Ask HN: How does a non-senior dev find tiny startups to join? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: How does a non-senior dev find tiny startups to join?

8 pointslookingaway9 comments

I am a competent, middle-level developer with 2 heavy years of ruby/js/general startup language and frameworks knowledge and I really want to find a tiny startup to join where I can have a tangible impact on the company.

Trouble is that every ad/posting I've seen for smaller startups are always looking for senior devs. I don't trust going through a recruiter, because their payday comes from any placement, not for the placement I specifically want (and I have had a bad experience with recruiters).

Is there any value for a mid-level developer outside the bigger companies?

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Look at the HN Who's Hiring thread and pick one to apply. There are plenty of Ruby jobs out there. Join them as a developer, forget about the title.

First step, stop calling yourself a mid-level developer. Startups want you to dive in, not second guess yourself.

If you can pass muster, it doesn't matter what you think of yourself. Change your point of view, give it a shot, and just see what happens. OK, if you can't get hired, then maybe you prove your own thesis, but it's worth a try.

The other option is to just start your own startup.

As per your concerns, I'd stick to my day job and build things on the side.

If you live in a place like SV and you're well connected, good things will come your way.

If you're like everyone else, you have to work hard, hustle, build up your own networks and provide a great product/service.

If you're looking to network, we could discuss things/get to know each other.

http://www.mycareercity.com/defaultC.aspx is launching pretty soon (i.e. within a week). They're aimed at more junior-level developers I think.

Good way to start finding startups near you - find the the incubators, see which of their classes got funded.

https://angel.co/incubators

We're hiring somebody that roughly fits your profile right about now (good traction, still small dev team). No promises, but if you email me at steve@massdrop.com, we can see if you're a good match.

It's a seller's market for developers on FounderDating, i.e., far more people with a startup idea than developers to implement it.

That's because the ideas guys don't realize how 'valuable' their ideas are.

Also, they should start printing the "fine print" in a supersized ARIAL 64 FONT that clarifies whether you are working for sweat equity (most of the time) or the other guy will actually pay you.

How tiny? If you need a decent salary it may be harder to find a startup that is still very small.

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