OpinionCV to VC: How to land your next dream job
Opinion
CV to VC: How to land your next dream job
Job seekers get frustrated when they send out their resumes and don't get results, Eran Bielski, General Partner at Entrée Capital, suggests a different approach, sending your CV to a VC.
If you've ever sent out your CV, you know that it’s not always clear where it goes, who sees it, or whether they will even respond. This phenomenon is especially common among junior-level employees, but even with mid-level and senior employees, who have significant experience, and often invest considerable time and effort in finding the right opportunity. They don't always get a response or the exact opportunity they seek, and sometimes end up wasting precious time in unnecessary "coffee" meetings and more. However, there is another effective way to find the next step in your career as a senior-level employee, and not everyone has heard of it yet.
How does it usually work today?
One common way for experienced employees to find their next job is by leveraging personal and professional connections to apply for a relevant position or join a specific company. These connections can recommend you, and at this stage in your career, positive feedback from the ecosystem is essential and maybe even critical. Another well-known method among mid-level to senior employees is using headhunters. These recruiters will suggest a specific position based on your LinkedIn profile and other public information.
But there is one more way...
Apart from these known methods, there is another way that not everyone might be familiar with, and it works better for mid-level and senior positions - not for juniors or inexperienced employees. This method involves sending your CV to venture capital firms. Yes, those same investors who invested in the tech companies or startups you are interested in working for.
Why should you send your CV to a Partner at a Venture Capital firm?
1. Deep understanding of the startup: The VC knows the startup very closely. Sometimes, one of the partners sits on the company’s board and has a deep understanding of the company's needs, challenges, organizational culture, and key players. Thus, the VC or partner can match you exactly to a position that suits both you and the company.
2. Extended reach: A VC does not work with just one company but with a portfolio of companies. This means your CV can reach a large number of recruiting teams in potential companies, including those you might not have thought of on your own.
3. Interest in the company's success: The VC, and especially the partner leading the investment, has a clear interest in the company's success. One way to ensure this is by recruiting excellent employees. Therefore, the VC and its partners have an interest in finding the most suitable candidate for a specific position who can contribute to the company's success.
4. Opportunities from scratch: If one of the VC's partners sees you as a candidate with significant value to a particular company, a new job opportunity may arise that did not exist because the founders did not look to fill this position until the next board meeting or the monthly investor call.
So, the next time you send your CV, don't forget to include this option. Combining your skills with the understanding and connections of the VC could greatly help you reach your next career step. Maybe we're biased, but don't miss this opportunity because the world is full of unexpected opportunities.
Eran Bielski is a General Partner at Entrée Capital.
