Ask HN: How to properly show my skills for startup roles?

Why aren't you creating a new business rather than waiting to tag along with someone else's?

I have always created my own and had other people join me.

This is not a criticism: something in that gap may be useful in your search.

The thing your missing is that you need your own.

I agree with the other answers here, but not everyone wants to be a founder.

sounds like you've got the skills - might need to put your marketing hat on for a bit and focus on the outcomes those skills translate to. in biz, there's two main outcomes everyone wants... either increased revenue, or decreased costs/improved productivity.

what impact would you make?

I work in consulting too - customer facing staff consultant and leading implementations. I did a 3.5 year stint at AWs Professional Services.

I had no trouble getting full time job offers from 3rd party consulting companies within 2 weeks after being Amazoned and again last year.

But, I seem to be toxic to product companies - more so than before I got into consulting. I’ve gotten more rejections the two times I was looking as an architect (it was a plan B) than I got before joining AWS and I was a developer.

I honestly can’t blame them, now I parachute into a company, lead an implementation and I’m gone in 3-9 months. Why would I hire me to be responsible for long term strategic vision who they need to be around for 2-3 years?

But to answer your question, you need to get on larger long term projects. There are some projects at my company where the tech lead has been leading an implementation for over a year with a team.

Set up a small open-source GitHub repo to showcase your skills, and ask people in your network to give it some stars for added credibility. If you’re not sure what to build, you could create a simple RAG bot using Claude and feed it your resume — that way, employers can literally chat with your “digital twin” and learn about your experience through an AI agent you built yourself. At least thats what I did lLet me know if you need the source code :)

honest answer?

you're international, so the changes of you getting a job as a founding engineer at a "good" startup are low.

1. you're looking at 1% equity with cliff.

2. consider that 90% of startups fail, and 90% of startup founders are scammers/scumbags. i have friends who have been screwed over by such people.

3. as a founding engineer, you'll be doing a TON of work, and they might just fire you after 6-8 months when they have something built they can use to raise more money. leaving you with nothing and hopefully they at least paid your monthly salary (unless you get duped by "vision" and don't take pay because again - you're international)

my suggestion - either do your own startup in your own country

OR

apply to a stellar unicorn startup that's now raising series B at whatever level you can get in. aka a non-shit, validated startup that has an actual chance at IPO or strong acquisition. you might make 10-25x on your options as an employee.

as for your self-marketing, you just need to go on LinkedIn and start messaging people or find interesting founders, go to their websites, and send them an email. worst case they don't respond, who cares?

Hi, Check this link on

Interviewing at a YC backed startups? Here is everything you must know.The post has complete details on what you must demonstrate vs what they expect and how you must answer all in full details.

https://x.com/CodiesAlert2021/status/1974120715105325298

All the best!!