Practical advice for finding startup work, hiring exceptional teams, and building companies that last.
After building LeafLink, Ryan Smith is tackling a $300B “invisible” market with Mura. Inside his approach to hiring, speed, and building trust from day one.
Most ATS systems are far less advanced than candidates think. A former Meta and Google recruiter explains what actually gets your resume noticed—and what gets ignored.
Startup founders reveal what actually gets candidates hired: ownership, drive, and real-world problem solving—not perfect resumes. Here’s how to stand out.
Startup founders care less about resumes and more about traits like ownership, curiosity, and resilience. Here’s how to show what actually gets you hired.
A recruiter from Warner Bros. Discovery and Chainlink shares practical conversational interview tips—from handling tough questions to standing out authentically.
When 500 candidates apply, resumes aren’t enough. A WRITER recruiter explains why proof of work, side projects, and smart outreach are what actually get you hired.
Two competitive gamers turned founders built an AI banking startup used by top SBA lenders. Inside their hiring philosophy, culture, and lessons for candidates.
Three startup recruiters break down how they actually use AI—from Boolean automation to deepfake risks—and why human judgment still decides who gets hired.
Based on 500K+ job applications, this guide breaks down what actually increases interview rates—tailored resumes, focused applications, and where to apply for better results.
Do cover letters actually matter? We asked startup recruiters. Their answers vary—but the pattern is clear on when to write one, skip it, and what actually helps.
Why Work Here is a series in which Amit Matani, CEO of Wellfound, has honest, behind-the-scenes conversations with founders, executives, and employees about why their companies are worth joining.
"Startups want specific skills over generic passion, timing matters more than perfect applications, and your story needs to explain why you're applying — not just what you can do," says Mary Kypreos, who has been recruiting for open-source and startup tech companies for over a decade.
"The startup hiring playbook has a dirty secret: chasing engineers with Google and Meta badges on their LinkedIn profiles might be sabotaging your team."
Sourcing is a keyword-driven game across multiple platforms. Optimize your online presence like a search engine, reach out to hiring managers directly rather than going through recruiters, and understand that your years of experience can work against you if you're targeting more junior roles.
Here's a discovery from Siqi Chen, CEO and CFO of Runway, who has built one of the most effective teams in fintech: "There is not a person on the planet who would not say they're high agency."
Veteran recruiter Jenna Pilja reveals why candidates should stop waiting for companies to level the playing field and start demanding transparency from the first screening call. Her advice: ask directly for interview prep guides, reasonable accommodations, and honest feedback—because most job seekers never even try.
This article was created using quotes from multiple episodes of "Why Work Here," a series in which Amit Matani, CEO of Wellfound, has honest, behind-the-scenes conversations with founders, executives, and employees about why their companies are worth joining.
This article draws on multiple "Why Work Here" interviews with founders and CEOs about what makes startup cultures succeed long-term—specifically, how true ownership differs from simply juggling multiple responsibilities.
