More than most industries, in venture capital, it’s who you know that counts. So building your personal network is absolutely crucial to landing a venture capital job interview.
There are a number of strategies that can help you get started. Start with your own personal contacts, family, friends and classmates who may know someone who knows someone either at a VC firm or perhaps a start-up that works with a venture capital firm.
The venture capital world is more connected online that most. So you need to use social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and others to expand your network. Monitor and join various discussion groups. We would even go so far as to suggest that you create your own blog with a particular venture capital focus, and start writing about ventures in that space. If your writing about a particular industry is both relevant and insightful, you can generate solid leads with venture capital firms.
Here’s a case in point: Union Square Ventures is known for asking VC job applicants to forgo submitting a resume, and instead demonstrate how you are connected online, such as your personal blog, articles, and companies with which you work. Essentially, they want to see your passion for early stage companies and knowledge for how the venture capital game is played. In fact today, a combination of your LinkedIn profile and your online articles may replace your venture capital resume altogether.
There are many fascinating blogs on venture capital to serve as models. Marc Andreessen has one called Pmarca. Another site, theFunded.com, provides reviews of venture capital firms.
Beyond personal contacts and online resources, be sure to exploit alumni networks of both your business and undergraduate schools. An alumni network is a great way to open doors for “informational interviews” with venture capital partners. If you are still in business school, be sure to join your school’s venture capital club.
You may even want to contact professional recruiters who specialize in placing venture capital jobs. If you have the right skill set, they can get you into a VC firm quickly. Others may be more interested in senior positions. However, it’s a good idea to forge a relationship with a few recruiters and stay in touch with them over the years as your career unfolds. They often have access to positions that are not available through any other channel.
Finally, do a thorough web search for venture capital industry events in your area and attend a few. At these events, it is important not to position yourself as a typical candidate with resume in hand. Instead, approach these events with a strategy. Carve out your niche and demonstrate value in the conversation. Discuss industry findings and, most importantly, investment activity within a particular industry niche.
Constantly expanding your network of connections with venture capitalists and other industry members is both a good strategy for breaking into the industry and being successful throughout your career. For venture capitalists, it’s an essential job skill.
Here are some resources that can help with your networking activities:
This is Going to Be Big
http://www.thisisgoingtobebig.com/2007/06/how_to_get_star.html
Seth Levine’s Blog http://www.sethlevine.com/
Galante’s Venture Capital & Private Equity Directory provides in depth profiles of over 1,700 venture capital, mezzanine, and buyout firms. Available in hard copy and CD.
Venture Capital Journal www.privateequityweek.com/
The Deal www.thedeal.com
VC Buzz www.velocitycap.com/VC%20Buzz%20-%20October%2017%202000.htm
National Venture Capital Association www.nvca.org
Garage.com www.garage.com
The Elevator.com www.thelevator.com/
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