Applying to a Start-Up Company

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LazyD

LazyD

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Dec 7, 2006
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So, the job I currently work at sucks a big fat donkey dick. They make websites for dental practices. Their websites are pretty much the same template/layout over and over again with different colors and slightly different dimensions. They use Dreamweaver which absolutely despise, and, they wont let me code by hand, they say Dreamweaver is faster, less prone to error and that you cant manually make cross-browser compatible sites....

They ALL use the same content, every one of them, minus like 2 out of the 200 clients they have(Dupe content penatly much?) and they wonder why the majority of pages on clients websites are in supplemental, well that and they dont have any backlinks... Also, their SEO package(runs around $500) consists of ADDING META TAGS TO 5 PAGES....

The dumb thing is, they assume it takes a long time to "build them out"(code them) because the fucking idiots that I work with remake the entire file structure all over again... Really, if you just make a "blank" template of a site that you can start from, like I said, change the image filenames and a few dimensions and your done...

/rant

So, ive been browsing Craigslist and Yahoo HotJobs and finally the local college's job listings. I found one for a start up company looking for a PHP/MySQL developer(My speciality) - I shot them my resume and some work examples, they looked them over and emailed me saying they wanted a phone interview that day. They emailed me again later saying that they were so impressed by my examples that they wanted to skip the phone interview and have an in-person interview.

Due to the gayness(no offense Lemon) of my current job I cant get ANY time off, they acted like they were going to fire me because I asked to get off 2 hours early on a Friday to go a Giants game(Fuck you Phillies). So after some figuring shit out, one of the business partners asked if I could interview on Saturday, he gave me the address and the time. It turns out the address is not the same as their office, it looks like a residential address in an upscale neighborhood.

My dad keeps trying to ram it down my throat that start-ups get financial backing, live large then when they go under leave there technical people high and dry and often unpaid. Im sure this is extreme, but is there anything I should ask for, or be wary of?

Should I also be worried about doing the interview someones house? Im a large guy (6'4" 260 lbs) but my mom seems to be think im going to get raped or something...

Long post, im bored, and I really want to leave this shit fuck job I currently work at...

Shameless Plug - Im available for freelance work....PM me if you have something you would like quoted.
 


Thats what I figured, its worth going just to see what they have to say...

My mom keeps asking me to give her the address, she wanted me to bring my girlfriend along and say that we are going somewhere right after, etc...
 
How old are you? Thats pretty damn hilarious that your mom is worried for you. You found them, they didnt look for you, so when you got the interview you asked for, your going to be skeptical?
 
Honestly, if you're feeling even the least bit concerned, just offer to meet at a Starbucks. You can flat out admit that you're uncomfortable going to a strangers house. There's NOTHING wrong with a Starbucks sit-down, I guarantee $50million moved today alone over a grande double pump soy latte machiatto.

And I would absolutely NOT take your girlfriend.

Honestly man, are you ready to play in the real world? I don't mean to sound callous, but seriously... You said yourself that you're a big guy (I'm 6'4" myself). What can you possibly be afraid of? Find a starbucks near your meetup, ask the guy to move it to there, and you're good to go. Take a pad of paper, another copy of your resume, and ask lots of questions.
 
I would definitely go. What do you have to loss ?
Just a piece of advice, I recently worked for a local rich figure in London who owes me 8000£ and that's because I was stupid enough to start working for him without any contract.
I just saw the way he lives and did the math "if he lives in an amazing apartment in Mayfare there no reason he wouldn't pay me.", well guess what? I was wrong.
Be smarter then I was and get it all on papers, don't go for the "trust me" thing!
 
I agree with Dirvan, get it all in writing. You wont loose anything by checking this company out and going to the interview. This could actually be a really good thing and could in turn make you alot of money and develop your career more.
 
Personally I think you are still young enough that you shouldn't be worried about taking a chance on a start up- if it pays off great, if not so what? Its not like you have that great of a spot right now - and honestly getting in the ground floor of a start up and helping to build the business will gain you a lot more experience that will make you a better catch later on from a business perspective.

About the house meeting- lots of businesses in NYC (where I'm from) have their offices in town houses- not sure why but its not unusual at all.

Just google the officers, see what they have done - read up about what they are trying to do, etc.

I agree about making sure the contract is in your favor though - but I wouldn't choose the old boring job over the new one simply because of a better health care plan, etc...

Remember once you are older and have a family, taking this kind of risk is pretty tough - do it now while you are young and can afford to lose. I'm looking for a start up right now - I'm sick of the big corporate world and want to really work my ass off at a small place building the business. I'm under the gun though since I'm getting married this year - a few years from now guess what, I'll be in a house w/ a kid... good luck risking your family on a start up that could fail at any time!

Anyway - take an interview, if you really are worried about losing your current job then make the interview balls ass early in the morning (say you have a dentist appt) or after work...
 
I also agree. You should check it out. But just a couple of words from someone that has worked for 2 startups. Remain skeptical. A lot of startups and the people working for them make extremely large claims of how you'll be rolling in the money, etc. etc. etc. Just remember it takes a lot of work and a little luck for a startup to really take off and make it big. I'm not saying it won't be successful, but it often won't live up to the Grandiose expectations that they claim it will be.

Also keep in mind because it is a startup chances are it will be a very very small team to startup up. Which means lots and lots of hours. Working all nighters and a lot of weekends wouldn't be out of the question. Just be prepared to sacrifice a lot of yourself to the betterment of the company.

And above all make sure to ask lots of questions. An interview is just as much for you as it is for a prospective employer you want to make sure it'll be a fit in both directions.

Just my 2 cents. Good luck man.
 
Thanks for all the input guys, I figured, after writing that I would get called a pussy at least a couple times. For the record im 19, it wasnt my choice to tell my mom that I was going to someones house to interview, my girlfriend answered my phone and told my mom about it, and threw in that part about the house...Dont worry, shes been punished for it :P

I am definitely going to interview, like many said it cant hurt to see what they have to say...And I really hate the current place I work...

If everything sounds good, ill definitely ask for some kind of contract or written/signed statement as to the work ill be performing and money to be paid...
 
wait wait wait waaaaait....back up...

before you do all that... all those template sites that youve created... include a 1x1 pixel image and set up a back link

har $ har $ har $ ;)
 
Ive been actually thinking about doing something like that, of course, I wouldnt do it until I know for sure that im out of here...

Since this is a web design company, I have a feeling someone would find it next time the site was looked at.

I really should think about doing something..

Many of the sites have 0 outbound links, although many pages are also in Supplemental and have 0 PR it couldnt hurt...
 
If your current job is giving you a ton of shit about leaving a couple of hours early, then it's time to ditch that place. They're obviously never going to let you grow. Why waste anymore time?

Go to the interview and request a written contract (don't settle for a verbal agreement. I've been burned with those).

You're 19. You're young. Even if this startup doesn't work out, there are bigger and better things waiting for you.

Trust me.
 
engaged, the start-up company or the current company I work for?

Anyway, my boss setup a meeting for all the production staff, myself included to go over office policy....hmm i wonder why, since there like a mini falling out when i tried to get off early on Friday. My immediate boss was working from home(oh the irony) and told me to ask the business manager. The business manager gave me a line of shit but eventually agreed saying "well let you leave early this time", then, when I told my boss over our chat program that I was leaving she tells me "You better not let Jay(big boss) see or there will be hell to pay"

So anyway, during this meeting she tells us that "Time off requests must be submitted 2 weeks before the date you want off, THE COMPANIES NEEDS COME FIRST"....I couldnt believe she said that...The companies needs come first....

Then the ultimate bombshell..."If you have an emergency, we will take that into consideration, however, again, the companies needs come first and we cant guarantee we can give you the time off"....After she said that I was thinking "Fuck you, if I have an emergency, im leaving whether you say I can or not"...

Fuck this place...

Also, after much prodding from my friends and family about how strange and unprofessional it is to hold an interview at someones house I emailed him asking if we could have it at a Starbucks...Whatever....
 
Yea, now things are starting to get odd, originally, when they originally asked me to do an in person interview he said "We are free tomorrow(tuesday) or Wednesday in the afternoon, does that work for you"

I told them, I could meet them after work which would be like 6pm or I could take a long lunch and meet them around 1pm, their office is only about 10 minutes away from where i currently work.

After I sent that email, he didnt really answer whether that would be ok, instead he just went straight to, how bout Saturday, then when I sent another email saying ok, he sent back the address and time, asking me to confirm.

The address is a residential address in a pretty upscale neighborhood, still I dont feel comfortable going to some dudes house for an interview especially when they have an office, or there are much better mututal locations...

I dont feel like ending up in pine box, or as some guys bitch in his basement...
 
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