Startups are trendy businesses are taking the corporate world by storm. No surprise, then, that anybody wishing to make a mark is now turning towards securing a position within a promising startup.
However, if you want to secure an executive position in a startup, you need to wade through some murky waters. Startups tend to limit such roles for their founders or mentors. You need a robust set of skills to get into the door make even the stubbornest of startups take notice.
Here are some of the fundamental skills a senior startup executive must have.
Salesmanship
Sales are important for startups. Unless they can start making a profit, they would not be able to get their business off the ground. Making sales is challenging. Someone who can do it well is always cherished and invited into the firm, even if it is a startup.
Research about startups
Startup companies use an organisational structure that is a bit different from what you usually find in traditional corporate offices. More important, these kinds of businesses–particularly Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) startups–are part of an industry that is extremely fast-paced and fiercely competitive.
That said, it is not only enough that you learn about the startup company. You need to have an in-depth knowledge of the industry as well as the potential challenges that they will face. An excellent way to do this is by studying case studies of successful startup companies.
Network with startup business owners
Network as much as you can and as widely as you can. Surprisingly, people tend to overlook and underestimate the power of networking has when it comes to securing a job. In fact, networking is the secret weapon executive aiming for a C-level position use to land the job. People in the industry need to know about your potential to bring about considerable growth in the startup and take it a step further. The only way to do this is by talking to people within the industry.
While landing a C-level in a startup may not be easy, it is not impossible, given that you have the necessary skills to get there.
To gain further insight into how you can make your way to a C-level position in a startup, contact E1 today!
