I've worked for a number of startups over the past few years.
Normally, in early startup life (<= 5 people), they hire people who have a broad knowledge about a lot of things. Sooner or later, the startup will start hiring people with specialist skills.
You won't get paid well, you'll be paid the bare minimum until they have gone through some sort of funding process (probably angel investment).
Being in a startup isn't like working for a large web firm like Facebook or Twitter, it's more like working in a small office with a group of people trying to find the fun in everything (some startups never become fun). It's also not about doing everything correctly, it's about experimentation with things, finding what's useful.
Joining a startup and hoping for some big IPO payout might not pay off and isn't in the mindset of a startup.
In the end, it's about trying to make some kickass product that does something awesome whilst trying to have fun on a small salary (at least it is at the start)
I love the advice as well. I have some projects I've done that I've never bothered to put on Github. I'm making an effort to get them up there although some of the projects aren't refined.
For example, I have a project I did in 6 hours, so I know it's not the best code I could write. However, I think it's great to share what you've got. As Seth Godin would say, ship it.
Who cares? Pick one that sounds fun, and do shit. Even if that trend flops, you'll have some transferrable skills. The language/technology itself isn't as important as the domain knowledge and experience with concepts that the language/tech embodies.
[+] [-] sthulbourn|15 years ago|reply
Normally, in early startup life (<= 5 people), they hire people who have a broad knowledge about a lot of things. Sooner or later, the startup will start hiring people with specialist skills.
You won't get paid well, you'll be paid the bare minimum until they have gone through some sort of funding process (probably angel investment).
Being in a startup isn't like working for a large web firm like Facebook or Twitter, it's more like working in a small office with a group of people trying to find the fun in everything (some startups never become fun). It's also not about doing everything correctly, it's about experimentation with things, finding what's useful.
Joining a startup and hoping for some big IPO payout might not pay off and isn't in the mindset of a startup.
In the end, it's about trying to make some kickass product that does something awesome whilst trying to have fun on a small salary (at least it is at the start)
[+] [-] petervandijck|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] joshu|15 years ago|reply
Also, we like people with interesting pet projects. It helps us easily get a sense of what kind of engineer you are.
(ObPlug: Tasty Labs is hiring. http://www.tastylabs.com/)
[+] [-] DerekH|15 years ago|reply
For example, I have a project I did in 6 hours, so I know it's not the best code I could write. However, I think it's great to share what you've got. As Seth Godin would say, ship it.
[+] [-] MortonC|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] patrickyeon|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] notJim|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] yakto|15 years ago|reply