Although not as voluminous as our deal flow, I receive a lot of CV’s each week from people soliciting job opportunities.

I am a firm believer in the open flow of information and opportunities. If I think two people would mutually benefit from knowing each other, I’m happy to take the time to introduce them, even it it does not benefit me directly.

Accordingly, I welcome people contacting me over the transom for contacts or advice on employment opportunities within the vc/startup ecosystem in which I operate. In fact, I very much value this. Our portfolio companies are relentlessly seeking growth, and the recruitment of top talent plays a key role in their progression. At any given time, there are several employment opportunities, or at least unmet needs, across our portfolio.

That being said, my bandwidth is extremely limited. I help people with career guidance when I can, but I owe the top priority of my time to my investors, my colleagues, and my portfolio companies.

Accordingly, some ways of soliciting career advice from me are more effective than others. Here are a few suggestions to increase the likelihood of a desirable outcome:

• Mass emailings of a CV and/or cover letter are not effective. I usually junk immediately unless my stringent spam filter does it for me.
• Tell me clearly what you’re looking for. A generic, “do you have any job openings for me?” often goes straight to trash.
• If you’re looking for a job in venture capital, I urge you to first reconsider. 🙂 If you remain undaunted, spend the effort first to fully understand the vc model, research the firms in the market, and feel free to let me know what type of role you’re seeking. Also, be aware that vc funds generally don’t have formal or frequent recruiting processes. The vc model is not scaleable in headcount like big corporations, banking, or consulting. Be prepared for a binary yes/no response that is usually ‘no’.
• If you’re looking for a job in a startup, I applaud your decision! (see Free your career). Now, how can I help ? Take a look at our portfolio companies. Which interest you the most ? Of that subset, visit their respective web sites. Many post job openings in clear view. If you see a role you want, please apply directly to the company, but feel free also to alert me of your interest. I will try to ensure that your application receives attention and that your candidacy is seriously considered.
• If you do not see a startup job opening that corresponds to your specific aspirations, get creative! If you’re passionate about a specific space in which one of our portfolio companies is operating, think about how you might be able to add value to the firm.

I’m of the mindset that passion is far more important than which university you attended, and often even more so than specific industry experience. If you can succinctly articulate how you think you might be able to benefit a given portfolio company, I will probably go out of my way to introduce you to the management team.