How to Apply for Startup Jobs as a Fresher (and Actually Get Noticed)

If you're a fresher or intern hunting for your first job in the startup world, you're likely making one or more of these rookie mistakes. This post breaks down how to stop being invisible in crowded hiring inboxes and start acting like someone a founder would take seriously.

Let’s be honest most startup founders are drowning in noise. They don’t care about how passionate you say you are if you haven’t bothered to read what their company actually does. If you send your resume with zero context, ask “what does your startup do?” after applying, or beg for help without showing initiative, you’re not just ignored you’re actively disqualified. It's harsh, but it's true. Founders need people who can figure things out, not people who wait to be spoon-fed.

1. Don’t Just “Send Resume” Context Wins

Startups don't want robots. They want people who can think and adapt. If you simply send a resume with no message or context, you're already ignored. Stand Out in a Startup Application Without a Fancy Resume

What to do instead: Write a short, focused note:

What role you're applying for Why you want it (specific to the company) What you can contribute (even if you're new) This signals effort, not entitlement.

2. Don’t Apply “Just to Apply”

Founders can sniff this out instantly. If your application sounds like it’s been sent to 100 places with no customization, it goes in the trash.

What stands out:

Referencing the company’s product, mission, or recent announcement Tying your learning interest to their domain Being genuinely curious

3. Don’t Ask “What Does This Company Do?” After Applying

This one’s brutal. Imagine applying to a job and then asking what the company is in the next message. You’ve just proven you didn’t care enough to look them up.

Pro move: Treat every startup application like you’re interviewing them too. Know their product, users, recent launch, or blog posts.

4. Don’t Ask for Handouts. Offer Help

Founders are overwhelmed, not bored. Asking vague questions like “Any opportunity for me?” or “Can you help me?” adds zero value.

Better approach:

“I noticed you’re hiring for a marketing intern here’s a quick 2-slide teardown I did of your landing page. Hope it’s useful.” “I wrote a short post on how I’d onboard as a new intern at your company. Mind giving it a glance?” Show. Don’t beg. Salary and Equity Tradeoffs

5. Don’t Wait for Job Postings

Good startup opportunities are rarely found on giant job boards.

Try this instead:

Look at weekly curated drops of real founder-posted jobs on FoundersAreHiring Reach out directly if you see a small company that excites you, even if no job is posted. FAH enables direct founder conversations, no recruiters in the way.

6. Follow-Up. But Don’t Be Desperate.

Follow up once, politely, after 3–4 days. Don’t spam. Don’t guilt-trip. Just reaffirm your interest, and maybe offer something new (like a project or thought).

7. Start Creating Proof, Not Just Resumes

You have no experience? Fine. But you can still:

Build a small project Document your learning Write a teardown Record a short explanation video Contribute to open source or a community

This builds signal and on platforms like FAH, signal matters more than a bloated CV.

FoundersAreHiring (fah.) is a curated platform where startup founders post high-quality, direct roles for builders like you no middlemen, no noise, just real opportunities.

You get weekly job drops, direct intros to hiring founders, and a better shot at joining early-stage teams that actually matter.