Bijan Sabet

Looking for a job? Be helpful.

There is no doubt that we are in a tough market. Lots of people have lost their job and many others are facing the risk & reality of losing their job. That sucks on so many levels.

Like many VCs, I am getting a ton of resumes and inbound interest for a variety of our portfolio companies that are hiring right now. I am doing my best to read them all.

The best way to stand out is to be helpful.

Be helpful to yourself and to your persective employer.

Bring thoughtful ideas to the table on how you could help the company or product. Tell us what you could do that is beyond the specific role if you want. Or tell us why you love the product. Or what’s broken. Do your homework.

I really don’t want to know what you did 20 years ago. I don’t want links to other people’s ideas. I want to know what you want to do, why you want to do it and how we will all be better off because of it. And I want to know what you are like personally to make sure the fit will work. Show me your work, your product, your blog, your tweets.

The same is true when we were hiring at our venture firm last year. When we were talking to Mo, he told us exactly what he thought about our companies and investing approach. He told us what startups he loves. What entpreneurs he respects. How he could help. What he would work on. He showed us a bunch of deals even before he officially joined Spark.

That’s the way to do it.