Many of the same principles for working with private equity recruiters apply in the venture capital world. Develop relationships with 1-2 top recruiters … understand that they have the hiring firm’s best interests in mind … treat recruiters as an important information resource … and always be courteous and professional with them.
However, given the relatively small size and closely-knit nature of the venture capital industry, it’s even more important that you research, identify and develop a working relationship with a few top recruiters. They have the network to identify venture capital jobs you’re not likely to hear about otherwise.
Do your research and choose recruiters with many years of experience and a solid track record in venture capital placement. The best way to find a top recruiter is through personal networking. Ask friends, relatives and colleagues if they know of any. Check industry associations to see if recruiters are members, or on a list of recommended suppliers. Try to identify the best individual recruiters within a search firm, too, rather than choosing the overall search firm. Do an online search for reviews of their background and any articles they’ve written.
In your first interview with them, you should be qualifying their capabilities as much as they are yours. Check out their website, LinkedIn or Facebook profiles beforehand. How well do they know the industry? How long have they specialized in venture capital? Find out whether they work on retainer or on a contingency basis; you’ll often find you get better information from those who work on retainer. A recruiter hired by the potential employer on retainer will be more likely to place the successful candidate.
Recruiters can and should help you understand what criteria the firm is looking for in a candidate, who you will be interviewing with, and a bit about the firm’s culture. In a more general sense, recruiters can give you an objective evaluation of how well your skills, experience and compensation match up against others at your level, based on the interviews they’ve had with hundreds of candidates.
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