Startup jobs and a lesson for CEOs from a big, hairy dog (& Arjun Dev Arora from ReTargeter)

I'm Arjun, you can't ruffle me.

Startups can be chaotic places. Even more so when they grow as quickly and as successfully as ReTargeter has. But I’ll tell you what, their founder; he’s a cool cucumber.

During our interview, my very large dog (part wooly mammoth, part Muppet) walked across camera. She then walked outside and began barking at what I’m sure was a very serious, if not deadly, threat to the house. Three loud barks. Which is really all you need when you’re part wooly mammoth. Three loud barks, easily heard on camera.

And Arjun Dev Arora, founder and CEO of one of today’s hottest startups, never flinched. He. Didn’t. Miss. A. Beat.

That is the kind of startup founder you want to work for. One that’s not fazed by what’s happening on the periphery. One that can maintain focus on the task at hand. One that can leap tall buildings….wait, I took that too far.

Want to work for this founder? Great, cause he’s hiring. And he’s telling you exactly how to get a job with a startup, how to keep a job with a startup, and the signs that you should run screaming from your startup job. (Part of the Three to Get Ready video series.)

THE TIPS

(GET the job tip) “Dude, I love your company”
Arjun’s top tip for getting into a startup is to get in with the in crowd. He says to network. Attend events and conferences where you’ll meet the right people. Walk right in, sit right down, baby let your hair hang down. Okay, he didn’t exactly quote that toe-tapping ditty from the 70’s, but he did say he’d “love it” if a job seeker approached him directly with praise for his company and enthusiasm for joining the team.

TIP: Find him, find his employees, introduce yourself and your love for the company, then ask for the job.

(KEEP the job tip) Value the Value
If you’re a regular to this blog, this one should be obvious to you; share the values of the company. If you want to succeed in a startup, Arjun says to start by sharing the vision of the founder. To excel in a startup, you must chase more than a paycheck; chase the dream the team is chasing.

TIP: Understand the big picture goals, then pursue them like your job depends on it. (Cause it does.)

(LEAVE the job tip) Get Aligned
Arjun does mention that if the founder is nuts, you might want to reconsider your job choice. However, his bigger tip for knowing when to leave builds on his Values tip. If you can’t get yourself aligned with values of the startup, you’ll simply never fit in. Don’t force it, move on. (And watch out for big, fat, hairy, interview-disruptive dogs.)

TIP: Get aligned with the goals of the startup or get lost.

THE JOBS

There are half a dozen different types of jobs open now at ReTargeter; everything from Account Executives to Designers.

Some of the positions listed include mini-job description videos complete with fun background music. It’s no “walk right up, sit right down,” but it’s nice nonetheless.

THE INSIDE SCOOP

The startup spin on the Inside the Actor’s Studio questionnaire. Just to give you a little glimpse into how this entrepreneur’s mind works. Glimpse it before you approach Arjun at the next networking event.

Check back each week in April for new Three to Get Ready interviews, with new tips and more open startup jobs. Up next this week – Brennan White of Pandemic Labs.

In the meantime, impressed with what Arjun and his team are doing at ReTageter? Tell him in the comment section. (Hint- he’ll love to hear it, and could get you noticed in a “dude, I love your company” kind of way.)

About ReTargeter: In non-tech, no jargon speak, they’re a hot marketer that helps companies get seen. Everywhere. By placing a single line of code on your site, they can target past visitors (translation: people already interested in your product) and make sure your ads get in front of them, at the right time, in the right places. Cool, huh? Lot’s of other people think so too, and lot’s of them also want to work for ReTargeter. So get going and go get those jobs.

[Photo credit: Combatant Gentlemen, very cool clothes!]