of CastleSmart.com, remembers a candidate showing up for an interview at one of his startups wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt. In the end, the candidate got the job. Although Asskoumi doesn’t recommend showing up in sweatpants to an interview, being confident is critical to your job search success. You need to wear whatever you feel most confident wearing in order to set yourself up for success. Candidates have been rejected for both underdressing and overdressing. So clearly, it’s more than just an outfit. If you’re uncomfortable in a suit in tie, your confidence won’t shine through.
